The Philharmonie de Paris has outlined its 2026–27 season, presenting a wide-ranging programme that combines symphonic repertoire, contemporary creation, staged productions, and institutional initiatives. With more than 400 concerts and events across its various spaces and formats, the season reflects the Philharmonie’s role as a multi-layered cultural institution rather than a single performing venue.
At the centre of the season stands the final chapter of Klaus Mäkelä as music director of the Orchestre de Paris. After seven years in the role, Mäkelä leads a series of programmes built around large-scale choral and symphonic works, including Berlioz’s Roméo et Juliette and Mahler’s Symphonies Nos. 3 and 8, the latter forming part of his final appearances with the orchestra. The season also brings him together with soloists such as Martha Argerich, Alexandre Kantorow, and Renaud Capuçon.
A transition in leadership
Mäkelä’s departure is framed within a broader institutional transition. Esa-Pekka Salonen, who will assume the position of chief conductor in 2027, appears during the season in several programmes, including concerto repertoire and Mahler
Salonen’s presence anticipates the next phase of the Orchestre de Paris, while also extending his role within the Philharmonie more broadly, where he is set to take up a newly created chair in creation and innovation.
This transition is accompanied by a continued emphasis on institutional continuity. Former music directors return to the podium, while the orchestra’s activities extend beyond symphonic concerts to include chamber music initiatives and educational projects. The season also marks the 50th anniversary of the Orchestre de Paris Choir, with performances that foreground the role of vocal forces within the institution.
Creation and contemporary perspectives
Alongside the core repertoire, the Philharmonie places a strong emphasis on contemporary music and new forms of creation. The Ensemble intercontemporain, founded by Pierre Boulez in 1976, celebrates its 50th anniversary with a series of projects exploring new formats and interdisciplinary approaches. Now fully integrated into the Philharmonie’s structure, the ensemble continues to play a central role in the institution’s engagement with contemporary music.
The season also highlights figures such as John Adams and Steve Reich, while placing renewed attention on composers of the 20th century whose work remains less frequently performed.
In parallel, Joe Hisaishi has been named “composer in resonance” (the Philharmonie’s term for an artist-in-residence role) for a two-year period, opening a new chapter in the institution’s approach to artistic residencies.
A year-round festival model
The Philharmonie’s programming continues to operate across multiple formats, blurring the boundaries between concert, theatre, and visual art. The season includes staged productions such as Philip Glass’s Cocteau Trilogy, interdisciplinary projects, and a series of cine-concerts featuring films by directors including Fritz Lang and Christopher Nolan accompanied by live music.
Large-scale vocal works and concert performances also form a central part of the programme, with pieces such as Bach’s Mass in B minor, Britten’s War Requiem, and Mendelssohn’s Elijah appearing alongside opera in concert, including Wagner’s Ring cycle presented over a single week.
The season opens with the return of the “Prem’s” festival, bringing together the Orchestre de Paris, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in a symphonic series designed to engage audiences in different formats, including standing concerts.
International orchestras and institutional scale
As in previous years, the Philharmonie hosts a wide range of visiting ensembles, reflecting its position within the international concert circuit. Orchestras scheduled to appear include the New York Philharmonic under Gustavo Dudamel, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Mäkelä, the Boston Symphony Orchestra led by Andris Nelsons, and the London Symphony Orchestra under conductors including Simon Rattle and Antonio Pappano.
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