The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia kicks off its 2026–2027 symphonic season with a program featuring seven leading conductors from the international scene at the helm of the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana (OCV). This season will bring together leading conductors from the international scene—including Sir Mark Elder, Mikko Franck, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Thomas Hengelbrock, Philippe Jordan, Antonello Manacorda, and Vasily Petrenko— to lead the orchestra.
A season featuring great works by historic composers such as Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Debussy, Mahler, Mozart, Sibelius, Wagner, Schumann, Stravinsky, and Richard Strauss, among other composers.
Before the season begins, the OCV will present two concert tours conducted by Anja Bihlmaier: on September 11 and 12 at L’Auditori in Torrent and the Palau Altea Centre d’Arts, respectively. The program includes Mussorgsky’s *Pictures at an Exhibition* and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5. The same program will be performed on September 13 during the Open House at the building designed by Calatrava.
Les Arts’ music director, Sir Mark Elder,will open the subscription season on October 16 and 17 in Valencia and Castellón de la Plana. The program combines Wagner’s “Prelude to Lohengrin ” with Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 (featuring pianist Pavel Kolesnikov) and Richard Strauss’s symphonic poems “Don Juan ” and “Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks.”
Thomas Hengelbrock will return on November 14 with violinist Christian Tetzlaff to perform Brahms’s Violin Concerto and Schumann’s Symphony No. 2. The following day, the OCV will open its first series at the Auditorio Nacional in Madrid with the same program.
Antonello Manacorda, recently appointed music director of Les Siècles, will conduct the concerts on December 18 and 20 in Valencia and Castellón. Soprano Christiane Karg will sing Alban Berg’s *Sieben frühe Lieder*, and the program will conclude with Mahler’s Symphony No. 4.
Finnish conductor Mikko Franck will make his debut with the OCV in a three-concert series on February 12, 13, and 14, 2027, at Les Arts, the Auditori de Castelló, and the Auditorio Nacional in Madrid. The program, dedicated to French Impressionism, includes Chausson’s *Poème de l’amour et de la mer * (featuring tenor Michael Spyres), Debussy’s *Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune *, and *La Mer *.
Sir John Eliot Gardiner will perform on March 4, 2027, in a one-of-a-kind concert offering a journey through a hundred years of European music. The evening will begin with Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 2, continue with Mahler’s *Kindertotenlieder* (featuring mezzo-soprano Alice Coote), and conclude with Sibelius’s Symphony No. 5.
Vasily Petrenko, music director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, will perform concerts in Valencia, Castellón, and Madrid featuring Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 and Strauss’s symphonic poem *Don Quixote*, with cellist Pablo Ferrández as soloist.
The season will conclude on July 1, 2027, with the debut of Philippe Jordan, music director of the Vienna State Opera, conducting Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection,” featuring the Cor de la Generalitat, soprano Maria Bengtsson, and contralto Eve-Maud Hubeaux.
Tickets and season passes are now on sale
The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia has already made both season tickets and individual tickets for each event in the program available for purchase. They can be purchased through the official website, by phone at 961 975 900, or at the theater box office.
However, before the season begins and following the tour of the Valencian Community, German conductor Anja Bihlmaier will lead the symphonic concert for the Open House Day at the iconic City of Arts and Sciences building for a reduced price of 5 euros. Visitors will be able to tour the building completely free of charge.
