BBC SCOTTISH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CELEBRATES 90 YEARS OF BOLD, MUSICAL ADVENTURES
The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (BBC SSO) has announced its 90th Anniversary Season across Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow from September 2025 to May 2026.
Audiences in the concert hall and on BBC radio can expect a bumper season of big-hearted blockbusters, collaborations with the UK’s leading choirs—including the BBC Singers—and music inspired by the orchestra’s founding era and milestones across its nine decade history.
2025/26 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
- Big-hearted blockbusters by Sibelius, Tchaikovsky and Debussy, plus all three of Rachmaninov’s symphonies and Piano Concertos Nos 2 & 3
- In his fourth season as Chief Conductor, Ryan Wigglesworth conducts the BBC SSO’s 90th Anniversary Concert featuring pianist Sir Stephen Hough, the National Youth Choir of Scotland and composer Ayanna Witter-Johnson
- Delyana Lazarova begins her tenure as Principal Guest Conductor, joined by pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason for the “Everest of piano concertos”, Rachmaninov’s Third
- Conductor Emeritus Sir Donald Runnicles directs Mahler’s ‘Resurrection’ Symphony with soprano Jennifer Davis, mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill and the Edinburgh Festival Chorus
- Choral collaborations with the BBC Singers, Edinburgh Festival Chorus, National Youth Choir of Scotland and RCS Chamber Choir
- World premieres including BBC commissionsby Philip Dutton and Ayanna-Witter Johnson. Plus, Ryan Wigglesworth’s own tribute to the BBC SSO’s former Leader Laura Samuel
- Classical meets Jazz at SWG3– singer/cellist and composer Ayanna-Witter Johnson joins Mercury Prize nominee Fergus McCreadie for a celebration of Scottish Jazz-Classical heroes
- Bride of Frankenstein (1935) – a landmark of Hollywood’s Golden Age lives again! The BBC SSO performs Franz Waxman’s classic score from the orchestra’s founding year
- The Music & Meditation Podcast: LIVE – the BBC’s breakthrough podcast is recorded with the BBC SSO in front of a live audience at the Old Fruitmarket
- Live broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds, with select performances also available on BBC Radio Scotland and BBC iPlayer
- Full details of concert programmes and ticketing information can be found in the brochures below.
DIGITAL SEASON BROCHURES
Glasgow 25/26 – download here
Aberdeen 25/26 – download here
Edinburgh 25/26 – download here