THE NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND
MUSIC DIRECTOR GIANANDREA NOSEDA ANNOUNCE
THE 2025–2026 CLASSICAL SEASON
The National Symphony Orchestra’s 95th Season Highlights include:
10 Weeks of Concerts Led by Music Director Gianandrea Noseda, who recently renewed his contract through 2031, will include:
Zemlinsky’s Lyric Symphony; Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 8; Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the work in 2025; Brahms’ choral works Schicksalslied, Nänie, and Gesang der Parzen; Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring; Jacques Loussier’s Concerto for Violin and Tabla; Scriabin’s Le divin poème, and more
Opera in Concert: Puccini’s Il Trittico with the NSO and Music Director Gianandrea Noseda
at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall
NSO Subscription Concert Debuts
Conductors Karen Kamensek and Kellen Gray; violinist Isabelle Faust; cellists Pablo Ferrández and Seth Parker Woods; singers Camilla Nylund and Zachary James; pianist Behzod Abduraimov; and banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck
America 250: The Promise of US—5 World Premiere Commissions
Works by renowned composers Carlos Simon (Kennedy Center Composer-in-Residence), Reena Esmail, Peter Boyer, Valerie Coleman, and Philip Glass
NSO Presents—Brand New Piano Series
featuring pianists Alexandre Kantorow, Alexandra Dovgan, and Khatia Buniatishvili
(WASHINGTON) – Today, the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) announces their 2025–2026 Classical Season, featuring 10 weeks of concerts led by Music Director Gianandrea Noseda, five world premieres of works by American composers, including Carlos Simon (Kennedy Center Composer-in-Residence), Philip Glass, Reena Esmail, Valerie Coleman, and Peter Boyer/Joseph Sohm to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Nation, a lineup featuring the world’s top conductors and guest artists, and an inventive roster of classical offerings. In addition to this landmark season announcement, the NSO is thrilled to share that Music Director Gianandrea Noseda has signed a contract extension with the NSO through the orchestra’s 100th season in 2031.
Now in his eighth season as Music Director of the NSO, Gianandrea Noseda—recent recipient of Milan’s prestigious Ambrogino D’oro Award—returns to the Kennedy Center to lead 10 weeks of concerts in the 2025–2026 season and presents Puccini’s Il Trittico in its entirety at the Kennedy Center, and at Carnegie Hall for the first time in the legendary hall’s nearly 132-year history. Additionally, in celebration of nearly a decade of partnership, the orchestra was recently excited to share that Noseda has signed a four-year contract extension, ensuring his leadership through the orchestra’s milestone 100th anniversary season in 2031. His continued collaboration promises to leave a lasting impact on the NSO’s sound, history, and legacy.
NSO Executive Director Jean Davidson said, “As we look ahead to the 2025–2026 season, I’m incredibly inspired by the imaginative programming that continues to define the National Symphony Orchestra. This season reflects our deep commitment to artistry at the highest level, innovation, and meaningful connection—with music that honors tradition while resonating powerfully in today’s world. We’re also thrilled to join the nation in celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the United States—an important milestone in our shared history. Under Gianandrea Noseda’s visionary leadership, the NSO is reaching new heights, and I’m looking forward to sharing this next chapter with our audiences at the Kennedy Center and beyond.”
Music Director Gianandrea Noseda said, “The 2025–2026 season offers an ambitious musical adventure for the artists of the National Symphony Orchestra and our audience. I’m excited about the NSO’s 95th season and the many programs we will present, the artists with whom we will collaborate, and the opportunity to continue on our artistic journey. My colleagues and I are also looking forward to celebrating America 250 as we begin to see the National Symphony Orchestra’s 100th anniversary on the horizon in 2031. We welcome everyone to the Kennedy Center to experience our concerts and music-making. We cannot wait to welcome you.”
Throughout the 2025–2026 season, Noseda will explore a repertoire of works both familiar and new to the orchestra, including and opening night performance of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with Yuja Wang to celebrate the work’s 150th anniversary, the Adagio from Mahler’s Symphony No. 10, Zemlinsky’s voluptuous Lyric Symphony in its first NSO season appearance since 2011, Brahms’ Schicksalslied, the first NSO performance of Jacques Loussier’s Concerto for Violin and Tabla, Scriabin’s Le divin poème, and much more.