Concerts

Highlights 2025-2026 season in photos

Tue, Aug 4, 2026

From Bach’s St Matthew Passion with Klaus Mäkelä to the spectacular Opening Night in the Sloterpark, from the Annual Gala to Bijlmer Klassiek – the 2025-2026 season was full of highlights. Our curated photo selection lets you relive some of those unforgettable moments.

BBC Proms

BBC Proms olv Klaus Mäkelä_small — As part of our traditional European tour, the Concertgebouw Orchestra travelled to London’s Royal Albert Hall in the summer of 2025 under the direction of Klaus Mäkelä for two BBC Proms concerts featuring Mahler’s Fifth Symphony.(photo: Chris Christodoulou)

Concertgebouw Orchestra Young

Elim Chan conducted the young musicians in The Concertgebouw in August 2025.(photo: Milagro Elstak)

Young bij SAIL 2025 — Concertgebouw Orchestra Young opened SAIL Amsterdam’s musical programme at the NDSM Wharf, with solo contributions from cellist Julia Hagen and singers Karsu, Laetitia Gerards and Lucas van Lierop.(photo: Kevin Verkruijssen)

Opening Night

Drone footage of Opening Night in Sloterpark on 12 September 2025 — Opening Night 2025 in Sloterpark Amsterdam.(photo: Luchtfilmproducties / Nathan Reinds)

People relaxed on blankets and cushions in the grass, enjoying an evening of music and togetherness. — Young and old enjoyed the free open-air concert in Amsterdam Nieuw-West.(photo: Nathan Reinds)

In the spotlight

251015_Concertgebouworkest_Emelyanychev_cr_Veerle Bastiaanssen_1804_Horsch_small — Recorder player Lucie Horsch showed her versatility as a soloist in the world premiere of Lotta Wennäkoski’s Vents et lyres, not only playing five different recorders but also singing the poetic text.(photo: Veerle Bastiaanssen)

Concertgebouworkest Hannigan - 2025-10-02 21.47.24 - DSC00418 - Milagro Elstak_small — Conductor and soprano Barbara Hannigan led the Concertgebouw Orchestra in Richard Strauss’s Tod und Verklärung and Joseph Haydn’s ‘Farewell’ Symphony, and sang enchanting works by Jean Sibelius and the Iranian composer Golfam Khayam.(photo: Milagro Elstak)

20251206_RCO_Fischer_Midzomernachtsdroom_C_eduardus_lee_042_Mirella Hagen_small — We performed some of Mendelssohn’s incidental music for Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream under the direction of Iván Fischer, with the National Women’s Youth Choir and two debuting soloists: soprano Mirella Hagen and mezzo-soprano Olivia Vermeulen.(photo: Eduardus Lee)

Concertgebouworkest, Yuja Wang, Thomas Adès - 2025-12-12 23.05.08 - DSC02699 - Milagro Elstak — Yuja Wang fearlessly displayed her extraordinary versatility in Prokofiev’s spectacular Second Piano Concerto.(photo: Milagro Elstak)

Concertgebouworkest, Yuja Wang, Thomas Adès - 2025-12-12 23.05.08 - DSC02699 - Milagro Elstak_small — Thomas Adès led the orchestra through his breathtaking commissioned work Inferno, part of his ballet music after Dante’s Divine Comedy.(photo: Milagro Elstak)

Christmas Matinee

Concertgebouworkest, Klaus Mäkelä - 2025-12-25 16.05.51 - DSC08993 - Milagro Elstak_small — At an atmospheric Christmas concert, Klaus Mäkelä conducted the orchestra in Rimsky-Korsakov’s Sheherazade and Diepenbrock’s moving Lydische nacht.(photo: Milagro Elstak)

Annual Gala

20260123_RCO_Annual_Gala_2026_van_Zweden_Kavakos_C_eduardus_lee_017_small — At the Annual Gala, Jaap van Zweden led the orchestra in music by Wagner and Respighi. Leonidas Kavakos was the soloist in Korngold’s romantic Violin Concerto.(photo: Eduardus Lee)

Bijlmer Klassiek

BIJLMER KLASSIEK by Isaac Owusu-20_small — Flautist and composer Ronald Snijders, pictured with our double bassist Nicholas Schwartz on the right, appeared in the crossover concert Ravel, Anansi and Snijders.(photo: Isaac Owusu)

Children's Concert

Concertgebouworkest, Don Quichot - 2025-10-05 12.16.24 - DSC03332 - Milagro Elstak_small — Our Children’s Concert Don Quixote in the Recital Hall.(photo: Milagro Elstak)

Concertgebouworkest, Romeo en Julia, Alena Hron - 2026-03-22 13.14.04 - DSC02241 - Milagro Elstak_small — Actors Amy van der Weerden and Samir Hassan appeared in the Children’s Concert Romeo and Juliet – a centuries-old story for a young audience.(photo: Milagro Elstak)

Klaus Mäkelä and the St Matthew Passion

20260327_RCO_Matthaus_2026_Mäkelä_C_eduardus_lee_047_small — A special first: Klaus Mäkelä conducted Bach’s St Matthew Passion, both at The Concertgebouw and at the Easter Festival in Baden-Baden.(photo: Eduardus Lee)

Gemma Lee backstage Baden-Baden cr_Marc Daniel van Biemen_image00025_small — Gemma Lee prepared backstage for the St Matthew Passion during the Easter Festival in Baden-Baden.(photo: Marc Daniel van Biemen)

In the spotlight

Concertgebouworkest, Leo van Doeselaar, Aurel Dawidiuk - 2026-04-10 20.00.38 - DSC00832 1 - Milagro Elstak_small — Aurel Dawidiuk crowned his two seasons as associate conductor with two highly successful subscription concerts.(photo: Milagro Elstak)

Raphaël_Pichon_00© Camera_Lucida_Productions_small — Raphaël Pichon made his long-awaited debut with us conducting The Realm of the Gods, a programme he compiled from music by Rameau, Gluck and Rebel.(photo: Lucida Productions)

Concertgebouw, Concertgebouworkest, Hermus, Petkov, Tines - DSC01525 - 2026-06-18 21.07.30 - Milagro Elstak_small — During Festival Mind the Gap!, the orchestra performed music by Black American composers, conducted by Antony Hermus and featuring our principal trumpet Miro Petkov.(photo: Milagro Elstak)

Concertgebouw, Concertgebouworkest, Hermus, Petkov, Tines - DSC01776 - 2026-06-18 21.38.20 - Milagro Elstak_small — The young bass-baritone Davóne Tines sang a spiritual and Jerome Kern’s Old Man River.(photo: Milagro Elstak)

Masterclasses

Concertgebouworkest Academy Masterclass Mäkelä - 2026-03-26 15.16.47 - DSC09236 - Milagro Elstak_small — During the Academy Masterclass, Klaus Mäkelä coached talented young musicians.(photo: Milagro Elstak)

Concertgebouworkest, Ammodo Masterclass, Iván Fischer - DSC00009 - 2026-06-23 10.43.28 - Milagro Elstak_small — Four promising young conductors – including Spanish conductor Celia Llácer, pictured here – were coached by Iván Fischer during the Ammodo Conducting Masterclass.(photo: Milagro Elstak)