(Image above: JoAnn Falletta leading the BPO. Photo by Joe Cascio)

The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra will open its season on September 20 with a program including a Tchaikovsky concerto and its rock series will include tributes to the music of Green Day, The Tragically Hip and others.

Here’s how the BPO describes the big picture: “The season opens on September 20 with the return of virtuoso pianist Alexander Malofeev performing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, preceded by the BPO’s traditional gala dinner. Renowned guests join the orchestra throughout the season, from Broadway star Leslie Odom, Jr. and Buffalo native vocalists Michele Ragusa and Jay Dref, to acclaimed classical guitarist Pablo Sáinz Villegas and the return of fan-favorite pianist Fabio Bidini. Ron Spigelman debuts as Principal Pops Conductor in a thrilling Pops series featuring the music of Luther Vandross, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Disney, and more, and Rock series tributes to the music of Green Day, Journey, Pink Floyd, and The Tragically Hip light up the Kleinhans stage. 

“Traditions, new and old, continue: the free Festival Encanto Hispano celebrates Hispanic heritage preceding La Vida Loca, a program of ’80s-’00s Latin pop hits conducted by Enrico Lopez-Yañez; A Gospel Symphony Celebration with legendary Gospel singer Karen Clark-Sheard and her daughter, Kierra Sheard-Kelly, spotlights the powerful voices of the Buffalo United Community Choir; BPO UpClose immerses audiences in live, unconducted orchestral music in Kleinhans’ intimate Mary Seaton Room; and a series of holiday performances from JoAnn’s Classical Christmas to Holiday Pops ring in the season, along with the return of Buffalo’s favorite Irish music sensation, Celtic Woman. Families can enjoy Symphonic Spooktacular, Jingle Bell Jam, BPO Little Kids, and Peter and the Wolf in the Kids series, and three films are set to be shown above the stage as the orchestra plays their full scores: E.T. the Extra Terrestrial, Tim Burton’s Batman (1989), and The Princess Bride. 

“The BPO’s own talent shines under the baton of Music Director JoAnn Falletta, with featured performances from Concertmaster Nikki Chooi and Principal Cellist Roman Mekinulov – joined by New York Philharmonic pianist and University at Buffalo Music Department Chair, Eric Huebner – Principal Harpist Madeline Olson, and saxophonist Sal Andolina. Other highlights of the Classics series, curated and conducted by Falletta, are collaborations with the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus including Carmina Burana and Mozart’s Great Mass, two festivals celebrating the masterworks of both Ludwig van Beethoven and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, virtuoso percussionist Colin Currie performing a concerto by film composer Danny Elfman, orchestral world premieres of Niagara Falls by Michael Daugherty and Serenade by Paul Moravec, and the world premiere of Jonathan Leshnoff’s Symphony No. 5.

” Subscriptions and event details will be available online at bpo.org beginning February 10.“

And here are all of theo shows:

Classics Series:

• Malofeev Plays Tchaikovsky, September 20
  • Alexander Malofeev, piano; JoAnn Falletta, conductor
  • Bernstein: Overture to Candide
  • R. Strauss: Suite from Der Rosenkavalier
  • Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor
• Fabio, Folklore & Fantasy, October 3-4
  • Fabio Bidini, piano; JoAnn Falletta, conductor
  • Rossini: Overture to Semiramide
  • Bartók: Dance Suite
  • Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor
• Nikki Plays Beethoven, October 17-18
  • Nikki Chooi, violin; JoAnn Falletta, conductor
  • Gould: Cowboy Rhapsody
  • Montgomery: Snapshots
  • Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D major
• Beethoven’s Pastoral, October 24-25
  • Nikki Chooi, violin; Roman Mekinulov, cello; Eric Huebner, piano; JoAnn Falletta, conductor
  • Britten: Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes
  • Paterson: Trio Concerto
  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral”
• Mahler & Mahler, November 7-8
  • Andrea Bickford, soprano; JoAnn Falletta, conductor
  • A. Mahler: Lieder
  • G. Mahler: Symphony No. 1, “Titan”
• Grieg & Schumann: Romantic Impressions, November 22-23
  • Adam Golka, piano; Eric Jacobsen, conductor
  • Brahms: Hungarian Dances Nos. 4, 6, 10, 21
  • Schumann: Symphony No. 4 in D minor
  • Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor
• JoAnn’s Classical Christmas, December 12-13
  • JoAnn Falletta, conductor; Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus
• Mozart’s Great Mass, January 16-17, 2026
  • Maximiano Valdés, conductor; Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus
  • Mozart: Symphony No. 38, “Prague”
  • Mozart: “Great” Mass in C minor
• Mozart’s Violin, January 24-25, 2026
  • Aubree Oliverson, violin; Anthony Parnther, conductor
  • Bologne: Symphony No. 2
  • Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major
  • Paradis: Overture to The School Candidate
  • Mozart: Symphony No. 35, “Haffner”
• Shostakovich No. 5, February 6-7, 2026
  • Madeline Olson, harp; JoAnn Falletta, conductor
  • Brahms: Academic Festival Overture
  • Reinecke: Harp Concerto in E minor
  • Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 in D minor
• Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1, February 21-22, 2026
  • George Li, piano; JoAnn Falletta, conductor
  • Copland: Dance Symphony
  • Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major
  • Hindemith: Symphonic Dances
• Tchaikovsky Meets Elfman, March 7-8, 2026
  • Colin Currie, percussion; JoAnn Falletta, conductor
  • Elfman: Percussion Concerto
  • Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in E minor
• Brahms & Bruch, March 20-21, 2026
  • Simone Porter, violin; JoAnn Falletta, conductor
  • Butterworth: The Banks of Green Willow
  • Bruch: Scottish Fantasy
  • Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C minor
• Pablo’s Guitar, April 11-12, 2026
  • Pablo Sáinz Villegas, guitar; Anna Sułkowska-Migoń, conductor
  • Bacewicz: Overture for Orchestra
  • Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez
  • Lutosławski: Little Suite for Symphony Orchestra
  • Borodin: Symphony No. 2 in B minor
• Mendelssohn & Dvořák, April 24-25, 2026
  • Amaryn Olmeda, violin; Roberto Minczuk, conductor
  • Zwilich: Concerto Grosso 1985
  • Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor
  • Dvořák: Symphony No. 8 in G major
• Haydn Cello Concerto, May 8-9, 2026
  • Sterling Elliott, cello; Rune Bergmann, conductor
  • Kuzmenko: Fantasy on a Theme by Beethoven
  • Haydn: Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major
  • Grieg: Symphonic Dances
• Carmina Burana, May 30-31, 2026
  • Eva Rae Martinez, soprano; Kameron Lopreore, tenor; Joshua Conyers, baritone; Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus; JoAnn Falletta, conductor
  • Leshnoff: Symphony No. 5 (world premiere)
  • Orff: Carmina Burana
• American Soundscapes, June 5-6, 2026
  • Jon Kimura Parker, piano; JoAnn Falletta, conductor
  • Bernstein: Three Dance Episodes from On the Town
  • Daugherty: Niagara Falls (orchestral world premiere)
  • Copland: Appalachian Spring: Suite
  • Moravec: Serenade (orchestral world premiere)
  • Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue

Pops Series

• ShowstoppingPops!, September 27
  • Jay Dref & Michele Ragusa, vocals; Ron Spigelman, conductor
• La Vida Loca, October 11
  • Ender Thomas & Jackie Mendez, vocals; José Sibaja, trumpet; Luisito Quintero, percussion; Enrico Lopez-Yañez, conductor
• E.T. the Extra Terrestrial in Concert: Film with Live Orchestra, October 31 & November 1
  • Scott Terrell, conductor
• Clouds in My Coffee, November 15
  • Morgan James, Shayna Steele, & Bryonha Marie, vocals; Ted Sperling, conductor
• Holiday Pops, December 18-21
  • Ron Spigelman, conductor; Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus
• Uptown Nights with Byron Stripling, January 31, 2026
  • Byron Stripling, trumpet & conductor; Carmen Bradford, vocals; Leo Manzari, tap dancer
• Ruben Studdard: My Tribute to Luther Vandross, February 13-14, 2026
  • Ruben Studdard, vocals; Ron Spigelman, conductor
• Dancing & Romancing, February 28, 2026
  • Joan Hess & Kirby Ward, vocals; Ron Spigelman, conductor
• Disney in Concert: Tale As Old As Time, April 17-18, 2026
  • Ron Spigelman, conductor
• Patriotic Pops, May 22-23, 2026
  • Sal Andolina, saxophone; Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus; Ron Spigelman, conductor

Rock Series:

• The Music of Green Day (Rock Special), November 14
• The Music of Journey, January 30, 2026
  • Bradley Thachuk, conductor
• The Music of Pink Floyd with The Machine, February 27, 2026
  • Bradley Thachuk, conductor
• The Music of The Tragically Hip with The Strictly Hip, May 1, 2026
  • Bradley Thachuk, conductor

Kids Series:

• Symphonic Spooktacular, October 12
• Jingle Bell Jam, December 14
• BPO Little Kids, February 7 & 14, 2026
• Peter and the Wolf, April 19, 2026

Special Events:

• A Gospel Symphony Celebration with Karen Clark-Sheard, October 10
  • Karen Clark-Sheard & Kierra Sheard-Kelly, vocals; Buffalo United Community Choir; Jonathan Taylor Rush, conductor
• The Princess Bride in Concert: Film with Live Orchestra, November 29
  • Ron Spigelman, conductor
• Celtic Woman Christmas, December 9
  • Lloyd Butler, conductor
• BPO UpClose, January 28 & April 29, 2026
• Tim Burton’s Batman(1989) in Concert: Film with Live Orchestra, March 14, 2026
  • Ron Spigelman, conductor
• Leslie Odom, Jr. with the BPO, May 2, 2026
  • Leslie Odom, Jr., vocals; Ron Spigelman, conductor