Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra returns with the Early Spring Symphony Season for 2026. This time, both local and international talent will deliver a fresh repertoire of the most enchanting classical music compositions every week at Linder Auditorium from 13 to 3 September 2026.
“A warm welcome to Joburg’s vibrant body of music lovers for our four-concert Early Spring Symphony Season,” says Bongani Tembe, JPO’s Chief Executive and Artistic Director. “We are proud to present a fresh roster of guest stars, who will join our team of players in making great music together for the delight of our audience. The season dovetails with our ongoing commitment to community engagement and skills transfer among new-generation artists and learners.”
We break down all the upcoming concerts you cannot afford to miss over the next few weeks:
Week 1
Kicking off the Women’s Month celebration is accomplished conductor Barbara Dragan and pianist Zlata Chochieva.
Barbara Dragan is an accomplished conductor, recognised for her intellectual curiosity and rigorous approach to musical architecture. Her diverse and successful international career began with her musical studies at the age of five, initially in violin and later adding the oboe. Her career highlights include conducting the pre-recordings for the entire opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with both the Orchestre de Paris and the Orchestre National de France.
Pianist Zlata Chochieva is celebrated worldwide by critics and audiences alike as one of the most extraordinary artists of her generation. She made her first stage appearance at the age of four and gave her orchestral debut just three years later, performing a Mozart concerto at the Grand Hall of the Moscow State Conservatory.
The soloist will showcase her techniques on Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings, Op. 4 in C Major, and Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 83 in B-flat Major.
Cost: From R190pp, book via Quicket
When: Thursday, 13 August at 7:30pm. Pre-concert talks start at 6:30pm
Where: Linder Auditorium, 27 St Andrews Road, Parktown, Johannesburg
Week 2
Conductor Débora Waldman leads the next edition of the JPO Spring concert, with violin soloist Lidia Baich.
Débora Waldman’s career took her to three different countries before she turned 15: from Brazil to Israel and later Argentina. At the age of 17, she conducted for the first time and decided to go into orchestral conducting: she went to Paris to perfect her skills at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique (CNSMDP). She later became Kurt Masur’s assistant at the Orchestre National de France between 2006 and 2009, and in September 2022, she was appointed Associate Conductor at the Dijon Opera after a dazzling DON PASQUALE in spring 2022 and conducted the Orchestre de Dijon-Bourgogne at the 30th Victoires de la Musique in March 2023.
Lidia Baich is widely regarded as one of the most versatile violin soloists of our time, captivating audiences worldwide with her intense musicality and compelling interpretations. Her extraordinary musical achievements culminated at age sixteen with her victory at the Eurovision Grand Prix and the “European Musician of the Year” award – presented to her by Lord Yehudi Menuhin – and she now routinely performs worldwide both as a soloist with orchestras and in recitals at the most prestigious concert halls
The two come together for a performance of Mayer Faust Overture, Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1, Op. 26 in g minor and Dvorák Symphony No. 7, Op. 70 in d minor
Cost: From R190pp, book via Quicket
When: Thursday, 20 August at 7:30pm. Pre-concert talks start at 6:30pm
Where: Linder Auditorium, 27 St Andrews Road, Parktown, Johannesburg
Week 3
Joburgers have the chance to witness the bold, passionate and innovative direction of Daniel Boico up close for two concerts in the JPO’s Early Spring Season this year.
The third concert in JPO’s Early Spring Symphony Season features the Rossini Barber of Seville Overture, Mozart Concerto for Two Pianos, K.365 in E-flat Major, and the Mozart Symphony No. 39, K.543 in E-flat Major.
The piano duo Xin Wang & Florian Koltun form a dynamic and innovative team whose brilliantly interpreted recitals bring joy and enjoyment of music to audiences throughout Europe and China.
Chinese pianist Xin Wang made her debut in a national piano competition at the age of just seven, and from there, her career quickly blossomed. In 2008, she studied in Europe at the Cologne University of Music. There she met her artistic and life partner, Florian Koltun. She has completed several masterclasses in China and Germany and is the founder and artistic director of the international piano festival in Geilenkirchen, Germany, and a jury member of the international piano competition “Euregio Piano Award.”
German pianist and music manager Florian Koltun is a graduate of music academies in Cologne and Trossingen. At the age of fourteen, he attracted attention as a laureate in the German piano competitions “Jugend musiziert” and the Bach Competition in Köthen. Further awards were not long in coming, and he has won several prestigious international piano competitions (Caraglio in Italy, the Henri Herman Concours in Maastricht in the Netherlands, and Notes in Harmony in Bettona, Italy).
Cost: From R190pp, book via Quicket
When: Thursday, 27 August at 7:30pm. Pre-concert talks start at 6:30pm
Where: Linder Auditorium, 27 St Andrews Road, Parktown, Johannesburg
Week 4
Peak technical brilliance and evolved talent are required for Rachmaninoff Symphony in D minor, “Youth Symphony”, Walton Concerto for Viola, and Franck Symphony in D minor. The work will be performed by South African-born multi-instrumentalist and overtone singer Gareth Lubbe – an internationally active soloist, chamber musician, and pedagogue.
He grew up in apartheid-era South Africa and performed at the presidential inauguration of Nelson Mandela in 1994. He later continued his musical studies in Germany and served as principal violist of the Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig under Riccardo Chailly from 2007 to 2014. He is currently Professor of Viola at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, succeeding Vladimir Mendelssohn.
Conductor Daniel Boico will be tasked with reinterpreting the symphony for fine music lovers for the final concert in the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra’s Early Spring Symphony Season.
Cost: From R190pp, book via Quicket
When: Thursday, 3 September at 7:30pm. Pre-concert talks start at 6:30pm
Where: Linder Auditorium, 27 St Andrews Road, Parktown, Johannesburg
Get there early for the informative Pre-Concert Talks
Plan your evening carefully and be sure to join the Pre-Concert Talks that run before each concert at 6:30pm. Deano Maduramuthu, previously from Classical Fix on SAfm hosts an informative and engaging way to learn about the music before your concert.
The talks touch on music theory, guided listening and the programme’s historical and cultural context. Entrance to the talks is free, and all patrons are welcome.
More about Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra
The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) is a not-for-profit company that invests in identifying and nurturing local talent and skills in the city’s creative community. Their seasonal concerts and regular collaborations are prime markers of using classical music to bring people together.
When: From 13 August to 3 September 2026, every Thursday from 7:30pm
Where: Linder Auditorium, 27 St Andrews Road, Parktown, Johannesburg
Website: jpo.co.za
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 011 484 0446
Facebook: @JohannesburgPhilharmonicOrchestra
Instagram: @johannesburgphilharmonic
