The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra's 2025 season is a breathtaking journey through musical landscapes, featuring a diverse array of events such as 'Timeless Beauty,' 'Pictures at an Exhibition,' and 'Pinnacle.' With renowned artists like Masaaki Suzuki, Gábor Káli, and Daniil Trifonov, this season promises a rich tapestry of sounds, from Handel's majestic compositions to Bartók's folk influences. Each event, hosted at iconic venues across New Zealand, offers a unique exploration of classical music's power to evoke emotion and reflection.

Exploring Harmonious Landscapes: A Journey Through the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra's 2025 Season

Embark on a musical journey with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra's 2025 season, showcasing a dynamic array of concerts that stretch across an eclectic mix of genres and themes. From nostalgic echoes of the past to vibrant displays of contemporary artistry, these events promise to captivate audiences with performances by acclaimed artists and the debut of innovative compositions. Highlighting ten unique events, the season brings together world-renowned conductors, virtuoso musicians, and evocative creative works that celebrate the timeless beauty of classical music and its evolving expressions.

A Symphony of Events: The 2025 New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Season

Dive into the alluring world of New Zealand Symphony Orchestra's upcoming events, as they present a series of transformative musical journeys. From Mussorgsky's vivid depictions in 'Pictures at an Exhibition' to vibrant cultural tributes in 'Echoes of Home', each concert promises a unique auditory adventure. This season, prestigious conductors and lauded performers will guide audiences through the enchanting landscapes of classical and contemporary music. With an eclectic lineup of events, NZSO is set to captivate the hearts of music enthusiasts across the country.

Exploring New Zealand's Symphony Wonders: A Journey Through Timeless Musical Experiences

Umberto Clerici, Chief Conductor of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and lauded as “a powerhouse on the podium” (Artshub), will be our tour guide to Rome in this exciting concert.

Pinnacle

Auckland Town Hall

Michael Fowler Centre

Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition depicts paintings by Viktor Hartmann, with each movement musically describing each painting in piquant detail.

Pictures at an Exhibition

Christchurch Town Hall

Handel's mastery in blending celebratory and contemplative elements into his music has stood the test of time like few others. The transitioning between moments of majesty and reflective serenity is beautifully evident in the instrumental selections from Handel’s Occasional Oratorio and his Opera Alcina.

Timeless Beauty

Carterton Events Centre

Dr John Gallagher Concert Chamber

Napier Municipal Theatre

The Regent on Broadway

Kapiti College

Sir Howard Morrison Centre

Baycourt Community & Arts Centre

Masaaki Suzuki: conductor; harpsichordist; organist; justly acclaimed interpreter of Baroque music; legend. We are honoured and thrilled to welcome Maestro Suzuki to deliver what Gramophone describes as “interpretations at once so thoughtful and thought-provoking, all within an aura of spontaneous delight.”

Legends

We welcome Hungarian conductor Gábor Káli and NZ violinist Amalia Hall to bring to life Bartók’s unique, folk-inspired soundworld.

Echoes of Home

In addition to the evening concerts, Setting Up Camp also presents an exciting selection of free daytime performances and events for schools and communities: Schools Concerts, education workshops, Side-by Side sessions and Relaxed Concerts for neurodivergent children and adults to enjoy the NZSO in a sensory-friendly environment.

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Masterworks

Due Drop Events Centre

ASB Theatre Marlborough

Turner Centre

Nelson Centre of Musical Arts

The NZSO National Youth Orchestra presents an adventurous programme of works by pillars of the Romantic era alongside a new work by this year's NYO Composer-in-Residence.

NYO Adventure

Spanish pianist Javier Perianes, able to “make the piano sing and glitter with alert, polished brilliance” (Sydney Morning Herald), joins us for two virtuoso masterworks.

Firebird

The first night of the 2025 Rumakina Immerse Festival is an evening of enchantment, with three of the best-loved pieces in the repertoire.

Enchanted

According to Māori tradition, Papatūānuku is the Earth Mother, from which all living things are created. In this concert we celebrate nature with Papatūānuku, a work co-created by Kiwi composer Salina Fisher and Grammy Award-winning taonga puoro artist Jerome Kavanagh.

Ascension

It’s a bug’s life in Roussel’s The Spider’s Feast, a suite depicting the insects found in a garden. This special performance moves from the garden to the Aotearoa New Zealand native bush with Giant Wetas, Huhu Grubs and all the fluttering life found in the forest. One thing is always clear, the spider is always looking for lunch. This work is guaranteed to make the kids laugh, smile, and squirm!

Creepy-Crawly Carnival

Maestra New continues NZSO’s cycle of Mahler symphonies with his Sixth Symphony, nicknamed 'Tragic'.

Mahler 6

Aotearoa New Zealand’s brightest young musicians perform as soloists and side-by-side with the NZSO in a concert celebrating the next generation of performers.

Emerging Artists

The NZSO, Choirs Aotearoa and four extraordinary singers present Rossini’s Stabat Mater and Kiwi composer Victoria Kelly’s response to that work.

Stabat Mater

A one-of-a-kind musician delivers his take on an old classic and a new favourite.

Four Seasons

The brilliant Simone Young and cellist Kian Soltani present a programme rich in Romanticism.

Affirmation

Explore the energy and svelte sounds of the saxophone, the adventurous youngest child of the orchestral whānau.

Symphonic Dances

Joyce DiDonato has been described as “an American treasure” (Operawire), “increasingly incomparable” (New Yorker) and “a great, brave and inspiring artist – one of the finest singers of our time” (Gramophone). She brings her voice, described by NPR as “luminous, silken, flexible, full of colours and expressive shadings” to Hector Berlioz’s equally luminous song cycle Les nuits d’été (Summer Nights). Berlioz’s gorgeously intimate orchestrations embody the sound of love, both new and long lost.

Joyce DiDonato

Internationally acclaimed musican and conductor Gail Williams joins the NZSO Brass and Percussion for a celebration of all things Brass!

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra

9 - 11 May, 2025

Legends

23 - 25 May, 2025

Echoes of Home

May 31 - Jun 13, 2025

Masterworks

5 - 6 Jul, 2025

NYO Adventure

17 - 19 Jul, 2025

Firebird

11 - 12 Apr, 2025

Pinnacle

27 - 29 Mar, 2025

Pictures at an Exhibition

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