Thank you for joining us for the 25-26 Season. Your presence shaped every performance, filling the concert hall with energy, connection, and a shared love of live music. Because of you, the power of live performance continues to thrive in our community in meaningful and unforgettable ways.
This season celebrated the many ways music can inspire, surprise, and bring people together. We proudly reintroduced opera to the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra stage for the first time in more than 20 years, rocked a sold-out Valentine’s Day performance with Dwayne Gretzky, welcomed extraordinary guest artists from across Canada and beyond, and transported audiences into the thrilling cinematic world of Jurassic Park with a live orchestra experience.
From breathtaking symphonic performances to unforgettable special events, the 25-26 Season was a celebration of artistry, storytelling, and community, and we are so grateful you were part of it.
The Journey Begins
The 25-26 Season opened with an evening of bold artistry and musical discovery. Audiences were captivated by acclaimed pianist Roman Rabinovich in a dazzling performance Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 1, bringing energy, brilliance and expressive depth to the concert hall.
The program also celebrated exceptional Canadian creativity with the performance of Eris by the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra’s Composer-in-Residence, Abigail Richardson-Schulte.
Together, these works set the tone for a season defined by dynamic performances, artistic innovation, and unforgettable musical storytelling.
Jurassic Park in Concert
Audiences stepped into the world of Jurassic Park as the beloved cinematic classic came to life on the big screen alongside a thrilling live performance by the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra. Conducted by Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, this action-packed concert experience combined the excitement of film with the power and intensity of a live orchestra, creating an unforgettable evening for audiences of all ages.
The concert welcomed many first-time attendees, with nearly 50 percent of patrons experiencing the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra for the very first time. From longtime symphony lovers to families and film fans, the evening brought together a vibrant and enthusiastic crowd. Many audience members embraced the spirit of the event by dressing up, adding an extra sense of fun, creativity, and celebration to this immersive cinematic experience.
Light Emerges
This powerful and emotionally rich program welcomed acclaimed guest conductor Nil Venditti to lead the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra through four expressive works by Giuseppe Verdi, Edward Elgar, Wojciech Kilar, and Felix Mendelssohn. From moments of profound intensity and tragic destiny to radiant celebrations of joy, the evening carried audiences through a striking landscape of emotion and sound.
The concert also featured a captivating performance by the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra’s Principal Cellist, Leana Rutt, who took centre stage as soloist in Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E minor. Her performance brought warmth, vulnerability, and remarkable artistry to one of the most beloved works in the cello repertoire.
‘Tis The Season
The holiday spirit filled the concert hall as the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra brought the community together for a joyful celebration of music, connection, and seasonal tradition. More than just a concert, this festive evening highlighted the many relationships and creative partnerships that continue to strengthen Hamilton’s vibrant arts community.
The performance also showcased the incredible talents of the Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, the Hamilton Children’s Choir, and the Hamilton Academy of the Performing Arts, whose energy and artistry made the evening especially memorable. Together, the performers created a heartwarming celebration that captured the magic, nostalgia, and joy of the holiday season.
Monomyth: The Hero’s Journey
Guest conductor Alondra de la Parra led the Orchestra through a concert of bold storytelling and transformative orchestral works. The program featured Grażyna Bacewicz’s energetic Overture for Orchestra, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 performed by acclaimed soloist Thomas Enhco, and Ludwig van Beethoven’s revolutionary Symphony No. 3 ‘Eroica’.
The concert opened with Bacewicz’s vibrant overture, composed in occupied Warsaw in 1943, before audiences experienced Enhco’s lyrical and technically dazzling interpretation of Mozart’s beloved concerto. The performance concluded with Beethoven’s monumental “Eroica” Symphony, a groundbreaking work that redefined the symphony through its emotional depth, scale, and spirit of heroic self-expression.
From Hamilton, With Love: HPO & Dwayne Gretzky
Valentine’s Day at FirstOntario Concert Hall turned into a sold-out celebration of nostalgia, connection, and unforgettable music as the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra joined forces with Dwayne Gretzky for an electrifying evening of iconic hits from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s.
Led by Guest Conductor Lucas Waldin, the concert brought beloved love songs and coming-of-age classics to life through dynamic orchestral arrangements and high-energy performances. Audience members sang along, danced in their seats, and celebrated the music that shaped generations.
Photographed by Julia Bissessar
Photographed by Julia Bissessar
Dancing Through Life
Led by James Kahane, Music Director of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Dancing Through Life brought audiences on a vibrant musical journey inspired by dance traditions from across centuries. The evening featured works by Maurice Ravel, Camille Saint-Saëns, Philippe Hersant, and Antonín Dvořák, each capturing movement, rhythm, and celebration through rich orchestral storytelling.
A highlight of the evening was the return of acclaimed Canadian violinist Susanne Hou as guest soloist. Her captivating performance of Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso showcased both extraordinary technical brilliance and emotional depth.
Myth & Memory
In April, the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra proudly showcased its very own Concertmaster, Stephen Sitarski, as soloist in Violin Concerto in D Major by Ludwig van Beethoven. Sitarski brought remarkable artistry, precision, and emotional depth to one of the most celebrated violin concertos in the orchestral repertoire.
Filled with lyrical beauty and dramatic intensity, the evening explored themes of memory, emotion, and human expression through powerful orchestral storytelling. Featuring one of the HPO’s own musicians in a leading role made the concert especially meaningful, highlighting the extraordinary talent found within the orchestra itself.
Tchaikovsky’s Fate
We concluded the 25-26 Season with an unforgettable evening of passion, intensity, and extraordinary artistry. Internationally acclaimed pianist Anna Fedorova took the stage for a breathtaking performance of Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Sergei Rachmaninoff, delivering a deeply emotional and virtuosic performance that captivated audiences from beginning to end.
The program also featured Arvo Pärt’s haunting Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten and concluded with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s sweeping Symphony No. 5, a powerful work filled with emotional struggle, triumph, and resilience.
The concert also featured the world premiere of LadyDriven by the HPO’s 25-26 Composer Fellow, Mari Alice Conrad. Inspired by the phrase “Lady Driven” often seen in used car advertisements, the work challenged stereotypes surrounding women and driving through bold, exhilarating musical expression. Powerful and thought-provoking, the piece showcased the HPO’s ongoing commitment to supporting and amplifying contemporary Canadian voices.
Together, these performances brought the season to a moving and memorable close, celebrating both timeless masterworks and exciting new artistic perspectives.
Off the mainstage
Considering Matthew Shepard
As part of the 25–26 off-the-mainstage programming, the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra presented a deeply moving performance of Considering Matthew Shepard by Craig Hella Johnson. Led by conductor Mark Vuorinen and featuring the acclaimed Elora Singers, the performance brought together music, poetry, and personal reflections in a powerful meditation on love, compassion, and social change.
The oratorio reflects on the life and legacy of Matthew Shepard, whose 1998 murder became a catalyst for conversations surrounding hate crimes and LGBTQ+ rights across North America. Through expressive choral writing and emotionally resonant storytelling, the work invited audiences to reflect on acceptance, empathy, and the ongoing fight against intolerance.
Handel’s Messiah
The holiday season brought communities together through music as the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra continued its cherished seasonal traditions alongside some of the region’s most celebrated artistic partners. Joined once again by the Bach Elgar Choir, the HPO presented inspiring performances of Messiah by George Frideric Handel, conducted by BEC Artistic Director Alexander Cann.
Featuring a stellar lineup of soloists — Allana Stevenson, Hillary Tufford, Benjamin Butterfield, and Alex Halliday — the performances brought warmth, power, and beauty to one of the season’s most beloved choral masterworks, including its iconic “Hallelujah” Chorus.
Mozart’s Don Giovanni
In partnership with the Centre for Opera Studies & Appreciation, the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra reintroduced opera to Hamilton audiences for the first time in more than 20 years with a fully staged production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni at the Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre.
Conducted by HPO Music Director James Kahane and directed by acclaimed stage director Melissa Bencic, the production offered audiences an accessible and engaging interpretation of Mozart’s legendary opera, blending traditional storytelling with modern theatrical elements. Set designer Meredith Wolting brought a striking visual world to life through bold colour and fairy tale-inspired design.
The performance marked an exciting milestone for the orchestra and reflected the HPO’s ongoing commitment to expanding artistic experiences for audiences across the community.
Intimate & Immersive
The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra returned to the The Cotton Factory for another installment of its Intimate & Immersive series with Earth Songs, an evening of contemporary music inspired by the beauty of the natural world and ancient musical traditions. Led by Music Director James Kahane, the performance featured violinist Linda Suolahti and the McMaster University Choirs in a genre-spanning program of Canadian and Finnish works.
Known for pairing innovative music with immersive visual environments, the Intimate & Immersive series invited audiences to experience the orchestra in a uniquely close and interactive setting. Concertgoers sat alongside musicians and engaged directly with composers, performers, and art installations throughout the evening, creating a deeply personal concert experience.
In the community
We continue the long tradition of getting out of concert halls and venues and meeting music fans across the region at community hubs like the library, farmers’ markets, parks, galleries, seniors centres, festivals and more!
