Scotland’s National Orchestra launches stirring new season Posted Thu 26 March 2026
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) celebrates its 135th anniversary in the 2026:27 Season with timeless classics, innovative programming, family-favourite films live in concert and a nod to rock icons Bowie, Queen and Coldplay.
Recently awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society’s prestigious Ensemble Award in recognition of the outstanding quality and scope of its performances and work, the RSNO demonstrates its on-going commitment to bringing high-quality performances to audiences across Scotland in the 2026:27 Concert Season. The Season will feature new commissions and contemporary voices, platform rising stars and Scotland’s young musicians, and honour the greats of classical music with world-class visiting artists.
In continuation of his Mahler cycle, Music Director Thomas Søndergård bookends the RSNO’s new Season with two giants: Mahler’s Sixth and Third Symphonies. Closing an unforgettable Season with Søndergård is the eminent Scottish mezzo-soprano Beth Taylor, the RSNO’s Artist in Residence for the 2026:27 Season. Taylor’s residency also sees her join Edward Gardner as the queen of Egypt in Berlioz’ La morte de Cléopâtre and perform an afternoon chamber recital accompanied by pianist Marcia Hadjimarkos.
Principal Guest Conductor Patrick Hahn returns with a kaleidoscopic programme stretching across centuries, from the 18th to 21st, from Bach and Verdi to Philip Glass and David Fennessy. Performing the UK premiere of Fennessey’s new cutting-edge concerto for electric guitar is the Edinburgh-born guitar extraordinaire Sean Shibe. In partnership with Sonica Festival, Hahn and the RSNO are joined by visual artist Tatsuru Arai to perform Glass’ Heroes Symphony inspired by David Bowie’s 1970s album in Glasgow’s Tramway. From Bowie to Mercury, the music of glam rock mega group Queen goes head-to-head with that of alt-rockers Coldplay in a concert exclusive to Edinburgh’s Usher Hall.
Having positioned themselves as a sought-after recording orchestra for film, TV and video game soundtracks, the RSNO is perfectly placed to perform Video Games in Concert as well as live to picture in the RSNO at the Movies series. The 2026:27 Season sees the Orchestra present family-favourite films Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, How to Train Your Dragon 2 and Home Alone 2. Comedian Hugh Dennis returns as narrator of The Snowman in the RSNO’s well-loved Christmas Concerts, supported by ScotRail. Concerts in partnership with Children’s Classic Concerts introduce children to the wonders of classical music with performances at Halloween and Christmas.
Bringing local talent to the fore, RSNO Leader Maya Iwabuchi takes the solo spotlight in Brahms’ Violin Concerto under the baton of the ‘energetic and dynamic’ (The Herald) Emilia Hoving. Scottish percussion maestro Colin Currie conducts the Orchestra in A Celebration of Steve Reich and performs with the RSNO Chamber Ensemble in The Inspiration of Reich. Throughout the Season, up-and-coming talent from the Music School of Douglas Academy and St Mary’s Music School showcase their work in special pre-concert performances, and young musicians from Sistema Scotland’s Big Noise programme join the Orchestra on the stage to play side-by-side. Ayrshire-born Sir James MacMillan takes to the podium with a piece by neighbouring Isle of Arran based composer Electra Perivolaris before performing the Scottish premiere of his own work, Timotheus, Bacchus and Cecilia, in a concert that concludes with Carmina Burana featuring the RSNO Chorus, RSNO Youth Chorus and BSL performer Paul Whittaker. Paul Whittaker returns throughout the Season, bringing a unique perspective to RSNO performances and opening classical music up to a wider audience.
Also receiving Scottish premieres with the RSNO this Season are Britta Byström’s A Walk to Brahms’ Violin Concerto and the pioneering Florence Price’s Piano Concerto in One Movement, performed by captivating pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason and conductor Kellen Gray. As part of the RSNO Comes to Play series, the RSNO’s own Principal Oboe Adrian Wilson and Principal Cor Anglais Henry Clay give the Scottish premiere of Roxanna Panufnik’s double concerto Lunar Solar and the Orchestra performs the UK premiere of Canadian composer Samy Moussa’s new work, both co-commissioned by the RSNO. Moussa himself conducts the piece in matinee performances alongside Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony as part of Beethoven 200, a series of performances by Scotland’s orchestras and national opera company marking the 200th anniversary of the composer’s death. The RSNO also takes on Beethoven’s revolutionary Fifth Symphony under the baton of Music Director Thomas Søndergård in one of the Orchestra’s ten concerts in the Recommended by Classic FM series. This season-long exploration of Beethoven and his groundbreaking music sees all nine of his symphonies performed by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the RSNO.
The RSNO’s 2026:27 Concert Season brochures and images can be found here.