Critic's choice
Budapest Festival Orchestra on Tour: World-Class Soloists and Iconic Concert Halls Across Continents
The Budapest Festival Orchestra embarks on a grandiose international tour cycle in early 2026, bringing its distinctive artistry to world-renowned concert halls across North America and Europe.
The touring period begins February 6–12 with performances in New York’s Carnegie Hall, Boston’s Symphony Hall, and Toronto’s Koerner Hall, showcasing a program of Arvo Pärt, Tchaikovsky, and Brahms only in NYC, followed by Mahler’s monumental Symphony No. 3. The violin legend Maxim Vengerov appears as soloist in the Tchaikovsky concerto. The Mahler concerts feature acclaimed mezzo-soprano Gerhild Romberger, returning to the international stage to sing the vocal movements of the symphony, supported by local choirs In Boston and Toronto.
From March 21–25, the orchestra presents a Prokofiev program in Milan and Berlin, with performances at Teatro alla Scala and the Berliner Philharmonie. Russian-German pianist Igor Levit joins the ensemble, in Berlin performing all five Prokofiev piano concertos over three evenings, each night complemented by a different symphonic work under the baton of Iván Fischer.
In late spring, from May 20–28, the BFO continues its European journey with concerts in Amsterdam, Bruges, Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona, and Oviedo, presenting programs that combine Schumann’s lyrical and introspective symphony with excerpts from Wagner’s operas, and in Bruges — the BFO’s annual residency — also featuring Bartók’s TheMiraculous Mandarin, that adds a strikingly modern Hungarian voice to these performances in some of Europe’s most distinguished concert halls.
Festival
Les Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad 2026
From January 30 to February 7, 2026, the Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad launch the classical year with excellence and heart. Led by artistic director Renaud Capuçon, this 26th edition celebrates the violin with a daily recitalcompetition for young talents, mentored by Vadim Repin, and major concerts in Saanen and Rougemont.
The lineup includes Hélène Grimaud, Emmanuel Pahud, Pene Pati, Mao Fujita, and Clara-Jumi Kang, alongside renowned ensembles like the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and Les Siècles.
An intimate, high-altitude festival not to bemissed.