The orchestra has confirmed details of its upcoming season to mark the beginning of a new artistic chapter.
Fantasia Orchestra, the dynamic and versatile ensemble of some of the UK’s most promising musicians, has announced the launch of its 2025–26 season, including new creative partnerships, genre-crossing repertoire, high-profile collaborations and a residency at Smith Square Hall in London.
The season will open with the first of four performances at Smith Square Hall on 23 November 2025 with Fantasia performing a carefully selected birdsong programme with soprano Lucy Crowe. Handel and Haydn perch next to Messiaen and Gershwin, and Berg’s ‘The Nightingale’ segues into Sherwin’s timeless classic ‘A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square.’
Meanwhile, February will see the orchestra travelling to Nottingham to make their debut at the Royal Concert Hall (16 February 2026) with long-time collaborator and friend Jess Gillam MBE. Jess was the youngest-ever soloist to perform at The Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall and this programme mixes JS Bach with Kate Bush and Steve Reich with Joni Mitchell in a dazzling display of Jess’s virtuosity and Fantasia’s joyful spirit.
The residency at Smith Square Hall will continue on the 10 April with a unique collaboration with sitar virtuoso Jasdeep Singh Degun for an evening of Western and Indian fusion. Minimalist composer Terry Riley was deeply influenced by Indian classical music and his groundbreaking ‘In C’ is at the heart of this programme, featuring sitar, tabla and Fantasia’s own dynamic musicians.
Fantasia Orchestra will collaborate with Steven Osborne, one of the nation’s most renowned concert pianists for a concert at Smith Square Hall on 29 May 2026 for a programme that will see Shostakovich’s ‘Piano Concerto no. 1’ going hand-in-hand with some of Osborne’s favourite jazz standards in a special coming together of the two genres. Rising star trumpeter Aaron Akugbo brings his versatile musicianship to Fantasia Orchestra, with beautifully mellow Gershwin and fierce, electric Shostakovich.
Finally, 3 July 2026 will see Fantasia returning to Smith Square Hall but this time for a special concert with Irish mezzo-soprano Niamh O’Sullivan. In this evening of twentieth century orchestral song, Niamh sings music by Steven Sondheim and Cole Porter alongside Richard Strauss and Alma Mahler. Numbers from beloved films and musicals alongside with repertoire from beautiful song cycles and symphonies.
Talking about the news, Tom Fetherstonhaugh, Artistic Director, said, “Fantasia’s 25/26 season is all about the kind of programming we’ve always dreamed of: multi-genre, boundary-pushing, and collaborative. Each concert is bespoke, featuring an international soloist who has chosen to present a wide range of music that they love. From JS Bach and Richard Strauss to Alma Mahler and Joni Mitchell, it will be a thrilling season of music-making and artistic exploration.”
To find out more visit: https://www.fantasiaorchestra.com/