Carnegie Hall

 

(New York, NY, October 6, 2025) — WQXR and Carnegie Hall are proud to announce the schedule for the 15th anniversary season of Carnegie Hall Live, the legendary live broadcast series that brings the thrill of live classical performance to audiences in New York, across the country, and around the globe.

 

The season kicks off on Tuesday October 7 at 7pm with Carnegie Hall’s Opening Night Gala performance by the NYO-USA All-Stars, featuring Yuja Wang on piano. Conducted by Daniel Harding, the program includes selections from Bernstein, Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky.

 

The season features the Carnegie Hall Live debuts of the Estonian Festival Orchestra led by artistic director and conductor Paavo Järvi in an all-Arvo Pärt program (October 23, 2025), the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, led by music director and conductor Manfred Honeck and featuring pianist Seong-Jin Cho (December 3, 2025), and the Dover Quartet (February 10, 2026). The series will also feature solo recitals for pianists Beatrice Rana (November 12, 2025) and Yunchan Lim (May 28, 2026).

 

Season highlights include a performance of Verdi’s Requiem by The Cleveland Orchestra, the Vienna Philharmonic, and appearances from Carnegie Hall’s “Perspectives” artists, including conductor Marin Alsop, pianist Lang Lang, mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, and violinist Maxim Vengerov. Carnegie Hall Live will also feature two special broadcasts from the Hall’s “United in Sound: America at 250” festival, celebrating the nation’s 250th birthday and its vibrant musical heritage. The Dover Quartet performs a program highlighting works by Native American composers Pura Fé and Jerod Impichcha̲achaaha' Tate (February 10, 2026), while The Philadelphia Orchestra, led by Marin Alsop, is joined by pianist Hayato Sumino for Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F and the New York premiere of a new work by American composer John Adams (March 31, 2026).

 

Additionally, this season will include Carnegie Hall’s “Concert of the Century” performance on May 5, 2026. This special performance celebrates the 50th anniversary of the original Concert of the Century and will feature a star-studded cast, including the NYO-USA All Stars, conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin, soprano Renée Fleming, mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, vocalist and pianist Michael Feinstein, pianists Emanuel Ax, Evgeny Kissin, Lang Lang, and Daniil Trifonov, and the Oratorio Society of New York, led by Kent Tritle.

 

Carnegie Hall Live broadcasts are hosted by WQXR’s Jeff Spurgeon and WNYC’s John Schaefer and air live on New York’s only all-classical music station, WQXR FM, and on demand at wqxr.org, and carnegiehall.org/wqxr. In addition, the series airs on public radio stations across the country throughout the year. The full WQXR broadcast schedule is listed below.

 

“We are so excited to be celebrating this landmark 15th anniversary season,” said LaFontaine Oliver, President, CEO, and Executive Chair of New York Public Radio. “At a time when public media, the arts, and the values of free expression are under continued threat, this partnership stands as a shining example of why access to great music matters. Carnegie Hall Live brings the world’s leading artists into homes across the country, reaffirming our shared commitment to preserving and expanding the reach of live performance. We believe that classical music belongs to everyone, and look forward to another year of unforgettable performances, live from one of the world’s most legendary stages.”

 

"Celebrating the 15th anniversary of Carnegie Hall Live with our valued partner WQXR is both a joy and a proud milestone for all of us at Carnegie Hall,” said Clive Gillinson, Carnegie Hall’s Executive and Artistic Director. “This season’s series features an extraordinary lineup of many of today’s finest artists and ensembles. Thanks to our longstanding partnership with WQXR, we are thrilled to share the magic of their live performances from Carnegie Hall with music lovers around the world."

UPCOMING LIVE BROADCAST SCHEDULE

Tuesday, October 7, 2025 at 7:00 PM

Carnegie Hall’s Opening Night Gala

NYO-USA All-Stars

Daniel Harding, Conductor

Yuja Wang, Piano and Director

 

BERNSTEIN Selections from Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No. 1

STRAVINSKY The Firebird Suite (1919 version)

 

Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM

Estonian Festival Orchestra

Paavo Järvi, Artistic Director and Conductor

Midori, Violin

Hans Christian Aavik, Violin

Nico Muhly, Piano

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

Tõnu Kaljuste, Director

 

ALL-ARVO PÄRT PROGRAM

Cantus in memoriam Benjamin Britten

Perpetuum mobile

La Sindone

Adam’s Lament

Tabula Rasa

Fratres

Swansong

Credo

 

Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at 8:00 PM

Beatrice Rana, Piano

 

PROKOFIEV Selections from Ten Pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 75

DEBUSSY Etudes, Book II

TCHAIKOVSKY Selections from The Nutcracker Suite (arr. Mikhail Pletnev)

PROKOFIEV Piano Sonata No. 6 in A Major, Op. 82

 

Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at 8:00 PM

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Manfred Honeck, Music Director and Conductor

Seong-Jin Cho, Piano

 

LERA AUERBACH Frozen Dreams (NY Premiere)

RACHMANINOFF Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 5

 

Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Maxim Vengerov and Friends

Maxim Vengerov, Violin

Vilde Frang, Violin

James Ehnes, Viola

Daniel Müller-Schott, Cello

Yefim Bronfman, Piano

Anthony McGill, Clarinet

 

ALL-BRAHMS PROGRAM

Piano Quintet

Clarinet Quintet

 

The Annual Isaac Stern Memorial Concert

 

Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 8:00 PM

The Cleveland Orchestra

Franz Welser-Möst, Music Director and Conductor

Asmik Grigorian, Soprano

Deniz Uzun, Mezzo-Soprano

Joshua Guerrero, Tenor

Tareq Nazmi, Bass

The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus

Lisa Wong, Director

 

VERDI Requiem

 

Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 7:30 PM

Dover Quartet

• Joel Link, Violin
• Bryan Lee, Violin
• Julianne Lee, Viola
• Camden Shaw, Cello

 

FELIX MENDELSSOHN String Quartet in F Minor, Op. 80

PURA FÉ Rattle Songs (orch. Jerod Impichcha̲achaaha' Tate) (NY Premiere, co- commissioned by Carnegie Hall)

JEROD IMPICHCHAACHAAHA' TATE Abokkoli' Taloowa' (Woodland

Songs) (NY Premiere; co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall)

DVOŘÁK String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, "American"

Friday, February 27, 2026 at 8:00 PM

Vienna Philharmonic

Andris Nelsons, Conductor

Lang Lang, Piano

 

BARTÓK Piano Concerto No. 3

G. MAHLER Symphony No. 1

Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 7:30 PM

Concerto Köln

Shunske Sato, Violin

Max Volbers, Recorder

 

TELEMANN Selections from Klingende Geographie

MRS PHILARMONICA Sonata sesta in G Major (arr. for string orchestra)

J. S. BACH Violin Concerto in D Minor, BWV 1052R

GIUSEPPE SAMMARTINI Recorder Concerto in F Major

HANDEL Concerto Grosso in F Major, Op. 6, No. 9

VIVALDI Concerto in A Minor for Two Violins, Strings, and Continuo, RV 522

Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at 8:00 PM

The Philadelphia Orchestra

Marin Alsop, Principal Guest Conductor

Hayato Sumino, Piano

 

JOHN ADAMS The Rock You Stand On (NY Premiere, co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall)

GERSHWIN Piano Concerto in F

PROKOFIEV Selections from Romeo and Juliet

 

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 7:00 PM

50^th Anniversary of the Concert of the Century

 

NYO-USA All-Stars

Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Conductor

Renée Fleming, Soprano

Joyce DiDonato, Mezzo-Soprano

Isabel Leonard, Mezzo-Soprano
Michael Feinstein, Vocalist and Piano

Emanuel Ax, Piano

Evgeny Kissin, Piano

Lang Lang, Piano

Daniil Trifonov, Piano

Oratorio Society of New York

Kent Tritle, Director

Additional artists to be announced

 

A Gala Evening at Carnegie Hall

 

 

Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 9:00 PM

*Pre-recorded Broadcast

Yunchan Lim, Piano

 

CHOPIN Fantasy in F Minor, Op. 49

SCHUBERT Piano Sonata in G Major, D. 894

R. SCHUMANN Fantasy in C Major, Op. 17

 

About Carnegie Hall
Since it opened in 1891, Carnegie Hall has set the international standard for musical excellence as the aspirational destination for the world’s finest artists. From Tchaikovsky, Dvorák, Mahler, and Bartók to George Gershwin, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Judy Garland, and The Beatles, music-making by a long list of artists representing the best of every genre has filled Carnegie Hall over the years. The Hall’s unique history has grown out of its stunning acoustics, the beauty of its three concert halls, and its location in New York City, where it has played a central role in helping to elevate the city into one of the world’s great cultural capitals.

Carnegie Hall presents a wide range of performances each season on its three stages—the renowned Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, intimate Weill Recital Hall, and innovative Zankel Hall—including concert series curated by acclaimed artists and composers; citywide festivals featuring collaborations with leading NYC cultural institutions; orchestral performances, chamber music, new music concerts, and recitals; and the best in jazz, global, and popular music.

Complementing these performance activities, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute creates wide-reaching music education and social impact programs that annually serve hundreds of thousands of people in the New York City area, nationally, and internationally. These programs play a central role in delivering on Carnegie Hall’s commitment to making great music accessible to as many people as possible.

 

Earlier this year, Carnegie Hall in partnership with WQXR launched If This Hall Could Talk, a new eight-episode podcast series that delves into stories of great performances and the shaping of American culture as witnessed at the legendary venue throughout its 130+ year history. Hosted by celebrated Broadway actress/vocalist Jessica Vosk, each episode centers on a unique object drawn from the collection of Carnegie Hall’s Rose Archives—from Benny Goodman’s clarinet and Ella Fitzgerald’s glasses to a ticket from Carnegie Hall’s first Opening Night in 1891 and beyond. 

For more information, please visit https://www.wqxr.org/shows/carnegie/about/.

About WQXR
WQXR is New York City’s only all-classical music station, immersing listeners in the city’s rich musical life on-air at 105.9FM, online at WQXR.org, and in the community through live events and performances. An essential partner to the city’s musical and cultural organizations, WQXR presents new and archival classical recordings and performances from New York City’s esteemed performance venues. Signature programs include Carnegie Hall Live, Metropolitan Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcasts, New York Philharmonic This Week, New York in Concert, the Young Artists Showcase, as well as limited edition podcasts including The Open Ears Project, Made in New York: the NY Philharmonic Story, Every Voice with Terrance McKnight, Helga, and Aria Code, a joint project with the Metropolitan Opera. As a public media station, WQXR is supported through the generosity of its members, donors, and sponsors, making classical music relevant, accessible and inspiring for all.