The Boston Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Andris Nelsons have announced details of what will be their eighth and final international tour together, a European visit scheduled for 11–20 March 2027. The orchestra will perform in London, Hamburg, Luxembourg, and Paris, with pianist Lang Lang joining the ensemble for performances in London, Hamburg, and Paris.
The announcement comes two months after the BSO officially confirmed that Nelsons’ tenure as Music Director will end after the 2026–27 season. The orchestra said the decision not to renew his contract was made by its Board of Trustees, citing a lack of alignment over the institution’s future vision, while Nelsons said it was not the outcome he had anticipated or wanted. The decision has since prompted public support for Nelsons from members of the orchestra and added to a period of internal turmoil at the institution.
Against that backdrop, the newly announced European tour places Nelsons prominently at the center of the orchestra’s international profile. The programs combine works by Ludwig van Beethoven and Igor Stravinsky, including Beethoven’s Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 — performed by Lang Lang in recognition of the 200th anniversary of the composer’s death — alongside Symphony No. 5 and Stravinsky’s three major ballet scores: The Firebird, Petrushka, and The Rite of Spring.
The tour opens with three concerts at the Barbican Centre from 11 to 13 March, marking the BSO’s first appearance at the venue. Lang Lang performs Beethoven’s Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 on the first two evenings, paired respectively with Petrushka and The Firebird. The final London program features Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and The Rite of Spring.
The orchestra then travels to the Elbphilharmonie for another three-concert residency from 15 to 17 March. Nelsons and the BSO previously appeared there in 2018 and 2023. Lang Lang again joins the first two concerts, while the Stravinsky ballets are presented in varying combinations across the Hamburg programs.
On 18 March, the orchestra performs at the Philharmonie Luxembourg in an all-Stravinsky evening featuring Petrushka and The Firebird. It will be the BSO’s first performance in Luxembourg since 2016.
The tour concludes with two concerts at the Philharmonie de Paris on 19 and 20 March. Lang Lang performs Beethoven’s First and Second Piano Concertos on consecutive evenings, while the orchestra presents The Firebird, Petrushka, and The Rite of Spring. Nelsons and the BSO previously appeared at the Paris hall during their 2015, 2018, and 2023 European tours.
The 2027 visit will effectively close a significant chapter in the relationship between Nelsons and the Boston Symphony. Since becoming Music Director in 2014, the Latvian conductor has led the orchestra on multiple international tours and recording projects, while also deepening the ensemble’s relationship with European audiences through regular appearances at major concert halls and festivals.
Subscribe to our newsletter