FWSO music director Robert Spano. (credit: Karen Almond)

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra announces 2025-26 season

EarRelevant Staff | 23 JAN 2025

FORT WORTH, Texas— The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (FWSO) has unveiled its 2025-2026 season, featuring a diverse lineup of performances, world premieres, and notable collaborations. Under the direction of Music Director Robert Spano, the season aims to blend classical masterpieces with innovative programming, continuing the orchestra’s mission to engage audiences of all ages.

The Symphonic Series will open with celebrated pianist Stephen Hough, performing under Spano’s baton. Highlights include a Shakespeare-themed program with live actors, the world premiere of Suite from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Joby Talbot, performed alongside Bruce Wood Dance, and a Spanish-inspired concert incorporating artwork from the Kimbell Art Museum. Renowned guest conductors Peter Oundjian and Markus Stenz will also join the season, along with a world premiere violin concerto by Michael Gandolfi, featuring FWSO Concertmaster Michael Shih. A special highlight of the season is FWSO’s Gala Concert in February featuring violinist Gil Shaham.


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The Chamber Series will feature three concerts at the Kimbell Art Museum. The Pops Series will include film concerts such as The Lion King, Jurassic Park, and Elf, alongside themed performances like REWIND: Music of the 80s and Wild West Rodeo, in collaboration with the Sid Richardson Museum. FWSO will also perform an all-American concert special including music of Copland and Barber at Van Cliburn Concert Hall, Texas Christian University.

In a notable appointment, Dame Jane Glover has been named Principal Guest Conductor for a three-year term starting in 2025-2026. This announcement coincides with the contract extensions for Spano and FWSO President and CEO Keith Cerny, Ph.D., through the 2030-2031 season.

Board Chairman Mercedes T. Bass emphasized the strength of FWSO’s leadership team. “With Robert Spano, Dame Jane Glover, and Keith Cerny at the helm, the FWSO is positioned to achieve artistic excellence and innovation for years to come,” she said.


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Reflecting on his tenure, Spano said, “It’s a joy to collaborate with the exceptional musicians of the FWSO and to bring innovative programming to Bass Hall. The future is bright for our orchestra and community.”

Dame Jane Glover, whose extensive career includes collaborations with Spano at the Aspen Music Festival, shared her enthusiasm for her new role, saying, “I look forward to conducting works from my core repertoire and exploring important pieces by Mahler and Shostakovich.”

The season’s Symphonic Series and Chamber Series concerts, including the Gala, are listed below. Subscriptions for the 2025-2026 season go on sale April 3, 2025. For more information on these and additional FWSO concerts, visit www.fwsymphony.org

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra 2025-26 season:

SYMPHONIC SERIES (and two Specials)

    • September 5-7, 2025
      Bass Performance Hall
      Robert Spano, conductor
      Stephen Hough, piano
      SIBELIUS: Finlandia
      GRIEG: Piano Concerto
      BRAHMS: Symphony No. 4
    • September 19-21, 2025
      Bass Performance Hall
      Robert Spano, conductor
      Joy Bollinger, choreographer
      Bruce Wood Dance Dallas
      MOZART: Symphony No. 38, “Prague”
      TALBOT: Selections from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
    • November 21-23, 2025
      Bass Performance Hall
      Jane Glover, conductor
      Imogen Cooper, piano
      Lauren Snouffer, soprano
      MOZART: Exsultate, jubilate
      MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 27
      MAHLER: Symphony No. 4
    • January 9-11, 2026
      Bass Performance Hall
      Robert Spano, conductor
      Pedja Mužijević, piano
      RAVEL: Pavane for a Dead Princess
      CHOPIN: Piano Concerto No. 2
      BERLIOZ: Love Scene from Romeo and Juliet
      DEBUSSY: La mer
    • January 23-25, 2026
      Bass Performance Hall
      Markus Stenz, conductor
      Stas Chernyshev, clarinet
      Joshua Elmore, bassoon
      MENDELSSOHN: Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage
      STRAUSS: Duet-Concertino for Clarinet & Bassoon
      SCHUMANN: Symphony No. 2
    • February 21, 2026 at 7pm (Special)
      Bass Performance Hall
      Gala Concert: Gil Shaham Plays Brahms
      Robert Spano, conductor
      Gil Shaham, violin
      VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
      BRAHMS: Violin Concerto
    • February 27-March 1, 2026
      Bass Performance Hall
      Robert Spano, conductor
      Dallas Theater Center, Kevin Moriarity, director
      MENDELSSOHN: Selections from A Midsummer Night’s Dream
      PROKOFIEV: Selections from Romeo and Juliet
    • March 20-22, 2026
      Bass Performance Hall
      Jane Glover, conductor
      Jennifer Corning Lucio, oboe
      Joshua Elmore, bassoon
      Michael Shih, violin
      Allan Steele, cello
      BRITTEN: Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes
      HAYDN: Sinfonia Concertante
      BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 4
    • April 24-26, 2026
      Bass Performance Hall
      Robert Spano, conductor
      Kelley O’Connor, mezzo-soprano
      RAVEL: Rapsodie espagnole
      LIEBERSON: Neruda Songs
      FALLA: The Three-Cornered Hat
    • May 8-10, 2026
      Bass Performance Hall
      Peter Oundjian, conductor
      Zlatomir Fung, cello
      JOAN TOWER: Suite from Concerto for Orchestra
      DVOŘÁK: Cello Concerto
      BRAHMS: Symphony No. 2
    • May 16, 2026 (Special)
      Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU
      Robert Spano, conductor
      Susanna Phillips, soprano
      BARBER: Knoxville: Summer of 1915
      FLETCHER: Three American Songs
      COPLAND: Suite from Appalachian Spring
      COPLAND: Four Dances from Rodeo
    • May 22-24, 2026
      Bass Performance Hall
      Robert Spano, conductor
      Michael Shih, violin
      Tim Daniels, English horn
      SIBELIUS: The Swan of Tuonela
      GANDOLFI: Violin Concerto
      SIBELIUS: Symphony No. 2

    CHAMBER SERIES

    • September 28, 2025
      Kimbell Art Museum, Renzo Piano Pavilion
      POULENC: Flute Sonata
      POULENC: Trio for Oboe, Bassoon, and Piano
      RAVEL: Introduction and Allegro
      BRAHMS: Clarinet Trio
    • February 15, 2026
      Kimbell Art Museum, Renzo Piano Pavilion
      BEETHOVEN: Horn Sonata
      LIGETI: Six Bagatelles for Wind Quintet
      BRITTEN: Lachrymae
      SCHUMANN: Piano Quartet
    • April 19, 2026
      Kimbell Art Museum, Renzo Piano Pavilion
      MOZART: Horn Quintet
      SCHUMANN: Fantasiestücke
      BEETHOVEN: Archduke Piano Trio

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