ASO’S 2025 Season promises memorable moments for all music lovers

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra has unveiled its 2025 Season of events that promises to take the curious, adventurous, and fearless on a musical odyssey. With an exciting line-up featuring blockbusters from the stage, page and screen, everything from the beloved classics, daring new works, to iconic film scores will unite music lovers.

On his inaugural year as Chief Conductor, Mark Wigglesworth shared his strong belief in the transformative power of music and his excitement at connecting with all South Australians on a deeper level.

“Music releases us to connect with very deep emotions within ourselves, and shows us how connected these emotions are with other people’s. Music brings us together in an unshakeable way, generating extraordinary empathy towards each other,” says Chief Conductor Mark Wigglesworth.

Announcing the 2025 Season, ASO Chief Executive Officer Colin Cornish said this moment heralded a new chapter for the orchestra with Mark’s leadership evident through the programming of new special events Born in Vienna (21 Nov) at Elder Hall and Mozart’s Requiem at St Peter’s Cathedral (18-19 Sep).

“Born in Vienna is sure to bea captivating weekend of music celebrating Vienna as the birthplace of orchestral music as we know it,” he said.

“Another highlight conducted by Mark promises to be an unforgettable performance of Mozart’s Requiem at St Peter’s Cathedral, where the sounds of the orchestra and voices will be amplified by the cathedral’s breathtaking acoustics.”

Selling out three years running, the ASO is back with its immensely popular immersion concert series, this year exploring composer Johannes Brahms in Brahms: The Symphonies (21 – 31 May). Chief Conductor Mark Wigglesworth, who will lead the orchestra, says it’s a rare opportunity:

“I have many, many favourite composers, but if I was only allowed one, it would be Brahms! His music is dramatic and poetic, thoughtful and beautiful – it’s the complete musical experience. The chance to hear all four symphonies together is as special as it is rare.”

It’s also a chance for South Australian audiences to see history made as legendary British pianist Sir Stephen Hough, performs the World Premiere of his very own piano concerto co-commissioned by the ASO, the world of yesterday.

“To have soloists playing their own concertos harks back to the times when musicians like Rachmaninov did the same thing. The tradition of composer and performer being one and the same is something we very much look forward to showcasing”, says Mark.

The ASO’s flagship Symphony Series at the beautiful Adelaide Town Hall will see luminaries of the piano join Sir Stephen Hough to perform all five Beethoven Piano Concertos, including Javier Perianes, Benjamin Grosvenor, Pavel Kolesnikov and Stefan Cassomenos. The Adelaide Town Hall also plays host to Stravinsky’s Petrushka in July, the zippy ballet score bringing to life some seriously mischievous puppets under the skilled baton of young Finnish conductor Emilia Hoving.

Spotlighting music by women composers such as Elena Kats-Chernin, Anna Clyne and major figure in Australian music, Peggy Glanville-Hicks, the ASO is also teaming up with Adelaide Festival for Light – Song (14 – 15 March) at Elder Hall, a celebration of some of the most fearless women composers from Australia and beyond curated by Cathy Milliken.

For a change of pace, the ASO will celebrate Billy Joel in the Australian Premiere of Piano Man (7-8 Feb), featuring new orchestral arrangements by Nicholas Buc and covering his greatest hits including Just the Way You Are, Uptown Girl, She’s Always a Woman, New York State of Mind, Vienna and, of course, Piano Man. The performances at Festival Theatre are sure to reverberate with the energy and nostalgia of the man’s iconic music.

Music lovers will have another chance to experience the orchestra in a different light when the ASO travels to the serene setting of UKARIA Cultural Centre in the Adelaide Hills on 29 March for a program featuring much-loved chamber classics.

For some, cinema is their first encounter with the power of orchestral music, and in 2025 audiences will have the opportunity to join the ASO at the movies at Adelaide Entertainment Centre for the 40th anniversary of Back to the Future (15 Nov) and, the continuation of the much-loved journey through the magical world of Harry Potter with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ Part 1 in Concert (7 June). Promising a wonderful night out for families and fans to come together and relive their favourite moments, audiences can see the orchestra perform these iconic soundtracks live while watching the film on a 40-foot screen.

“ASO enjoys the pride of its community and in 2025 we continue to create opportunities for all South Australians to experience their orchestra in many different venues and through a range of musical styles. Our 2025 season is filled with opportunities to bring families and friends together, whether seasoned or first-time audience members of the orchestra,” Colin Cornish adds.

Packages for Season 2025 is now on sale, with single tickets on sale 12 November 2024.

Media inquiries

For more information, please contact Rebecca O’Rourke of O’Rourke PR + Communications via email (rebecca@orourkepr.com.au) or at 0408 820 547.