Building on research from its Listening Project revealing that live music in Birmingham is seen as an integral aspect of life across the West Midlands, the CBSO aims to bridge classical tradition and contemporary innovation under the leadership of music director Kazuki Yamada.

Highlights will include the beginning of a full cycle of symphonies by Gustav Mahler, a concert performance of Giacomo Puccini’s opera Tosca with Welsh singer Sir Bryn Terfel, a Star Wars Original Trilogy weekend, and Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush with live orchestra.

The new season opens with Sir Edward Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius with the CBSO Chorus and includes other choral classics including Johannes Brahms’ German Requiem and John Adams’ Harmonium in an all-American Fourth of July finale. There are also symphonic works by Sergei Rachmaninoff, Richard Strauss, Dmitri Shostakovich and Carl Nielsen.

Birmingham-born singer-songwriter Laura Mvula will present a Black Lives in Music evening, and Satnam Rana an evening celebrating light and winter festivals, while the CBSO’s collaboration with the Orchestral Qawwali Project will continue with a concert combining classical music with Sufi poetry and Indian Classical dance.

Meanwhile, CBSO in the City will return in July with free performances in public spaces throughout Birmingham. The orchestra will also present thirty-six concerts specifically designed for young people, including four family concerts featuring music from movies and books, as well as a festive Christmas concert.

Kazuki Yamada commented: “From symphonies to soundtracks, Beethoven to Bernstein, classics to world premieres – our 2025-26 season embodies what a modern orchestra should be – deeply rooted in the classical tradition, while simultaneously being bold in engaging with contemporary culture. This season is a celebration of musical diversity and an invitation for audiences to connect even more deeply with the CBSO. As we tour and perform, we want to showcase why culture and music are essential to us all.”

Catherine Arlidge, Director of Artistic Planning and former CBSO violinist, added: “Our season marries the global with the local. Whilst the variety within our season is informed by understanding our wide-ranging and diverse local audiences, we are also thrilled that so many top international artists will be joining us in Birmingham – Sir Bryn Terfel, Lisa Batiashvili, Osmo Vänskä, Vilde Frang and the Jussen brothers to name but a few.

“At a time of international geopolitical tensions, our concerts celebrate so many different musical voices – and remind us all about music’s power to unite people. Our orchestra is a living, breathing entity, nourished both by the incredible artists we work with and the audiences we perform for. Considering our art form as a dialogue has been key to this season – a season about celebrating home – on the world stage.”