The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) is back with the tradition of the Spring Symphony Season running from 30 October to 20 November 2025.

This four-week classical music event in Johannesburg once again promises a fresh lineup of the biggest conductors and soloists in the international world of classical music, familiar faces and exciting debut performers. The first concert in the Spring series also markes a rare joint orchestra with JPO and the visiting KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Here is the full season lineup not to be missed:

Week 1: A special joint concert with JPO and the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra

A firm tradition for the Spring Symphony Series is the Spring Gala Concert, where two of South Africa’s leading orchestras meet for one night only. The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) will perform the evening programme of works live alongside the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra.

This concert will be led by one of the most exciting talents in the world of classical music right now. GRAMMY® Award-winning conductor Michael Repper’s album with the New York Youth Symphony reached #1 on the Billboard Chart, and marked the first time a youth orchestra had won the prestigious award in that category.

The youthful flights of fancy flow with Ravel’s magnificent Bolero enchants the evening with its touches of mystery and adventure. Also on the programme is Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5, Op. 47 in D minor. Knowing the context of Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony reveals its haunting depth. After his opera Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk was condemned by Stalin’s regime, Shostakovich composed the symphony under immense pressure to conform. Outwardly, it seems to glorify Soviet ideals with its triumphant finale—but beneath the surface lies tension, fear, and veiled resistance.

BBC Music Magazine describes British/German violinist, director and festival director Jack Liebeck as possessing “flawless technical mastery” and a “beguiling silvery tone”. Joburgers will be able to experience the fine musicianship of the Artistic Director of the Australian Festival of Chamber Music live in a much-anticipated violin solo.

In 1903, Jean Sibelius spiralled into a battle with the bottle and emotional turmoil, prompting his wife Aino to rescue him so he could finish the Violin Concerto, Op. 47 in D minor, which will be performed by Liebeck. After moving to the countryside, he revised it in 1906 into a lyrical, impassioned masterpiece—its haunting melodies, fiery virtuosity and Gypsy-style finale now among the most celebrated in music.

Cost: From R180pp, book via Quicket

When: Thursday, 30 October at 7:30pm to 9:30pm
Where: Linder Auditorium, 27 St Andrews Road, Parktown, Johannesburg

Week Two

Joburgers are in for a treat with a second Spring Symphony Season concert under the baton of conductor Michael Repper will remain in town for an evening of invigorating works. 

Edward Elgar’s delicate Serenade for Strings, completed in 1892, predates his famous Enigma Variations and remains one of his most cherished and frequently performed works. The composition is adapted from an earlier suite, and it was the first piece he truly valued, later calling it his favourite. 

Mendelssohn was just 15 when he composed the Symphony in C minor in 1824, marking his transition from youthful string symphonies to mature orchestral writing. The virtuoso was influenced by Mozart and Beethoven, yet full of his own vitality. The opening movement surges with energy, followed by a warmly lyrical andante.

It will be refreshing to witness the brilliance of Norwegian cellist Sandra Lied Haga, who stands on the threshold of a major career, having won four international competitions and numerous European prizes, as well as the prestigious Equinor Classical Music Award. Sandra will interpret Haydn’s Cello Concerto, Hob. VIIb:2 in D Major with its sensitive expressiveness and passionate proportions.

Cost: R170pp, book via Quicket

When: Thursday, 6 November from 7:30pm to 9:30pm
Where: Linder Auditorium, 27 St Andrews Road, Parktown, Johannesburg

Week Three 

Critics and audiences were captivated by the radiant tone, emotional intensity, and masterful interpretation of Albert Mamriev when he became the first pianist to perform Franz Liszt’s complete piano transcriptions of Richard Wagner’s operas at the Wagner Festival in Germany. Now it’s our turn to encounter a sound rendition of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3, Op. 37 in c minor that showcases the iconic composer’s distinctive blend of drama, lyricism, and technical brilliance. Pay attention to the opening movement with its heady own stormy intensity and structural innovation. 

A frequent JPO collaborator and one of the foremost conductors in the country, Daniel Boico is set to take the stage for the 3rtd concert. Boico holds the roles of Artistic Director and CEO designate of the Free State Symphony Orchestra in Bloemfontein and Assistant Conductor of the New York Philharmonic. His deep musicianship has continued to curate exciting performances across the globe and right here in South Africa.  

The programme features a quirky addition to Mozart’s musical library. On 7 February 1786, Emperor Joseph II staged a lavish musical contest at Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace, commissioning Mozart and Salieri to compose rival one-act satires—Mozart’s Der Schauspieldirektor (The Impresario) and Salieri’s Prima la musica, poi le parole. The emperor aimed to compare German singspiel with Italian opera. Though Salieri’s work initially triumphed, Mozart’s witty overture and sparkling ensembles endure as gems of comic opera. 

Brahms’s First Symphony in C minor has always held a special place in the 19th-century symphonic music ecosystem. Completed in 1876 after years of refinement, the work marks a clear independence from Beethoven with lyrical inner movements and majestic finale, thanks to the noble horn call and chorale.

Cost: R180pp, book via Quicket

When: Thursday, 13 November from 7:30pm to 9:30pm
Where: Linder Auditorium, 27 St Andrews Road, Parktown, Johannesburg

Week Four

Guest conductor Daniel Boico is an internationally acclaimed conductor known for his dynamic and imaginative performances. Born in Israel to musician parents and raised in Paris and the United States, he began his formal conducting studies with Victor Yampolsky at Northwestern University. Later, he studied under the legendary Russian conductor Ilya Musin at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory.

Górecki’s stoic Symphony No. 3, Symphony of Sorrowful Songs, is included in the musical programme and speaks to profound expressions of grief and loss. The first movement sets a fifteenth-century Polish Lamentation in which Mary mourns Christ. The second features a teen’s prayer scratched on a Gestapo cell wall in 1944, and the third depicts a mother lamenting her son lost to war.

Leonard Bernstein’s 1957 Candide overture (1955–56) has become one of his most performed works for its melodies from the operetta’s songs with original material, opening with brassy fanfares and energetic string passages.

Rising Russian pianist, Fedor Orlov, is a student at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory and a laureate of numerous international competitions. He performs with top orchestras worldwide, was named “Best Student” at Gnessin and awarded a Presidential grant, cementing his reputation as one of Russia’s most promising young talents.

Orlov will perform Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43, which transports listeners through inventive variations, playful musical “games,” and dramatic gestures like the Dies irae motif. The work blends wit and lyricism, marking a masterful and sensually captivating achievement in his repertoire.

Cost: R170pp, book via Quicket

When: Thursday, 20 November from 7:30pm to 9:30 pm
Where: Linder Auditorium, 27 St Andrews Road, Parktown, Johannesburg

The Pre-Concert Talks are back again

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 the Morning Drive on Classic 1027 hosts an informative and engaging way to learn about the music before the Spring Symphony Season concerts start. 

The talks all touch on music theory, guided listening and the program’s historical and cultural context. Entrance to the talks is free and all patrons are welcome.   

27 Degrees restaurant is right next to Linder Auditorium, and serves dinner from 5pm. Secure and convenient parking is available. 

Who is JPO and how to get in touch?

The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) is a not-for-profit company that is invested in identifying and nurturing local talent and skills in the city’s creative community. The Spring Symphony Season concerts and regular collaborations are prime markers of using classical music to bring people together.

When: From 30 October to 20 November 2025, every Thursday from 7:30pm
Where: Linder Auditorium, 27 St Andrews Road, Parktown, Johannesburg

Website: jpo.co.za
Tel: 011 484 0446
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: @JohannesburgPhilharmonicOrchestra
Instagram: @johannesburgphilharmonic

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