2020/21: Philharmonia Orchestra says goodbye to Esa-Pekka Salonen & celebrates its 75th anniversary

Esa-Pekka Salonen and Philharmonia Orchestra

2020/21 is Esa-Pekka Salonen's last season as principal conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra (as it is that of Vladimir Jurowski at the London Philharmonic Orchestra). He will be conducting a series of concerts inspired by Greek myth, including Richard Strauss' Elektra and the UK premiere of his Gemini. For 2020, Philharmonia at 75 celebrates the orchestra's 75th anniversary with events including Riccardo Muti returning for the first time since 2010 conducting Verdi's Requiem and Isata Kanneh-Mason in Clara Schumann's Piano Concerto. Santtu-Matias Rouvali, the orchestra's principal conductor designate, conducts three programmes including Shostakovich's Symphony No. 12.


With a focus on music inspired by Greek myth, in Origin Stories: Greek Myth in Music, Salonen conducts Scriabin’s Prometheus: The Poem of Fire with Yuja Wang as soloist and Strauss’ Elektra with soprano soloists Irene Theorin and Lise Davidsen. To close the season, Salonen conducts Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe (complete) alongside the European premiere of his own work Gemini.

Salonen also takes over as curator of the Philharmonia's Music of Today, with music by Tyshawn Sorey, Víkingur Ólafsson, Anna Thorvaldsdottir and Bryce Dessner.

Jonathan Dove's Gaspard's Foxtrot receives its London premiere, conducted by Holly Mathieson; based on children's books by Zeb Soans the piece will be narrated by Soanes and live-illustrated by James Mayhew.

Jakub Hruša conducts Bartok's Miraculous Mandarin paired with excerpts from Richard Strauss' Salome with Malin Byström as Salome, Susan Bickley as Herodias and Peter Hoare as Herod.

Full details from the Philharmonia website.