Gustavo Gimeno shapes the TSO's 2026/27 season with bold symphonic staples, new commissions, blockbuster pops and family offerings
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The Toronto Symphony Orchestra has revealed an expansive 2026/27 season designed to serve both long-time subscribers and newcomers. Under the artistic direction of Gustavo Gimeno, the programming is intentionally broad: it juxtaposes canonical symphonies and concerto staples with contemporary premieres, cinematic concerts, and festive family events.
The season highlights include a high-energy season opener with pianist Yuja Wang, the completion of a two-year Beethoven symphony cycle, and the monumental presentation of Mahler’s Symphony No. 8, the so-called “Symphony of a Thousand,” staged with choir and soloists and recorded live.
Throughout the season announcement, the TSO emphasizes community engagement and artistic variety. Subscribers will find offerings across a Classics series, curated Pops programs, special themed performances, holiday programming, and dedicated concerts for young audiences. The orchestra pairs celebrated soloists and conductors with emerging Canadian talents and several internationally renowned guests—each chosen to illuminate the season’s thematic mix of tradition, renewal, and popular appeal.
Classics series: a mix of pillars and premieres
The Classics Series aims to balance time-honored masterworks with newly commissioned voices. Gimeno opens with a program that features Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 performed by Yuja Wang, alongside atmospheric works such as Debussy’s La mer and a new commission by Canadian composer Linda Catlin Smith. Midseason events mark notable composer anniversaries and repertoire milestones: John Adams is honored, the orchestra programs Manuel de Falla’s major works, and the completion of Beethoven’s first five symphonies culminates a two-year cycle. Across the season the TSO also performs symphonies by Brahms, Bruckner, Sibelius, Shostakovich, and Tchaikovsky, offering both depth and variety.
Spotlight artists and soloists
Two artists receive special focus: Canadian pianist Angela Hewitt and French violinist Renaud Capuçon, selected by Gimeno for their breadth of repertoire and collaborative strengths. Hewitt will perform major concertos including Beethoven’s Fourth, while Capuçon will appear in programs that traverse both concert hall classics and cinematic themes. The season also introduces guest conductors and soloists who make first appearances with the orchestra, and it welcomes returning collaborators such as Maxim Emelyanychev who will conduct and perform Mozart from the piano.
World premieres and contemporary commissions
A clear commitment to new music shapes the season: the TSO programs multiple premieres, some commissioned by the orchestra, encompassing Canadian and international creators. Highlights include a new piano concerto by celebrated composer Joe Hisaishi—presented in Canada with Hisaishi conducting—and works by Joan Tower and Linda Catlin Smith. The orchestra also supports young composers through its NextGen program and commissions that range from solo concerti to large-scale orchestral works, reinforcing the TSO’s role in expanding the modern orchestral repertoire.
Notable premières and collaborations
Among the premieres are several co-commissions and Canadian debuts, including contemporary concerti for harp and cello, and new orchestral pieces written by the TSO’s Composer Advisor and NextGen composers. These projects are paired with cross-disciplinary programming, such as an Art of Healing commission integrated with mental health partnerships, demonstrating how music can intersect with broader community initiatives.
Pops, special performances and family programming
The Pops Series, curated by Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke, celebrates music from screen and stage with programs that include James Bond favorites, a tribute to Whitney Houston, swing-era revivals, and a cinematic “sci‑fi” showdown that pits franchise scores in friendly competition. Special events include a Lunar New Year celebration, film-in-concert presentations of beloved movies performed live to picture, and the return of high-profile collaborators for programs that bridge popular culture and orchestral performance.
Holiday concerts and the Young People’s Concerts round out the season, offering family-friendly presentations that range from singalongs and Celtic holiday festivities to orchestral scores accompanying seasonal films. The TSO’s education initiatives are designed to cultivate future audiences through lively, age-appropriate concerts and community engagement led by the orchestra’s education team.
In sum, the TSO’s 2026/27 lineup presents a deliberately varied musical calendar: from the grandeur of Mahler’s Eighth to newly commissioned concerti and populist stage favorites, all framed by thoughtful curation and broad community outreach. Gustavo Gimeno’s programming signals an orchestra comfortable in the classics yet eager to expand sonic horizons and welcome diverse audiences for the shared experience of live performance.
