RSNO Launches 2025:26 Dundee Concert Season Posted Thu 17 April 2025
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) launches its 2025:26 Dundee Concert Season with Scottish talent, new commissions and returning favourites under the artistic leadership of Music Director Thomas Søndergård.
Music Director Thomas Søndergård begins the Dundee Season with an exclusive concert featuring Francesco Piemontesi performing Brahms’ Piano Concerto No1 before Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony takes audiences on a journey across the country. Scottish talent is at the fore with Nicola Benedetti returning to the Caird Hall in May for Elgar’s Violin Concerto alongside Ukrainian conductor Kirill Karabits in a concert which includes Franghiz Ali-Zadeh’s musical fairy tales from Azerbaijan.
From even closer to home, the young musicians of Big Noise Douglas will take to the stage with the RSNO and conductor Giedrė Šlekytė for a special side-by-side performance in December. This continues the RSNO’s highly valued partnership with Sistema Scotland which delivers the Big Noise music education and social change programmes across the country. Šlekytė goes on to conduct the inimitable Nemanja Radulović for Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto and then Mahler’s First Symphony.
In March, the Caird Hall will see the World Premiere of a special commission by Elena Langer. Performed by soprano Anna Dennis and conducted by the esteemed Kristiina Poska, the work is inspired by the nature poetry of Glyn Maxwell and is billed alongside Arvo Pärt’s Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten and Tchaikovsky’s tragical, triumphant Fourth Symphony.
The Music of John Williams returns to the Caird Hall stage under the baton of Hollywood maestro Richard Kaufman with film music from the likes of E.T., Schindler’s List and Harry Potter. Continuing its long-standing tradition, the RSNO will perform its annual Christmas Concert featuring the beloved animated film, The Snowman, this year narrated by comedian Josie Long.
A brand-new addition to the RSNO’s concert calendar in December is A Festive Celebration, a matinee performance of favourite Christmas melodies with the RSNO’s Brass Ensemble and Dundee’s very own Chorus Academy. Audiences will also be able to see Dundee Chorus Academy in a pre-concert performance before Nicola Benedetti plays Elgar’s Violin Concerto in May. Dundee Chorus Academy is an un-auditioned, community choir open to all which focuses on singing for health and wellbeing. The choir helps build participants confidence in all aspects of singing, including choral and singing techniques, and reading a musical score.
RSNO Chief Executive Alistair Mackie said:
‘Being back in Dundee is always a pleasure, and this year we have so much great talent heading to the Caird Hall stage. Thomas Søndergård opening with a Dundee-only performance of Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony will be a superb start to what is going to be a fantastic Season. A real highlight will be having Nicola Benedetti back with us in Dundee for the first time since 2019, as well as premiering Elena Langer’s new work with Anna Dennis, and working closely with the Dundee Chorus Academy for their performances.
‘I am so pleased that our relationship with Sistema Scotland continues with the young musicians from Big Noise Douglas performing alongside the Orchestra once again. Everyone at the RSNO highly anticipates these concerts which bring so much joy to all involved.
‘I am looking forward to welcoming audiences to the Caird Hall and sharing the Season with them.’
The priority booking period for 2025:26 Dundee multibuy customers opens at 10am on Thursday 17 April, with tickets on general sale from Monday 12 May. Customers who book all four Classical Concerts save 20% on their multibuy booking. Booking online at www.rsno.org.uk.
The RSNO’s work in Dundee and Tayside is kindly supported by the Northwood Charitable Trust, R J Larg Family Trust, Leng Charitable Trust, Tay Charitable Trust and Leisure & Culture Dundee Major Music Award.
