TPO’s spring 2026: classics, premieres, star soloists and a celebration of chamber music
In spring 2026, TPO presents a season where timeless masterpieces meet contemporary premieres and international soloist stars. The season opens with a return of Honorary Conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali, and ends in May to a finale concert under the baton of Chief Conductor Matthew Halls. The diverse programme includes audience favourites, new works, and even symphonic rock with the vocal ensemble Rajaton. TPO's chamber music series Afternoon of the Fauns celebrates its 30th anniversary.
The season opens on 15–16 January with Santtu-Matias Rouvali conducting Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto and Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 9, featuring Bruce Liu, winner of the 2021 International Chopin Competition.
Matthew Halls continues his exploration of Jean Sibelius, conducting Symphony No. 6 (13 February) and Symphony No. 1 (28 May). Soprano Tuuli Takala performs Sibelius’s Luonnotar on 23 January.
Star soloists of the season include Pavel Kolesnikov in Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto (30 January) and Jean-Guihen Queyras in Antonín Dvořák’s Cello Concerto (13 February).
The Most Beloved Classics concert (27 March), conducted by Christian Vásquez, features Bedřich Smetana’s The Moldau, Spanish-themed works by Manuel de Falla and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, and Maurice Ravel’s Pavane pour une infante défunte. Edward Elgar’s monumental choral work The Dream of Gerontius (2 April) features an international cast including soprano Dame Sarah Connolly.
The final concert (28 May) features guitarist Ismo Eskelinen premiering Come Eco by season’s featured composer Sebastian Fagerlund, and pianist Angela Hewitt performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 27 as part of her Mozart Odyssey tour.
Opera and contemporary music
The orchestra joins Tampere Opera’s 80th anniversary productions: Sweeney Todd (8–10 January) and Giuseppe Verdi’s Don Carlos (4–14 March).
Concert Enchanted by the Ring, 8 May offers a one-hour introduction to Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle, conducted by Pietari Inkinen. Roman Celebrations (21 May), conducted by Nil Venditti, opens with Gioachino Rossini’s Overture to The Barber of Seville.
The Tampere Biennale 40th anniversary concert (17 April), conducted by Ruut Kiiski, features new contemporary works with soloists Maria Puusaari (violin) and Malla Vivolin (flute).
From the New World (24 April) includes John Adams’s Chairman Dances and Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s Violin Concerto, performed by Paul Huang.
Rajaton and TPO join forces for Queen – We Will Rock You! concerts (5–6 February), reimagining hits of the legendary rock band.
Music for the whole family and chamber music
Family-friendly events include Adventure Concert for the whole family with Satu Sopanen (20 February) and the traditional May Day Concert (1 May), conducted by Janne Nisonen with soprano Mari Palo.
Afternoon of the Fauns chamber music series celebrates 30 years with concerts on 18 January, 1 February, 1 March and 12 April. Programmes range from Bach and Beethoven to Korngold, performed by orchestra musicians and their guests.
Season tickets for spring 2026 concerts are on sale. Single tickets and series tickets go on sale from 3 November 2025 at 9 AM via Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra’s ticketing channels: Tampere Hall Ticket Office, Culture Shop Aplodi and Lippu.fi sales channels.
