The San Diego Symphony will begin the 2026-27 season at its Jacobs Music Center downtown with a compelling set of October concerts. Highlighting legendary masterpieces sprinkled with a few unfamiliar works, the new season also boasts 15 debut performers and 15 debut pieces.
Conducting the Oct. 16 and 17 concerts will be French conductor Ludovic Morlot. The music director of the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra and a frequent guest conductor around the world, Morlot and his wife and two daughters have made Los Angeles their home for about eight years.
Given his busy schedule, Morlot could be forgiven for not remembering when he last performed here with the San Diego Symphony. But when asked during a recent conversation, he did not miss a beat.
“The week of January 25, 2024,” Morlot responded immediately. “I was guest conducting and we lost our home — like so many people — to the Palisades fire.”
French conductor Ludovic Morlot, who makes his home in Los Angeles, will conduct the San Diego Symphony on Oct. 16 and 17. (Lisa Marie Mazzucco)
San Diego Symphony Music and Artistic director Rafael Payare wasn’t in town at the time but heard about it from the symphony’s CEO, Martha Gilmer.
“Ludovic entered the rehearsal, and his family phoned and said that the fires were approaching,” Payare said. “By the end of the rehearsal, their house was already gone.”
Suddenly homeless, Morlot’s family joined him in San Diego during the rehearsals and concerts. They and the orchestra understood that he still wanted to conduct.
“Music has always been the best companion in either great moments or more tragic,” Morlot said, speaking from a tour stop in Denmark. “I was grateful that I could continue making music. That was the best way to heal.”
San Diego Symphony Music Director/Artistic Director Rafael Payare, right, and President/CEO Martha Gilmer at the San Diego Symphony on Jan. 20, 2026. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Showcasing the symphony
The first concert of the 2026-27 season will be on Saturday, with Russian composer Sofia Gubaidulina’s Fairytale Poem. Yefim Bronfman will then play Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24 and the concert will conclude with Strauss’ A Hero’s Life.
“Having Yefim with us is always an absolute pleasure,” Payare said. “The concerto is almost operatic. And having the Fairytale Poem and the tone poem from Strauss, it’s like stories coming all together. This concert uses the orchestra’s different sections and showcases our wonderful San Diego Symphony.”
This season will see important milestones for the orchestra. The September release of the Payare-led recording of Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 7 and its upcoming 2027 tour of Europe are significant steps toward being a world-class symphony.
“Recording and touring are two ways that an orchestra can grow artistically beyond just building great performances each week,” said Morlot. He was music director of the Seattle Symphony, which earned five Grammy Awards during his tenure from 2011 to 2019. He is currently the orchestra’s Conductor Emeritus.
“Recording is so demanding in terms of the preparation,” Morlot continued. “And, for the players to play in different halls with different acoustics for different audiences – they can learn a lot. Touring’s also a valuable exercise in getting to know each other better.”
Sergey Khachatryan will be the featured soloist on Khachaturian’s Violin Concerto at the San Diego Symphony’s Oct. 10 and 11 concerts. (Marco Borggreve)
At the Oct. 11 and 12 San Diego Symphony’s concerts, mid-century Soviet-Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian’s violin concerto will be played by Sergey Khachatryan. When he played here with the orchestra two years ago, the Armenian violinist asked his friend Payare, if he could play the rhythmic, folk-dance inspired piece.
The Oct. 11 and 12 concerts conclude with Bruckner’s symphony No. 9, conducted by Payare.
“Rafael adores Bruckner,” symphony CEO Gilmer said. “Each one of this season’s programs is there for a reason. We’re making sure that we’re representing great symphonic music, and each year builds on the previous year.”
Gilmer is especially excited about the upcoming April performances led by her longtime friend, the esteemed conductor Sir Mark Elder.
“Mark loves to talk to audiences about the music he and the orchestra are performing,” she said.
Jimmy Lopez is the San Diego Symphony’s Composer-in-Residence for its 2026-27 season. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)
Welcoming the trombone
Morlot takes the baton from Payare on Oct. 16 and 17 for two concerts of French music, with one notable exception. The second piece, Shift, is by San Diego Symphony composer-in-residence, Jimmy Lopez. The soloist is Dutch trombonist Jörgen van Rijen.
“I’m very happy about this program,” said Morlot, who is a friend and frequent collaborator of cellist Alisa Weilerstein, who is Payare’s wife. “I haven’t done any music by Jimmy Lopez and I like that it features the trombone. I welcome the chance to work with different instruments. How many weeks do we have violin, piano or cello?”
The rest of the works by Debussy, Poulenc and Ravel are appropriately French. Morlot and the Barcelona Symphony are about to finish recording all of Ravel’s works.
“San Diego wanted me to explore French repertoire and I love this music,” the Lyon-born conductor said. “I’ve been swimming in the music of Ravel for so many months now that I wanted to do his Alborada del gracisoso and Rapsodie espagnole.”
The title of the October 16 and 17 concerts is “Spain through French Glasses.” Poulenc’s suite from his ballet, “The Does (les biches),” is also on the program.
“The suite, which is five movements, is just stunning,” Morlot said.
Andrea Overturf has been the Principal English Horn player for San Diego Symphony since 2009. She will be the featured soloist for a pair of concerts Jan. 16 and 17. (Todd Rosenberg)
‘Thrilled to be back’
The San Diego Symphony will be spotlighting three of its principal musicians this season. In January, Principal English horn Andrea Overturf will perform the concerto for her instrument by the late American composer Ned Rorem.
The following month, harpist Julie Phillips marks her 20th anniversary with the orchestra. She will celebrate with a concerto by Nino Rota, who won an Oscar for the film score of “Godfather II.”
Concertmaster Jeff Thayer, whose annual solo performance is in May, is also featured in this season’s first concert.
“A Hero’s Life has a huge violin solo,” Payare said. “It’s very prominent because Jeff takes on the role of Strauss’ wife Pauline, and then of Strauss himself.”
In addition to Ravel, Morlot is recording with the Barcelona Symphony a library of works by past and present women composers. In keeping with the symphony’s full name, National Orchestra of Catalonia, it is building a library of Catalan composers.
Morlot has also worked with Portugal’s Porto Symphony Casa da Música and will become its Chief Conductor Designate early next year. Building a library of Porto’s regional works is on the horizon.
The French conductor doesn’t believe in bad luck and has no hesitation in returning here.
“It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster since last year, trying to rebuild our lives,” Morlot said. “But I’m thrilled to be back in San Diego. Music is always saving the day.”
Pianist Yefim Bronfman will perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24 with the San Diego Symphony on Saturday, Oct. 3. (Dario Acosta)
San Diego Symphony 2026-27 Jacobs Masterworks season
Subscriptions and individual tickets available at the Jacobs Music Center box office at 750 B St., San Diego, or at 619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org.
Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 4 at 2 p.m.: Gubaidulina’s “Fairytale Poem” (Poema-Skazka), Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24, Strauss’ “A Hero’s Life” (Ein Heldenleben), featuring music & artistic director Rafael Payare and pianist Yefim Bronfman. ($43-$129)
Saturday, Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 11 at 2 p.m.: Khachaturian’s Violin Concerto and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9, featuring music & artistic director Rafael Payare and violinist Sergey Khachatryan. ($43-$129)
Friday, Oct. 16 at 11 a.m. and Saturday, Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m.: Debussy’s “Nuages” and “Fêtes” from Nocturnes, López’s Shift, Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra, Ravel’s Alborada del gracioso, Poulenc’s Suite from Les biches (The Does), Ravel’s Rapsodie espagnole, featuring conductor Ludovic Morlot and trombonist Jörgen van Rijen. ($43-$129)
Thursday, Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m.: San Diego Symphony presents Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal performing Moussa’s Elysium, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto and Stravinsky’s The Firebird, featuring music & artistic director Rafael Payare and violinist Leonidas Kavakos. ($43-$129)
Saturday, Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m.: Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10, featuring music & artistic director Rafael Payare and pianist Daniil Trifonov. ($43-$129)
Friday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 22 at 2 p.m.: Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Mahler’s Symphony No. 6, “Tragic,” featuring music & artistic director Rafael Payare and pianist Inon Barnatan. ($43-$129)
Saturday, Nov. 28 at 7:30 p.m.: Jazz @ The Jacobs: “Miles Davis: Milestones, Celebrating Miles Davis’s Centennial” with Gilbert Castellanos, trumpet; Antonio Hart, alto saxophone; Ralph Moore, tenor saxophone; Joshua White, piano; Luke Little, bass; Carl Allen, drums. ($44-$99)
Friday, Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m.: Carreño’s Margariteña, Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2, Sibelius’s Symphony No. 2, featuring conductor Diego Matheuz and pianist Aristo Sham. ($43-$129)
Thursday, Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m.: A Very Swinging Basie Christmas! With the legendary Count Basie Orchestra. ($44-$99)
Saturday, Jan. 16 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 17 at 2 p.m.: Glinka’s Overture to Ruslan and Ludmilla, Rorem’s English Horn Concerto, Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2, featuring conductor Delyana Lazarova and Andrea Overturf, English horn. ($43-$129)
Saturday, Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 24 at 2 p.m.: Smetana’s Overture to the Bartered Bride, Ginastera’s Concierto argentino, Albéniz’s Rapsodia española, Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8, featuring conductor Aziz Shokhakimov and pianist Simon Trpčeski. ($43-$129)
Friday, Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 30 at 7:30 p.m.: Elgar’s Cello Concerto, Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique, featuring music & artistic director Rafael Payare and cellist Alisa Weilerstein. ($43-$129)
Friday, Feb. 5 at 11 a.m. and Saturday Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m.: Ravel’s Rigaudon from Le tombeau de Couperin, Rota’s Harp Concerto, Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5, featuring conductor Andreas Ottensamer and harpist Julie Phillips. ($43-$129)
Saturday, Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m.: Jazz @ The Jacobs: “Billie Holiday: All or Nothing at All” with Gilbert Castellanos, trumpet and ensemble. ($44-$99)
Saturday, Feb. 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m.: Pintscher’s Assonanza for violin & chamber orchestra, Ravel’s Tzigane, rapsodie de concert, Copland’s Symphony No. 3, featuring conductor Matthias Pintscher and violinist Blake Pouliot. ($43-$129)
Saturday, Feb. 27 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 28 at 2 p.m.: Mozart’s Chaconne from Idomeneo, Piano Concerto No. 23, Symphony No. 41, featuring conductor Bernard Labadie and pianist Benedetto Lupo. ($43-$129)
Friday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 7 at 2 p.m.: Mendelssohn’s Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage, Tchaikovsky’s The Tempest, Ravel’s Shéhérazade, Debussy’s La mer, featuring conductor Edward Gardner and mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke. ($43-$129)
Saturday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m.: Leslie Odom, Jr. ($46 – $125)
Saturday, March 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 21 at 2 p.m.: Ortiz’s Kauyumari, Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1, Bartók’s Suite from The Miraculous Mandarin, Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite, featuring music & artistic director Rafael Payare and violinist Joshua Brown. ($43-$129)
Friday, March 26 at 11 a.m. and Saturday March 27 at 7:30 p.m.: Estévez’s Midday on the Plains (Mediodía en el llano), Salonen’s kínēma, Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances, featuring music & artistic director Rafael Payare and Ricardo Morales, clarinet. ($43-$129)
Friday, March 26 at 8 p.m.: The Midtown Men: Stars from the Original Cast of Jersey Boys ($58-$105)
Saturday, April 3 at 7:30 p.m.: Jazz @ The Jacobs: Lee Morgan’s “The Sidewinder” performed by Gilbert Castellanos, trumpet; Brian Levy, tenor saxophone; Sam Hirsh, piano; Danton Boller, bass; Willie Jones III, drums ($44-$99)
Friday, April 9 at 7:30 p.m.: SYMPHONYFUSE: Beethoven X Coldplay, featuring conductor/creator Steve Hackman and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra ($43-$120)
Saturday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 11 at 2 p.m.: Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 7, Dvořák’s The Wood Dove, Janáček’s Taras Bulba, featuring conductor Sir Mark Elder. ($43-$129)
Friday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m.: Alisa Weilerstein performs FRAGMENTS 5: Lament ($53-$74)
Saturday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m.: The Genius of Bird: A Charlie Parker Celebration with Charles McPherson, alto saxophone. ($44-$99)
Sunday, May 16 at 2 p.m.: Mariachi Los Camperos with Ballet Folclórico Chiquina Palafox ($53)
Saturday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 23 at 2 p.m.: Sibelius’ Pohjola’s Daughter, Grieg’s Piano Concerto, Nielsen’s Symphony No. 5, featuring conductor Osmo Vänskä and pianist Alessio Bax. ($43-$129)
Saturday, May 29 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 30 at 2 p.m.: Klein’s Partita for Strings, Bartók’s Violin Concerto No. 1, Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 “From the New World”, featuring conductor Joshua Weilerstein and violinist Jeff Thayer. ($43-$129)
Friday, June 4 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, June 5 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 6 at 2 p.m.: López’s Symphony No. 6, “Monarch” and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, featuring music & artistic director Rafael Payare, soprano Tasha Hokuao Koontz, mezzo-soprano Nikola Printz, tenor Viktor Antipenko, baritone Hansung Yoo, San Diego Symphony Chorus. ($43-$129)