Warwick Arts Centre's Orchestral Season 2026-2027

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Czech National Symphony Orchestra in rehearsals. Photo by Jan Maly.

Boundary-breaking performances, familiar classics, seasonal favourites, and more are lined up for Warwick Arts Centre's 2026-2027 Orchestral Season.

Kicking the season off is a return appearance from the inspiring Chineke! Orchestra (26 Nov 2026). Acclaimed Colombian conductor Tatiana Pérez-Hernández leads the orchestra through works by Stravinksy and Rodrigo, as well as lesser-known pieces by Adolphus Hailstork and contemporary Columbian composer Eliana Echeverry. Also joining Chineke! for the concert is Brazilian guitarist Plinio Fernandes - a Classic FM Rising Star.

CHINEKE soloist Plinio Fernandes. Photo courtesy of the artist.

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (9 Dec 2026) make the first of two appearances at the Coventry arts centre with a distinctly festive selection as CBSO Music Director Kazuki Yamada presents Tchaikovsky’s much-loved seasonal The Nutcracker Suites alongside bandleader Duke Ellington and arranger Billy Strayhorn's brilliantly swinging jazzy ’50s Nutcracker 'remixes'.

CBSO and Kazuki Yamada. Photo credit Benjamin Ealovega.

Delving in the rich catalogue of composer Hans Zimmer, The National Youth Orchestra (6 Jan 2027) blast off into deep space for Zimmer's epic and emotive Oscar-nominated Interstellar soundtrack. 'The world’s greatest orchestra of teenagers' also bring their customary verve to Tchaikovsky’s melodic Symphony No.5.

National Youth Orchestra. Photo credit NYO.

For the second appearance from the CBSO (25 Feb 2027), Kazuki Yamada presents a rare chance to enjoy Beethoven's Fourth and Fifth symphonies, side-by-side, along with Haydn's Trumpet Concerto, featuring hotly tipped soloist Matilda Lloyd.

CBSO Matilda Lloyd. Photo credit Neda Navaee.

An uplifting programme shaped by pastoral and folk themes, and rooted in a sense of place, is promised by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (4 Mar 2027) as RPO Associate Conductor Emilia Hoving leads the orchestra through a rich programme featuring Sibelius, Vaughan Williams, Kodály and Bartók.

RPO Emilia Hoving. Photo credit Nikolaj Lund.

Finally, Coventry pianist Mark Bebbington joins the in-demand Czech National Symphony Orchestra (23 May 2027) for Rachmaninov's enduring Second Piano Concerto - a work regularly voted the greatest piece of classical music ever written by Classic FM listeners! Conducting is the Prague orchestra’s Music Director, Steven Mercurio.

Mark Bebbington. Photo credit Jack Liebeck.

Complementing the orchestral season, Warwick Arts Centre also opens its doors for a series of one-hour £5 Lunchtime Concerts, with appearances from mezzo soprano Eleanor Minney and pianist Gregory Drott (15 Oct 2026); violinist Michał Ćwiżewicz and pianist Emma Abbate, with a folk-inspired programme (5 Nov 2026); and British-Nigerian pianist/curator Rebeca Omordia (10 Dec 2026), with a recital/lecture celebrating African and Black classical composers of the 18th and 19th centuries.