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.
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.
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
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra: www.fwsymphony.org
This entry was posted in Symphony & Opera and tagged Bruce Wood Dance, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Gil Shaham, Jane Glover, Keith Cerny, Markus Stenz, Mercedes T. Bass, Michael Gandolfi, Michael Shih, Peter Oundjian, Robert Spano, Stephen Hough on .About the author:Our EarRelevant Staff works mostly behind the scenes! Articles with the byline EarRelevant Staff are often comprised of content not easily attributable to a single author. Some portions of text may be drawn from press releases. Artificial intelligence may also be involved in some aspects of content.
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