Music Director Jader Bignamini leads a spectacular schedule of concerts including Verdi’s Requiem on September 26 at Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor presented by UMS and DSO Opening Night Gala with opera star Juan Diego Flórez on September 27 at Orchestra Hall in Detroit
Principal Pops Conductor Enrico Lopez-Yañez leads five programs on the PNC Pops Series
Principal Guest Conductor Tabita Berglund leads three programs on the PVS Classical Series, including Northern Lights Festival celebrating Nordic music
World premiere by Composer-in-Residence Michael Abels, plus DSO co-commissions by Joan Tower and Samy Moussa, highlight 15 works by living composers
DSO welcomes back legendary conductor Herbert Blomstedt for the first time since 1985 to conduct Mahler’s Ninth Symphony
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Detroit, (February 25, 2025) – The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) today announced its 2025–2026 season, inviting audiences to step into a world where music magnifies every emotion, every connection, every moment. Announced programming includes the PVS Classical Series, PNC Pops Series, and Young People’s Family Concert Series, plus select special events. (The DSO’s Paradise Jazz Series and William Davidson Neighborhood Concert Series will be announced at later dates.)
The new season will mark the DSO’s fifth year led by Music Director Jader Bignamini, who will conduct nine of the season’s 20 Classical weeks, welcoming incredible guest soloists to the Orchestra Hall stage. It also marks the second year of both Principal Pops Conductor (Devereaux Family Chair) Enrico Lopez-Yañez, who will lead five PNC Pops programs, and Principal Guest Conductor Tabita Berglund, who will lead three PVS Classical programs, including the Northern Lights Festival in April 2026, celebrating Nordic music and culture.
“Music has a unique power to bring people together, creating moments of joy, reflection, and shared inspiration,” said Bignamini. “This season, our musicians and audiences will experience an incredible journey through music that speaks to the heart—both timeless masterpieces and thrilling new discoveries. I look forward to making music with our wonderful DSO musicians and sharing the magic of live performance at Orchestra Hall.”
The DSO season kicks off on Saturday, September 27, when superstar tenor Juan Diego Flórez brings his unmatched virtuosity to Orchestra Hall for the DSO’s Opening Night Gala, conducted by Bignamini. Detroit’s premiere black-tie event, the unforgettable evening will feature a dazzling program of operatic arias, including works by Verdi, Rossini, Puccini, Massenet, and Gounod, among others. The night before, on Friday, September 26, Bignamini will conduct the DSO and the UMS Choral Union in a performance of Verdi’s Requiem featuring soprano Vuvu Mpofu, mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, tenor René Barbera, and bass-baritone Shenyang, presented by the University Musical Society (UMS) at Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor.
The DSO is excited to name Michael Abels as its Composer-in-Residence for the 2025–2026 season. A highly versatile and innovative composer whose work spans the classical and film worlds, he is known for blending elements of orchestral music with contemporary and experimental sounds to create gripping, thought–provoking works. Audiences will enjoy his Unbound (October 9–11), Global Warming and More Seasons (November 7–9), the world premiere of a new orchestral suite from Omar, the 2022 opera he co-composed with Rhiannon Giddens that received the Pulitzer Prize for Music (February 6–8), and Frederick’s Fables (February 28) on the Young People’s Family Concert Series.
In another major highlight of the new season, the DSO welcomes legendary conductor Herbert Blomstedt back to Detroit for the first time since 1985 to conduct performances of Mahler’s Symphony No. 9 in May 2026.
“The DSO is a pillar of Detroit’s cultural landscape, and each season brings extraordinary musical experiences that inspire and unite our community,” said President and CEO Erik Rönmark. “With the artistic leadership of Jader Bignamini, Enrico Lopez-Yañez, and Tabita Berglund, plus Fred A. Erb Jazz Creative Director Chair Terence Blanchard, the DSO continues to explore exciting new artistic horizons. We are also thrilled to welcome the brilliant Michael Abels as Composer-in-Residence, whose creativity and vision will enrich our orchestra and audiences alike, and the long-awaited return of conductor Herbert Blomstedt, a legend who will captivate us all with performances of Mahler’s Ninth Symphony.”
PVS CLASSICAL SERIES
Jader Bignamini Leads Nine Programs Plus Opening Night Gala with Juan Diego Flórez and Verdi’s Requiem at UMS
Following a thrilling opening week featuring Verdi’s Requiem with the DSO and the UMS Choral Union in Ann Arbor (presented by UMS) and the DSO’s Opening Night Gala with tenor Juan Diego Flórez in Detroit, Music Director Jader Bignamini will return for PVS Classical Series concerts featuring an incredible range of music featuring some of the world’s top soloists. This includes Orff’s Carmina Burana, Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F with Hélène Grimaud, Joan Tower’s A New Day (DSO co-commission) with cellist Alisa Weilerstein, Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5, “Turkish,” with Hilary Hahn, Arturo Márquez’s Concierto de Otoño with trumpeter Pacho Flores, and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with Francesco Piemontesi.
Following the upcoming March 14, 2025 release of the DSO’s first recording with Bignamini of Wynton Marsalis’s Blues Symphony, the orchestra and its music director highlight two more works by this outstanding American composer in the new season: the Violin Concerto with Giuseppe Gibboni and Swing Symphony featuring the Paradise Theatre Big Bandand director Kris Johnson. The performance of Marsalis’s Swing Symphony will be heard alongside the world premiereof a new orchestral suite from Omar by Composer-in-Residence Michael Abels, featuring music from the opera co-composed with Rhiannon Giddens, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 2023.
Other major works conducted by Bignamini in the new season include Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet, Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 9, Mozart’s Symphony No. 40, Gabriela Lena Frank’s Three Latin American Dances, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4, Ginastera’s Variaciones Concertantes, Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 “From the New World,” Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll and Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde, Tchaikovsky’s Francesca da Rimini, R. Strauss’s Suite from Der Rosenkavalier, and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 to close the season in June.
Principal Guest Conductor Tabita Berglund & the Northern Lights Festival
In April, experience the raw emotional power, shimmering harmonies, and evocative storytelling that makes Nordic music as awe-inspiring as the northern lights. The Northern Lights Festival will be anchored by two DSO programs in Orchestra Hall led by Principal Guest Conductor Tabita Berglund, a native of Norway. The first weekend includes Rautavaara’s Cantus Arcticus, Sibelius’s Violin Concerto with Christian Tetzlaff, and Grieg’s incidental music to Ibsen’s Peer Gynt; and the second includes Stenhammar’s Excelsior!, Anders Hillborg’s Violin Concerto No. 2 with Eldbjørg Hemsing, and Nielsen’s Symphony No. 5. Additional festival programming will be announced at a later date.
“There is something deeply moving about bringing Nordic music to life with the DSO,” said Berglund. “The Northern Lights Festival is a celebration of the sounds and spirit of my homeland, and I can’t wait to share its beauty, power, and mystery with our audiences. The connection I have felt with this orchestra from the very beginning continues to grow, and I look forward to another season of music-making together.”
In addition to the programs as part of the Northern Lights Festival, Berglund will conduct Mozart’s Overture to Le nozze di Figaro, Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht, and Brahms’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with Kirill Gerstein in October.
Composer-in-Residence Michael Abels, Commissions, and Works by Living Composers
Pulitzer Prize and Image Award winner and Emmy and GRAMMY® nominee, composer Michael Abels is known for his genre-defying scores for the Jordan Peele films Get Out, Us, and Nope. With his ability to cross genres and push boundaries, Abels’s powerful compositions fuse intricate arrangements with evocative rhythms and melodies, while often exploring cultural themes that provoke deep emotional responses. In addition to his new orchestral suite from Omar(featuring music from the opera co-composed with Rhiannon Giddens), which the DSO will perform in February, his concert works include the choral song cycle At War With Ourselves for the Kronos Quartet and Isolation Variation for Hilary Hahn. Abels is co-founder of the Composers Diversity Collective, an advocacy group to increase visibility of composers of color in film, gaming, and streaming media. In the 2025–2026 season, the DSO will also perform his Unbound, Global Warming, and More Seasons.
Additional works by living composers include those by Wynton Marsalis (Violin Concerto and Swing Symphony); Gabriela Lena Frank (Three Latin American Dances); Joan Tower (A New Day [DSO co-commission]); Samy Moussa(Flute Concerto [DSO co-commission]); Carlos Simon (Troubled Water for Trombone and Orchestra, conducted by Thomas Wilkins and featuring former DSO Principal Trombone Kenneth Thompkins, at Classical Roots); Jörg Widmann (Con brio); Anders Hillborg (Violin Concerto No. 2); Arturo Márquez (Concierto de Otoño); Stacy Garrop (Spectacle of Light); and John Adams (Slonimsky’s Earbox).
America at 250 and Other Classical Highlights
In honor of America’s 250th birthday, the DSO will celebrate the vibrant voices that shape our nation’s musical legacy. From iconic trailblazers to contemporary innovators, this season honors the artistry that reflects the spirit of America. In addition to the works by living American composers Joan Tower, Michael Abels, Wynton Marsalis, Gabriela Lena Frank, Carlos Simon, and Stacy Garrop, highlights include a celebration the 100th anniversary of Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F with Hélène Grimaud and a program pairing Dvořák’s “New World Symphony” with works from other parts of the “new world” by Ginastera (Argentina) and Arturo Márquez (Mexico). The DSO will also perform William Grant Still’s Fourth Symphony at the annual Classical Roots concerts in March.
Additional highlights of the 2025–2026 PVS Classical Series: Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider performs Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 and Brahms’s Symphony No. 2, as violin soloist and conductor; Jonathon Heyward conducts the Kanneh-Mason Trio (comprised of siblings Isata, piano; Braimah, violin; and Sheku, cello) in Beethoven’s rarely performed Triple Concerto, with Mendelssohn’s “Italian” Symphony; acclaimed composer, clarinetist, and conductor Jörg Widmann conducts Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with DSO Concertmaster (Katherine Tuck Chair) Robyn Bollingeras soloist, plus Schumann’s “Spring” Symphony and his own composition, Con brio; legendary conductor Herbert Blomstedt leads Mahler’s Ninth Symphony; Dame Jane Glover conducts a vibrant and varied program featuring music by Handel, J.S. Bach, and Haydn; and DSO Principal Cello Wei Yu is featured soloist in Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1, alongside Stravinsky’s Le Chant du rossingol and Tchaikovsky’s Suite from Swan Lake led by returning conductor Hannu Lintu.
PNC POPS SERIES
The DSO’s 2025–2026 PNC Pops Series will bring favorites from film, Broadway, rock, pop, and more to the Orchestra Hall stage. Principal Pops Conductor (Devereaux Family Chair) Enrico Lopez-Yañez will lead five programs including a visually stunning collaboration with acrobats from Troupe Vertigo; a journey through the sounds of Mexico with legendary trio The Three Mexican Tenors (one of whom is Lopez-Yañez’s father, Jorge); The Billy Joel Songbookwith vocalist Tony DeSare; a celebration of America’s 250th anniversary featuring jazz standards, Broadway classics, and Great American Songbook hits with vocalists Melinda Doolittle and Jimmie Herrod; and a fusion of jazz, world music, and ’40s-’50s pop with Pink Martini and Storm Large; plus Pirates! The Quest for Blackbeard’s Treasure on the Young People’s Family Concert Series.
“I’m excited for another season of incredible Pops programs that bring together music, storytelling, and vibrant performances,” said Lopez-Yañez. “This year’s concerts will be full of energy, from the dazzling acrobatics of Troupe Vertigo to the iconic hits of Billy Joel. One of the most special moments for me will be sharing the stage with my father, Jorge, as part of The Three Mexican Tenors—a deeply personal and joyful experience I can’t wait to bring to Detroit audiences.”
Other PNC Pops Series highlights include the beloved Home for the Holidays concerts; Total Eclipse of the Chart: '80s Chart Toppers featuring anthems from Eurythmics, Tina Turner, U2, and more; Epic Film Scores from Hollywood’s golden age to today’s biggest blockbusters conducted by Steven Reineke; a symphonic tribute to the 1960s and ’70s California rock scene featuring music by Buffalo Springfield, The Doors, The Mamas & The Papas, and more conducted by Jeff Tyzik; Rick Steves' Europe: A Symphonic Journey, pairing Europe’s most stirring orchestral masterpieces with live, on-stage narration; and The Music of Journey, conducted by Brent Havens and featuring Windborne Music.
YOUNG PEOPLE’S FAMILY CONCERT SERIES & TINY TOTS
The DSO also announced its 2025–2026 Young People’s Family Concert Series, which will bring fun and interactive concert opportunities for the whole family to the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center. Programs include a Pirate adventure conducted by Enrico Lopez-Yañez, Winter Wonderland, Frederick's Fables (featuring musical settings by Composer-in-Residence Michael Abels to classic tales by beloved children’s author and illustrator Leo Lionni), and Tubby the Tuba.
Tiny Tots concerts, with programming for children aged 2-6, will also resume in the Peter D. and Julie F. Cummings Cube (The Cube) prior to each Young People’s Family Concert. Featured artists include Miss Paula and the Candy Bandits, the Kris Johnson Group, Joe Reilly Music, and Gemini.
SPECIAL CONCERT EVENTS
In the 2025–2026 season, the DSO will also present special concert events (available now as add-ons to subscription packages), including 1964 The Tribute, a celebration of music by The Beatles; Skull and Bones, a symphonic showcase-meets-Halloween-rave; Holiday Brass, featuring traditional favorites and new arrangements of seasonal tunes; Beethoven x Beyoncé, a Steve Hackman production combining pop music’s Queen with classical music’s King (please note: Beyoncé does not appear on this program); and more, to be announced. Film concert experiences include Love Actually(December 10), Home Alone in Concert (December 20 & 21), and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™ in Concert (January 8 & 9).
See below for a notable repertoire list, guest artist list, and complete program listings.
The DSO will also continue its Paradise Jazz Series (Terence Blanchard, Fred A. Erb Jazz Creative Director Chair) and William Davidson Neighborhood Concerts Series. Details on these series will be announced later this spring.
The DSO, an industry leader in digital programming, will continue its Live from Orchestra Hall webcast series with livestreams of the PVS Classical Series and select Educational Concert Series performances in the 2025–2026 season, available on dso.org.
Subscriptions are on sale now for the 2025–2026 PVS Classical Series, PNC Pops Series, and Young People’s Family Concert Series. Patrons can purchase subscriptions at dso.org or by calling the Box Office at 313.576.5111. Single tickets will be available for purchase later this year.
The title sponsor of the DSO’s PVS Classical Series is PVS Chemicals, Inc. The title sponsor of the DSO’s PNC Pops Series is PNC Bank. DSO Live is presented by Ford Motor Company Fund. Technology support comes from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Digital programming is produced from the Al Glancy Control Room.
For more information, visit dso.org/subscribe.
Commissions, Premieres, and Contemporary Music
The DSO will perform 15 works by living composers during the 2025–2026 season, which include a world premiere and two DSO co-commissioned works.
MICHAEL ABELS Unbound
MICHAEL ABELS Global Warming
MICHAEL ABELS More Seasons
RHIANNON GIDDENS/MICHAEL ABELS Suite from Omar (World Premiere)
JOHN ADAMS Slonimsky’s Earbox
GABRIELA LENA FRANK Three Latin American Dances
STACY GARROP Spectacle of Light
ANDERS HILLBORG Violin Concerto No. 2
ARTURO MÁRQUEZ Concierto de Otoño
WYNTON MARSALIS Violin Concerto
WYNTON MARSALIS Swing Symphony
SAMY MOUSSA Flute Concerto (DSO co-commission)
CARLOS SIMON Troubled Water for Trombone and Orchestra
JOAN TOWER A New Day (DSO co-commission)
JÖRG WIDMANN Con brio
Major Orchestral Works
RHIANNON GIDDENS/MICHAEL ABELS Suite from Omar (World Premiere)
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major, Op. 60
BERLIOZ Symphonie fantastique
BRAHMS Piano Concerto No. 1
BRAHMS Symphony No. 2
BRUCH Violin Concerto No. 1
GERSHWIN Piano Concerto in F
GRIEG Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46
GRIEG Peer Gynt Suite No. 2, Op. 55
HILLBORG, ANDERS Violin Concerto
MARSALIS, WYNTON Violin Concerto
MARSALIS, WYNTON Swing Symphony
MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 4, "Italian"
MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto
MOUSSA, SAMY Flute Concerto (DSO co-commission)
MOZART Symphony No. 40 in G minor
NIELSEN Symphony No. 5
ORFF Carmina Burana
PROKOFIEV Music from Romeo & Juliet
RAUTAVAARA Cantus Arcticus
SCHÖNBERG Verklärte Nacht
SCHUMANN Symphony No. 1, "Spring"
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 9
SIMON, CARLOS Troubled Water for Trombone and Orchestra
STENHAMMAR Excelsior!
STILL Symphony No. 4
TOWER, JOAN A New Day (DSO co-commission)
WIDMANN, JÖRG Con brio
Classical Series Guest Conductors and Soloists
Artists marked with an asterisk (*) will be making their DSO PVS Classical Series conducting or solo debut.
Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider, conductor/violin
Jonathon Heyward, conductor
Thomas Wilkins, conductor
Jörg Widmann, conductor*
Herbert Blomstedt, conductor
Jane Glover, conductor*
Hannu Lintu, conductor
Fabien Gabel, conductor
Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cello
Alisa Weilerstein, cello
Wei Yu, cello
Hélène Grimaud, piano
Kirill Gerstein, piano
Francesco Piemontesi, piano*
Isata Kanneh-Mason, piano
Giuseppe Gibboni, violin*
Braimah Kanneh-Mason, violin*
Robyn Bollinger, violin
Christian Tetzlaff, violin
Eldbjørg Hemsing, violin*
Hilary Hahn, violin
Emmanuel Pahud, flute*
Kenneth Thompkins, trombone
Pacho Flores, trumpet*
Chen Reiss, soprano*
Reginald Mobley, countertenor*
Andrzej Filończyk, baritone*
Audivi, chorus
Detroit Youth Opera Chorus, children’s choir*
Paradise Theatre Big Band* (Kris Johnson, Founder & Director)
About Jader Bignamini
Jader Bignamini was introduced as the 18th music director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in January 2020, commencing with the 2020–21 season. His infectious passion and artistic excellence set the tone for the seasons ahead, creating extraordinary music and establishing a close relationship with the orchestra. During his tenure in Detroit, Bignamini has collaborated with such artists as Branford Marsalis, Daniil Trifonov, Yo-Yo Ma, Hilary Hahn, Alisa Weilerstein, and Yuja Wang, as well as composers Michael Abels and Carlos Simon, and conducted major symphonic works by Beethoven, Brahms, and Mahler, and also Leonard Bernstein, Duke Ellington, Florence Price, and Margaret Bonds. A jazz aficionado, he has immersed himself in Detroit’s rich jazz culture and the influences of American music. In 2023, the DSO extended Bignamini’s contract for a second five-year term, through 2031.
A native of Crema, Italy, Bignamini studied at the Piacenza Music Conservatory and began his career as a musician (clarinet) with Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano, later serving as the group’s resident conductor. Captivated by the works of legends like Mahler and Tchaikovsky, Bignamini explored their complexity and power, puzzling out the role that each instrument played in creating a larger-than-life sound.
In the years since, Bignamini has conducted some of the world’s most acclaimed orchestras and opera companies in venues across the globe including working with Riccardo Chailly on concerts of Mahler’s Eighth Symphony in 2013 and his concert debut at La Scala in 2015 for the opening season of La Sinfonica di Milano. Recent highlights include debuts with Opera de Paris (La Forza del Destino and Adriana Lecouvreur) and Deutsche Opera Berlin (Simon Boccanegra); debuts with Accademia di Santa Cecilia Orchestra, the Washington National Symphony, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Milwaukee, and Minnesota symphonies; The Cleveland Orchestra at the Blossom Festival and the Grand Teton Festival; with the BBC Orchestra and London Philharmonic; with the Metropolitan Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Vienna State Opera, and Dutch National Opera (Madama Butterfly); Bayerische Staatsoper (La traviata); I Puritani in Montpellier for the Festival of Radio France; La traviata in Tokyo directed by Sofia Coppola; return engagements with Oper Frankfurt (La forza del destino, Trovatore, and Carmen) and Santa Fe Opera (Rigoletto and La bohème); La traviata, Madama Butterfly, and Turandot at Arena of Verona; Il Trovatore and Aida at Rome’s Teatro dell’Opera; Madama Butterfly, I Puritani, Manon Lescaut, and Otello at Teatro Massimo in Palermo; Simon Boccanegra and La Forza del destino at the Verdi Festival in Parma; Ciro in Babilonia and Eduardo e Cristina at Rossini Opera Festival; and La bohème, Madama Butterfly, and Elisir d’amore at La Fenice in Venice.
Bignamini also has a great career in Asia, including Japan where he has conducted the Osaka Philharmonic, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo, the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra, the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, and opera productions of Andrea Chenier at NHK and La Traviata by Sofia Coppola with costumes by Valentino in Tokyo and on tour with Rome’s Teatro dell’Opera that is available on Blu-ray.
Recent highlights include collaborations with artists such as Alexander Gavrylyuk, Sergei Babayan, Emanuel Ax, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Simon Trpčeski, Kian Soltani, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Ray Chen, Gil Shaham, James Ehnes, Augustin Hadelich, María Dueñas, Karen Gomyo, Nemanja Radulović, and Leonidas Kavakos.
One of Bignamini’s greatest passions is working with the next generation of musicians, and during the summer he is a regular guest of the Interlochen Center for the Arts with the DSO and of the Asian Youth Orchestra, leading tours featuring the most talented young musicians from Asia.
About Enrico Lopez-Yañez
Enrico Lopez-Yañez is the Principal Pops Conductor of the Detroit, Nashville, and Pacific symphonies as well as the Principal Conductor of the Dallas Symphony Presents and Principal Guest Conductor of Pops at the Indianapolis Symphony. Lopez-Yañez has quickly established himself as one of the nation’s leading conductors of popular music and become known for his unique style of audience engagement. Also an active composer/arranger, he has been commissioned by the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Houston Symphony, San Diego Symphony, and Omaha Symphony, and has had his works performed by orchestras including the Atlanta Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, National Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Seattle Symphony, and Utah Symphony, among others.
Lopez-Yañez has conducted concerts with a broad spectrum of artists including Nas, Patti LaBelle, Itzhak Perlman, Trisha Yearwood, Kenny Loggins, Stewart Copeland, Kelsea Ballerini, Leslie Odom Jr., Renee Elise Goldsberry, Portugal. The Man, Ben Rector, Cody Fry, Hanson, The Beach Boys, Kenny G, and more. Each year, Lopez-Yañez conducts the annual Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th fireworks show, which is televised annually on CMT, reaching millions of viewers across the nation.
This season, Lopez-Yañez will collaborate with artists including Dolly Parton, Bernadette Peters, Lyle Lovett, War & Treaty, Ben Folds, Indigo Girls, Joss Stone, Girl Named Tom, Lettuce, and Tower of Power. He will appear with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, St. Louis Symphony, and Toronto Symphony as well as make return appearances with the Baltimore Symphony, Houston Symphony, National Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Utah Symphony, and more. Previously, Lopez-Yañez has appeared with orchestras throughout North America including the Cincinnati Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, and the San Francisco Symphony, among others.
Lopez-Yañez was the recipient of the 2023 “Mexicanos Distinguidos” Award by the Mexican government, an award granted to Mexican citizens living abroad for outstanding career accomplishments in their field. As an advocate for Latin music, he has arranged and produced shows for Latin Fire, Mariachi Los Camperos, and The Three Mexican Tenors, and collaborated with artists including Aida Cuevas, Arturo Sandoval, and Lila Downs.
As Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Symphonica Productions, LLC, Lopez-Yañez curates and leads programs designed to cultivate new audiences. Symphonica’s show offerings range from pops shows to family and educational productions, which have been described as “incredibly special—and something that needs to become the new norm” (Lima Symphony). Symphonica’s productions have been performed by major orchestras across North America including the Baltimore Symphony, Edmonton Symphony, Florida Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, Tucson Symphony, and many more.
As a producer, composer, and arranger, Lopez-Yañez’s work can be heard on numerous albums including the UNESCO benefit album Action Moves People United and children’s music albums including The Spaceship that Fell in My Backyard, winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Hollywood Music and Media Awards, and Family Choice Awards; and Kokowanda Bay, winner of a Global Media Award as well as a Parents’ Choice Award, where Lopez-Yañez was lauded for his “catchy arrangements” (Parents’ Choice Foundation).
For more information visit: @enricolopezyanez
About Tabita Berglund
Tabita Berglund is one of today’s most exciting, talented, and in-demand young conductors who has gained a reputation for her alert, charismatic, and inspiring style, which elicits “exceptional music-making” (The Arts Desk). This season, Berglund begins her four-year tenure as Principal Guest Conductor of Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and from 2025–26, she holds the same title with Dresdner Philharmonie; she was appointed to each position following her respective debut.
Symphonic highlights of 2024–25 include debuts with Houston Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Gothenburg Symphony, Gürzenich-Orchester Köln, Orchestre de chambre de Paris, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Iceland Symphony Orchestra, and Lahti Symphony Orchestra, as well as Berglund’s inaugural weeks as Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Principal Guest—the first featuring the US premiere of Anna Clyne’s violin concerto Time and Tides with fellow HarrisonParrott artist Pekka Kuusisto. Other notable season highlights include Berglund’s Asian debut with Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, her Salzburg Easter Festival debut together with Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg, a European tour with Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, and returns to Dresdner Philharmonie, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre national de Lyon, Tonkünstler-Orchester Niederösterreich, and Trondheim Symphony Orchestra. In December 2024, she conducted The Norwegian National Ballet in 12 performances of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker.
Berglund regularly collaborates with internationally renowned soloists. Recent and upcoming partnerships include Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Leila Josefowicz, Truls Mørk, Cédric Tiberghien, Nicolas Altstaedt, Håkan Hardenberger, Alexander Malofeev, the Jussen brothers, and Camilla Tilling, to name a few. In 2024–25, she continues to champion the music of Nordic compatriots such as Thorvaldsdottir, Saariaho, Sibelius, Svendsen, and Irgens Jensen, as part of a wide-ranging repertoire from Mozart and Beethoven to Dvořák, Mussorgsky, Poulenc, Lutosławski and Britten, among many others.
Recent engagements include Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Dresdner Philharmonie, Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestre national de Lyon, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Berner Symphonieorchester, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, among many others. Festival appearances include Festival Internacional de Música y Danza de Granada and Grafenegg. Berglund made her Garsington Opera debut in summer 2024 conducting a revival production of Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro. She concluded her three-year tenure as Principal Guest Conductor of Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra at the end of 2023–24. In August 2024, she chaired the jury for the grand finale of the Eurovision Young Musicians competition, broadcast live on television throughout Europe via the major networks.
Berglund studied at the Norwegian Academy of Music, first as a cellist with Truls Mørk and later orchestral conducting with Ole Kristian Ruud. She played regularly with the Oslo and Bergen Philharmonic orchestras as well as the Trondheim Soloists before conducting became her main focus. Her debut CD, with Oslo Philharmonic and violinist Sonoko Miriam Welde, was released in 2021 (LAWO) and nominated for a Norwegian Grammy (Spellemann) in the 2022 Classical Music category.
HarrisonParrott represents Tabita Berglund for worldwide general management.
About the DSO
The acclaimed Detroit Symphony Orchestra is known for trailblazing performances, collaborations with the world’s foremost musical artists, and a deep connection to its city. Led by Music Director Jader Bignamini since 2020, the DSO makes its home at historic Orchestra Hall within the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center, offering a robust performance schedule that features classical, pops, jazz, and family concerts, plus community performances. Enrico Lopez-Yañez was named Principal Pops Conductor in 2023, trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard serves as the orchestra’s Fred A. Erb Jazz Creative Director Chair, and Tabita Berglund began her tenure as Principal Guest Conductor in the 2024–25 season. A dedication to broadcast innovation and technology began in 1922, when the DSO became the first orchestra in the world to present a live radio broadcast of a concert and continues today with the groundbreaking Live from Orchestra Hall series of free webcasts.
The DSO’s distinguished history of recordings—many led by its renowned music directors—spans nearly a century, beginning with the orchestra’s first 78 rpm singles with Ossip Gabrilowitsch released on the Victrola label in 1928. A steady recording output has continued since then, with highlights including more than 20 releases with Paul Paray for Mercury’s Living Presence series, and 27 under the baton of Neeme Järvi, mostly on the Chandos label. In the 1970s, the DSO took part in the historic Black Composers Series for Columbia Records led by its then-Associate Conductor Paul Freeman and later made several acclaimed recordings with Antal Doráti for the Decca label. More recently, under the direction of Leonard Slatkin, the DSO recorded music by Rachmaninoff, Copland, and John Williams for the Naxos label, earning its first GRAMMY® nomination in 2017 for Copland’s Third Symphony / Three Latin American Sketches. The first recording with Jader Bignamini, of Wynton Marsalis’s Blues Symphony, will be released in 2025 on the Pentatone label.
Since its first school concerts a century ago, and particularly since the founding of the Civic Youth Ensembles in 1970, the DSO has been a national leader in bringing the benefits of music education to students, teachers, and families in Detroit and surrounding communities. The DSO remains committed to expanding its participation in the growth and well-being of Detroit through programs like its Detroit Neighborhood Initiative—cultural events co-created with community partners and residents—and Detroit Harmony, a promise to provide an instrument and instruction to any student in the city who wants to learn. With unwavering support from the people of Detroit, the DSO actively pursues a mission to impact lives through the power of unforgettable musical experiences.
COMPLETE PROGRAM LISTING
OPENING NIGHT GALA
Featuring Juan Diego Flórez
September 27, 2025 at 7 p.m.
Jader Bignamini, conductor
Juan Diego Flórez, tenor
Superstar tenor Juan Diego Flórez captivates with his unmatched virtuosity, elegance, and irresistible charm in a dazzling program of operatic arias and songs in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Opening Night Gala. Opera News aptly described his voice as “the engine in a Porsche 911”—a finely tuned marvel of artistry and power. Experience the thrill of world-class performance in an unforgettable evening.
2025–2026 PVS CLASSICAL SERIES
CLASSICAL 1
HÉLÈNE GRIMAUD PLAYS GERSHWIN
October 9, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
October 10, 2025 at 8 p.m.
October 11, 2025 at 8 p.m.
Jader Bignamini, conductor
Hélène Grimaud, piano
The DSO’s 2025–2026 season, and celebration of America at 250, opens with an energetic work by Composer-in-Residence Michael Abels, inspired by a painting of Jesse Owens. The celebration continues with Gershwin’s jazz-influenced showcase for piano and orchestra featuring Hélène Grimaud and concludes with stirring music from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet. Jader Bignamini conducts.
MICHAEL ABELS Unbound
GERSHWIN Piano Concerto in F
PROKOFIEV Music from Romeo & Juliet
CLASSICAL 2
MARSALIS'S VIOLIN CONCERTO AND SHOSTAKOVICH NINE
October 17, 2025 at 10:45 a.m.
October 18, 2025 at 8 p.m.
October 19, 2025 at 8 p.m.
Jader Bignamini, conductor
Giuseppe Gibboni, violin
This pair of works takes classical music to the heights of celebration and mirth. Giuseppe Gibboni performs Wynton Marsalis’s exuberant Violin Concerto, rooted in the blues with thrilling high-wire feats for the soloist. Shostakovich’s Ninth is one of the composer’s most jovial symphonies, a defiant laugh in the face of Soviet oppression.
WYNTON MARSALIS Violin Concerto
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 9
CLASSICAL 3
October 30, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
October 31, 2025 at 10:45 a.m.
November 1, 2025 at 8 p.m.
Tabita Berglund, conductor
Kirill Gerstein, piano
This program explores a line of development of Viennese musical style: from Mozart’s overture to one of his most beloved comic operas, to Brahms’s monumental First Piano Concerto played here by Kirill Gerstein, to an early work by Schoenberg full of lush harmonies and indebted to Brahms’s expressive Romanticism. Tabita Berglund leads the orchestra.
MOZART Overture to Le nozze di Figaro
SCHÖNBERG Verklärte Nacht
BRAHMS Piano Concerto No. 1
CLASSICAL 4
November 7, 2025 at 8 p.m.
November 8, 2025 at 8 p.m.
November 9, 2025 at 3 p.m.
Jader Bignamini, conductor
Chen Reiss, soprano
Reginald Mobley, countertenor
Andrzej Filończyk, baritone
Audivi, chorus
Detroit Youth Opera Chorus, children’s choir
Reginald Mobley, counter tenor
Andrzej Filończyk, baritone
Carl Orff’s enormous work for orchestra, soloists, and choir sings of worldly pleasures and the ups and downs of fortune. The program begins with two contemporary classics by Michael Abels: Global Warming, which combines the music of a variety of cultures (originally written to celebrate warming international relations in 1990), and More Seasons, described by Abels as “Vivaldi in a Mixmaster.”
MICHAEL ABELS Global Warming
MICHAEL ABELS More Seasons
ORFF Carmina Burana
CLASSICAL 5
BIGNAMINI CONDUCTS MOZART AND BEETHOVEN
November 14, 2025 at 10:45 a.m.
November 14, 2015 at 8 p.m.
November 15, 2025 at 8 p.m.
Jader Bignamini, conductor
Francesco Piemontesi, piano
Mozart’s deeply expressive Symphony No. 40 remains one of his most enduring works. Acclaimed pianist Francesco Piemontesi joins Jader Bignamini for Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1, full of bold contrasts and playful stylistic turns. This thrilling program begins with Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture, inspired by the heroic character of a Shakespearean tragedy.
BEETHOVEN Coriolan Overture, Op. 62
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major
MOZART Symphony No. 40 in G minor
CLASSICAL 6
ROMANTIC TREASURES: BRUCH & BRAHMS
December 4, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
December 6, 2025 at 8 p.m.
December 7, 2025 at 3 p.m.
Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider, conductor/violin
Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider performs treasures of German Romanticism, both as violin soloist and conductor. Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 is a virtuosic display that also wears its heart on its sleeve with aching melodies and a lush orchestral accompaniment. Brahms’s Symphony No. 2 exudes lyrical beauty throughout and builds to a triumphant ending.
BRUCH Violin Concerto No. 1
BRAHMS Symphony No. 2
CLASSICAL 7
January 16, 2026 at 10:45 a.m.
January 16, 2026 at 8 p.m.
January 17, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Jonathon Heyward, conductor
The Kanneh-Mason Trio:
Isata Kanneh-Mason, piano
Braimah Kanneh-Mason, violin
Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cello
Celebrated American conductor Jonathon Heyward returns in a program featuring the all-star Kanneh-Mason siblings in Beethoven’s rarely performed Triple Concerto, effectively a concerto for piano trio and orchestra. Mendelssohn’s “Italian” Symphony takes inspiration from the composer’s travels in Italy, reflecting the sunny countryside, imposing architecture, and spirited local dances.
WEBER Overture to Oberon
BEETHOVEN Triple Concerto
MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 4
CLASSICAL 8
MARSALIS'S SWING SYMPHONY WITH PARADISE THEATRE BIG BAND
February 6, 2026 at 8 p.m.
February 7, 2026 at 8 p.m.
February 8, 2026 at 3 p.m.
Jader Bignamini, conductor
Paradise Theatre Big Band (Kris Johnson, Founder & Director)
Experience works by Pulitzer Prize-winning composers, including the world premiere of Michael Abels’s suite from his and Rhiannon Giddens’s opera Omar, based Omar ibn Said’s 1831 autobiography, the only memoir of an American slave written in Arabic. Wynton Marsalis’s Swing Symphony features the Paradise Theatre Big Band in musical dialogue with the DSO.
RHIANNON GIDDENS/MICHAEL ABELS Suite from Omar (World Premiere)
WYNTON MARSALIS Swing Symphony
CLASSICAL 9
BEETHOVEN, BIGNAMINI & WEILERSTEIN
February 13, 2026 at 10:45 a.m.
February 14, 2026 at 8 p.m.
February 15, 2026 at 3 p.m.
Jader Bignamini, conductor
Alisa Weilerstein, cello
Alisa Weilerstein, one of today’s foremost cellists, performs a concerto written for her by Joan Tower and co-commissioned by the DSO. Tower’s work shows a range of influences, from the rhythms she heard during her childhood in South America to the driving pulse found in the music of Beethoven—whose energetic Fourth Symphony concludes the concert.
GABRIELA LENA FRANK Three Latin American Dances
JOAN TOWER A New Day (DSO co-commission)
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 4, in Bb major, Op. 60
CLASSICAL 10
February 26, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
February 27, 2026 at 8 p.m.
February 28, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Fabien Gabel, conductor
Emmanuel Pahud, flute
Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique tells the story of a quintessential Romantic artist, complete with a lovelorn obsession, a pastoral scene in the country, frightful hallucinations, and a wild witches’ sabbath. Emmanuel Pahud, hailed as a “one-in-a-generation flutist” (San Francisco Classical Review) is the soloist in Samy Moussa’s DSO co-commissioned concerto.
THOMAS Overture to Mignon
SAMY MOUSSA Flute Concerto (DSO co-commission)
BERLIOZ Symphonie fantastique
CLASSICAL 11
March 6, 2026 at 10:45 a.m.
March 7, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Thomas Wilkins, conductor
Kenneth Thompkins, trombone
Premiered by trombonist Kenneth Thompkins and the DSO in 2023, Carlos Simon’s moving concerto commemorates the Underground Railroad and, in Simon’s words, “the stories, accounts, and experiences told by many enslaved people and abolitionists.” Thomas Wilkins also conducts William Grant Still’s vibrant and uplifting Fourth Symphony, which celebrates a wide variety of American musical cultures.
CARLOS SIMON Troubled Water for Trombone and Orchestra
WILLIAM GRANT STILL Symphony No. 4
CLASSICAL 12
March 20, 2026 at 10:45 a.m.
March 21, 2026 at 8 p.m.
March 22, 2026 at 3 p.m.
Jörg Widmann, conductor
Robyn Bollinger, violin
Mendelssohn’s beloved Violin Concerto, played here by DSO Concertmaster Robyn Bollinger, is awash in lyricism and virtuosic displays. Conducted by Mendelssohn at its premiere, Schumann’s buoyant “Spring” Symphony delights in celebrating the season of renewal. Composer and conductor Jörg Widmann opens with a piece of his own, which he describes as echoing Beethoven’s “fury and rhythmic insistence.”
JÖRG WIDMANN Con brio
MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto
SCHUMANN Symphony No. 1
CLASSICAL 13
NORTHERN LIGHTS FESTVIAL | TETZLAFF PLAYS SIBELIUS
April 9, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
April 10, 2026 at 8 p.m.
April 11, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Tabita Berglund, conductor
Christian Tetzlaff, violin
Led by Principal Guest Conductor Tabita Berglund, the DSO’s Northern Lights Festival begins in Finland with Rautavaara’s pairing of orchestra with recorded birdsong, and Sibelius’s breathtaking, stormy Violin Concerto performed by renowned soloist Christian Tetzlaff. Continuing to Berglund’s native Norway, Grieg’s incidental music to Ibsen’s Peer Gynt features some of the composer’s most iconic passages.
RAUTAVAARA Cantus Arcticus
SIBELIUS Violin Concerto
GRIEG Peer Gynt Prelude
GRIEG Peer Gynt Suite No. 2, Op. 55
GRIEG Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46
CLASSICAL 14
NORTHERN LIGHTS FESTIVAL | EXCELSIOR! AND NIELSEN
April 18, 2026 at 8 p.m.
April 19, 2026 at 3 p.m.
Tabita Berglund, conductor
Eldbjørg Hemsing, violin
The DSO’s Northern Lights Festival continues with compositions from Sweden and Denmark. Norwegian violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing makes her DSO debut with an ethereal concerto by Anders Hillborg. Principal Guest Conductor Tabita Berglund, a Norwegian native, also leads the orchestra in the dramatic interplay of contrasts in Nielsen’s Fifth.
STENHAMMAR Excelsior!
ANDERS HILLBORG Violin Concerto No. 2
NIELSEN Symphony No. 5
CLASSICAL 15
April 30, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
May 1, 2026 at 8 p.m.
May 2, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Jader Bignamini, conductor
Pacho Flores, trumpet
Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony, written during his time in the US, draws on the character of American musical traditions, charting a path for later composers. The concert also looks elsewhere in the New World, with works from Mexico and Argentina that similarly incorporate national styles: Arturo Márquez’s trumpet concerto with virtuoso Pacho Flores and Alberto Ginastera’s dance-like variations.
GINASTERA Variaciones Concertantes
ARTURO MÁRQUEZ Concierto de Otoño
DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 9 “From the New World”
CLASSICAL 16
HERBERT BLOMSTEDT CONDUCTS MAHLER'S NINTH
May 9, 2026 at 8 p.m.
May 10, 2026 at 3 p.m.
Herbert Blomstedt, conductor
In this special appearance, legendary conductor Herbert Blomstedt leads Mahler’s last completed symphony. Traversing practically every emotion, it achieves what Mahler believed a symphony should do: contain everything. The music oscillates between titanic, vehement power and beauty on the scale of stars, ultimately converging on a sound resting in shimmering, eternal wonder.
MAHLER Symphony No. 9
CLASSICAL 17
May 14, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
May 15, 2026 at 10:45 a.m.
May 16, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Jane Glover, conductor
Written for Baroque orchestra, Stacy Garrop’s Handel-inspired concert opener features bursts of musical color and leads perfectly into Music for the Royal Fireworks. Musical pyrotechnics continue in the jubilant trumpet line of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 and conclude with Haydn’s beloved final symphony. Dame Jane Glover conducts this spectacular program.
STACY GARROP Spectacle of Light
HANDEL Music for the Royal Fireworks
J.S. BACH Brandenburg Concerto No. 2
HAYDN Symphony 104 in D major, “London”
CLASSICAL 18
TCHAIKOVSKY'S SWAN LAKE AND OTHER TALES
May 22, 2026 at 8 p.m.
May 23, 2026 at 8 p.m.
May 24, 2026 at 3 p.m.
Hannu Lintu, conductor
Wei Yu, cello
Stravinsky’s extravagant Song of the Nightingale is based on a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. John Adams’s work was inspired by the colors, shapes, and sounds of Stravinsky’s piece. Stories of fanciful birds continue with music from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and DSO Principal Cello Wei Yu performs Shostakovich’s moving concerto.
JOHN ADAMS Slonimsky’s Earbox
SHOSTAKOVICH Cello Concerto No. 1
STRAVINSKY Le Chant du rossingol
TCHAIKOVSKY Suite from Swan Lake
CLASSICAL 19
WAGNER, TCHAIKOVSKY, AND STRAUSS
June 5, 2026 at 10:45 a.m.
June 6, 2026 at 8 p.m.
June 7, 2026 at 3 p.m.
Jader Bignamini, conductor
Stories of tragic love unfold through the expressive power of the orchestra. Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde conveys the tender weight of grief with exquisite harmonies, and Tchaikovsky recounts forbidden lovers from Dante’s Inferno who are eternally tossed in the wind. The highs and lows of a bittersweet romance are on display in scenes from Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier.
WAGNER Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde
TCHAIKOVSKY Francesca da Rimini
WAGNER Siegfried Idyll
- STRAUSS Suite from Der Rosenkavalier
CLASSICAL 20
June 11, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
June 12, 2026 at 8 p.m.
June 13, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Jader Bignamini, conductor
Hilary Hahn, violin
Superstar violinist Hilary Hahn returns with Mozart’s majestic Violin Concerto No. 5. Nicknamed the “Turkish” concerto, it contains a lively section meant to evoke an Ottoman military band. The season concludes with a flourish as Jader Bignamini leads the DSO in Rachmaninoff’s sumptuous Second Symphony, a work beloved for its rich orchestral textures and soaring melodies.
MOZART Violin Concerto No. 5, “Turkish”
RACHMANINOFF Symphony No. 2 in E minor
2025–2026 PNC POPS SERIES
POPS 1
Friday, October 3, 2025 at 10:45 a.m.
Friday, October 3, 2025 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, October 4, 2025 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, October 5, 2025 at 3 p.m.
Enrico Lopez-Yañez, conductor
The DSO joins forces with Troupe Vertigo once again! Blending an eclectic and refreshing mix of visually stunning acrobatics with the power of a world-class orchestra, this performance promises an unforgettable experience that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
POPS 2
Friday, October 24, 2025 at 10:45 a.m.
Saturday, October 25, 2025 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, October 26, 2025 at 3 p.m.
Enrico Lopez-Yañez, conductor
The Three Mexican Tenors:
Bernardo Bermudez, tenor
Jorge Lopez-Yañez, tenor
José Luis Ordoñez, tenor
Bursting with charm and charisma, The Three Mexican Tenors take you on a riveting musical journey, backed by the DSO under the baton of Enrico Lopez-Yañez. From operatic masterpieces like Libiamo and O Sole Mio to beloved pop hits such as You Raise Me Up and Time to Say Goodbye, the evening culminates in a heartfelt tribute to Mexico’s legendary voices—Luis Miguel, Juan Gabriel, Vicente Fernández, and more—celebrating the rich soul and passion of Mexican music.
POPS 3
Friday, November 21, 2025 at 10:45 a.m.
Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, November 23, 2025 at 3 p.m.
Enrico Lopez-Yañez, conductor
Tony DeSare, vocals and piano
Join the DSO and vocalist-pianist Tony DeSare for a symphonic celebration of Billy Joel’s most iconic hits. With DeSare’s signature vocals and dynamic piano style, experience the legendary songs of the Piano Man like never before—brought to life with full orchestral arrangements conducted by Enrico Lopez-Yañez. Hear favorites including “Only the Good Die Young,” “Just the Way You Are,” “Piano Man,” “New York State of Mind,” “You May Be Right,” “Movin’ Out,” “My Life,” “Don’t Ask Me Why,” and more in this unforgettable tribute to one of music’s greatest storytellers.
Please note: Billy Joel Does not appear on this program.
POPS 4
Friday, December 12, 2025 at 10:45 a.m.
Friday, December 12, 2025 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 3 p.m.
Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, December 14, 2025 at 3 p.m.
Sunday, December 14, 2025 at 7 p.m.
Celebrate the season with one of Detroit’s favorite holiday traditions! The DSO and special guests bring the magic of the holidays to life with festive favorites performed in the warmth of Orchestra Hall. Make memories to cherish for years to come with a concert filled with joy, music, and holiday spirit.
POPS 5
TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE CHART: '80S CHART TOPPERS
Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, January 11, 2026 at 3 p.m.
Turn around, bright eyes, and relive the electrifying sound of the ’80s—when cassette tapes ruled and the airwaves were packed with anthems from Eurythmics, Tina Turner, U2, Prince, George Michael, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Phil Collins, Lionel Richie, The Police, and more. The DSO brings the soundtrack of a generation to life once again, because the lyric still holds true: “I need you now tonight, and I need you more than ever.”
POPS 6
Friday, January 30, 2026 at 10:45 a.m.
Friday, January 30, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, February 1, 2026 at 3 p.m.
Steven Reineke, conductor
Join the DSO and conductor Steven Reineke as they bring the silver screen to life in an unforgettable night of Epic Film Scores. From Hollywood’s golden age to today’s biggest blockbusters, this cinematic celebration highlights legendary composers who forever defined the sound of film. Experience heart-racing thrillers, classic epics, and beloved fanfares in a journey through iconic moments in film history you won’t want to miss.
POPS 7
THE SOUNDS OF LAUREL CANYON: '60S AND '70S ROCK LEGENDS
Friday, March 13, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, March 15, 2026 at 3 p.m.
Jeff Tyzik, conductor
Step into the heart of the 1960s and ’70s California rock scene with a symphonic tribute to the legendary artists who shaped a generation led by conductor Jeff Tyzik and the DSO. This unforgettable concert captures the spirit of Laurel Canyon—the creative epicenter of the California Sound—bringing to life the timeless music of Buffalo Springfield, The Doors, The Mamas & The Papas, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, James Taylor, and more. Experience the era that defined peace, love, and musical revolution.
POPS 8
RICK STEVES' EUROPE: A SYMPHONIC JOURNEY
Friday, March 27, 2026 at 10:45 a.m.
Saturday, March 28, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Best known for his acclaimed PBS series and bestselling travel guides, Rick Steves takes audiences on a different kind of journey—A Symphonic Journey. From Italy and England to Austria, Norway, and beyond, Steves and the DSO pair Europe’s most stirring orchestral masterpieces with live, on-stage narration, offering rich insights into the history and culture that shaped these timeless works. Experience the beauty of Europe through the power of music in this one-of-a-kind symphonic adventure.
POPS 9
Friday, April 24, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 3 p.m.
Brent Havens, conductor
Experience a full night of Journey’s greatest hits—plus a few deep cuts for the die-hard fans—as the DSO, conductor Brent Havens, and Windborne Music bring the band’s legendary sound to life like never before. Singer Juan Del Castillo and Windborne’s exceptional musicians join forces with the DSO for a symphonic tribute to some of rock’s most iconic anthems.
POPS 10
Friday, May 29, 2026 at 10:45 a.m.
Saturday, May 30, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 31, 2026 at 3 p.m.
Enrico Lopez-Yañez, conductor
Celebrate America's 250th Anniversary with the songs and sounds that have shaped the nation’s musical legacy. From jazz standards and Broadway classics to the Great American Songbook, vocalists Melinda Doolittle and Jimmie Herrod join the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and conductor Enrico Lopez-Yañez for a journey through America's musical heritage.
POPS 11
Friday, June 19, 2026 at 10:45 a.m.
Saturday, June 20, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, June 21, 2026 at 3 p.m.
Pink Martini
Enrico Lopez-Yañez, conductor
Explosive yet graceful, touching yet playful—there’s no band quite like Pink Martini! Joined by the DSO and featuring the sensational Storm Large, this 12-musician ensemble delivers a genre-blurring performance that blends jazz, world music, and ’40s-’50s pop, taking audiences on a musical journey around the globe. With songs in 25 languages and over 3 million albums sold worldwide, Pink Martini returns to Orchestra Hall for an unforgettable evening.
2025–2026 YOUNG PEOPLE’S FAMILY CONCERT SERIES & TINY TOTS
TINY TOTS 1
MISS PAULA AND THE CANDY BANDITS
Saturday, October 25, 2025 at 10 a.m.
Miss Paula and the Candy Bandits is a family-friendly rock band. Go on a mellow musical journey with Miss Paula and friends as they perform a special acoustic set of candy-coated rock music for kids and adults alike, featuring a guitar, vocalists, and percussion. Join in the fun with movement and call back singing!
YPFC 1
PIRATES! THE QUEST FOR BLACKBEARD’S TREASURE
Saturday, October 25, 2025 at 11 a.m.
Enrico Lopez-Yañez, conductor
All hands on deck! When Captain Enrico and First Mate Pip discover a clue to the lost treasure of Captain Blackbeard, they recruit their audience of new sailors to sail the seven seas in search of this legendary prize. But the notorious Captain Guerrero and his salty crew of scallywags are also on the hunt and will stop at nothing to get to the treasure first.
TINY TOTS 2
Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 10 a.m.
Join the Kris Johnson Group for a fun morning of music where you and your kids can learn about the foundation of Detroit music: GROOVE. From swing, and blues to Motown and hip-hop, “What is Groove?” will get the audience to feel the beat in a whole new way. Led by trumpeter Kris Johnson, this presentation will introduce you to the role of various instruments in a band and how they work together to make music.
YPFC 2
Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 11 a.m.
Get ready for Winter Wonderland! The sleigh bells are ringing, the orchestra is swinging, and there’s plenty of festive holiday cheer to go around. Bundle up and enjoy a sparkling musical celebration with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra that’ll have you humming all the way home.
TINY TOTS 3
Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 10 a.m.
Hear fun, imaginative, and interactive performances designed for children ages 2-6. Enjoy up-close and personal performances in the DSO's Cube as audiences sing, dance, and enjoy a morning full of musical fun—all before naptime!
YPFC 3
Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 11 a.m.
Experience the timeless stories of beloved children’s author and illustrator Leo Lionni brought to life through the vibrant music of composer-in-residence Michael Abels. These enchanting musical settings capture the heart and wonder of Lionni’s classic tales, making for a performance that will delight audiences of all ages.
TINY TOTS 4
Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 10 a.m.
A beloved family favorite at the DSO, Gemini brings joy to kids and parents alike with their warm, humorous, and toe-tapping acoustic music. Their concerts are packed with sing-alongs, lively folk tales, and melodies from around the world.
YPFC 4
Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 11 a.m.
Join Principal Tuba Dennis Nulty and the DSO for a special Young People's Family concert as they bring Tubby the Tuba's story to life!
2025–2026 SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS AND FILM CONCERT EXPERIENCES
September 6, 2025 at 8 p.m.
Experience Beatlemania in all its glory! The “best Beatles tribute on earth” (Rolling Stone) is complete with authentic period instruments, iconic ‘60s fashion, and the electrifying energy that defined Beatlemania. This isn’t just a tribute; it’s a journey back in time bringing the original set up and infectious spirit of a live Beatles concert.
1964 The Tribute is not endorsed or affiliated with Apple Corps, LTD.
The DSO does not appear on this program.
October 22, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
Skull and Bones is a symphonic showcase meets Halloween rave! Creator/conductor Steve Hackman remixes classic orchestra showpieces like The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, “Mars” from The Planets, and Danse Macabre with electronic beats, and re-imagines hit songs from Muse (“Uprising”), Adele (“Rolling in the Deep”), and Radiohead (“Creep”) with guest vocalist, rapper, and the DSO.
December 10, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
Lucas Waldin, conductor
Funny, irresistible, and heart-warming, Love Actually is set in contemporary London in the weeks before Christmas and tells one story that weaves together a spectacular amount of love stories—sometimes romantic, sometimes sad, sometimes stupid—all funny in their own way. Don’t miss this holiday classic, with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra performing the score live to film.
Love Actually is a copyright of WT Venture LLC. Licensed by Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
December 18, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
Celebrate the season with the brilliance of brass! Holiday Brass brings the warmth and joy of the holidays to Orchestra Hall with festive takes on classic carols and seasonal favorites. Enjoy an evening filled with holiday cheer, performed by the world-class musicians of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
December 20, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
December 21, 2025 at 3 p.m.
Jason Seber, conductor
Enjoy one of the most beloved holiday films of all time accompanied by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra performing John Williams's captivating score! Relive John Hughes's charming and hilarious story about family with the young Macaulay Culkin who captured the hearts of audiences worldwide.
© 1990 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN™ IN CONCERT
January 8, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
January 9, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Relive the magic of your favorite wizard in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™ in Concert. Based on the third installment of the classic saga, the thrilling tale is accompanied by the music of a live symphony orchestra as Harry soars across the big screen.
WIZARDING WORLD and all related trademarks, characters, names, and indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR.
BEETHOVEN X BEYONCÉ
March 29, 2026 at 7 p.m.
GIRLS. They run the world.... they turn up the night... and if you liked it, then you should have put a ring on it! Steve Hackman’s Beethoven X Beyoncé celebrates and elevates all things woman by combining pop music’s Queen with classical music’s King: Beethoven
and Beyoncé.
Please note: Beyoncé does not appear on this program.