CBSO Chorus celebrates its 1,000th performance as Birmingham's new season begins

The CBSO Chorus celebrated its 1,000th performance as the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra opened its new concert season at Symphony Hall on 17 September.

Music Director Kazuki Yamada led the orchestra and chorus in Mahler's Second Symphony, known as the Resurrection, with soprano Anna Patalong and contralto Jess Dandy. The milestone launched a 2026-27 programme that reaches from Beethoven and new commissions to film music, pop favourites and concerts for young children.

The opening concert programme sets out the performers and the work chosen for the evening. Photographs supplied by the orchestra show the musicians and soloists at the concert, with the audience applauding at its close.

Music for Birmingham

The season follows CBSO in the City, which brought more than 20 free performances to public spaces across Birmingham over five days. That festival took the orchestra into the places where people live, work and spend time; the new season carries the same ambition into the concert hall.

Chief Executive Emma Stenning said: "When I look at this season, I see an orchestra that knows who and what it's for. It's not for a particular kind of audience, or a particular kind of music. It's for Birmingham and for the Midlands, and it's in demand across the world."

She described a programme for longstanding orchestral fans, people who have never attended a concert, and children discovering instruments for the first time.

Soloists at the season-opening performance of Mahler's Second Symphony. Photograph: Hannah Blake-Fathers / CBSO.

New voices and familiar favourites

The season introduces Ilan Volkov as Principal Guest Conductor and Anna Clyne as the orchestra's first Composer in Residence. Clyne's residency includes the world premiere of her new viola concerto, Resonant Forms, with Lawrence Power.

Collaborative Artists Alice Sara Ott, Jess Gillam and Rushil Ranjan bring piano performances, education projects and a collaboration with the Orchestral Qawwali Project, blending Sufi poetry, Indian classical dance and symphonic music.

Yamada and the orchestra will also perform all nine Beethoven symphonies in 2027, marking 200 years since the composer's death, alongside his Violin Concerto and chamber music.

Kazuki Yamada leads the orchestra at Symphony Hall on 17 September. Photograph: Hannah Blake-Fathers / CBSO.

A return to Coventry Cathedral

On 11 November, the CBSO returns to Coventry Cathedral for Britten's War Requiem. The orchestra gave the work's world premiere there in 1962; this year's performance marks 50 years since Britten's death and will be followed by a European tour.

Yamada said: "I am also looking forward to bringing the orchestra back to Coventry Cathedral for a landmark performance of Britten's poignant and powerful War Requiem, as well as bringing joyous festive music to Symphony Hall this Christmas."

A first concert for the family

For younger listeners, the CBSO's interactive Notelets concerts offer under-sixes opportunities to sing, dance and explore orchestral instruments. The season also includes a Halloween Spooktacular on 25 October for children aged six and above.

Christmas events range from Britten with Ex Cathedra to interpretations of The Nutcracker, a Christmas Party on 17 December and Choral Christmas on 18 December.

Film and pop programmes broaden the choice further, with celebrations of Star Wars and Bollywood, music by John Williams and Quincy Jones, a Guitar Heroes concert on 27 February 2027 and Symphonic ABBA on 22 April 2027.

Music Director Kazuki Yamada at the opening concert. Photograph: Hannah Blake-Fathers / CBSO.

The full programme and booking information are available at cbso.co.uk.

Story information and photographs supplied by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra via elephant communications. All photographs were taken at the 17 September 2026 concert and are credited to Hannah Blake-Fathers.