Seasoned Hands. Timeless Music. Celebrating 20 years of the Symphony Orchestra of India, the SOI Autumn 2026 Season brings together four grand orchestral concerts led by Chief Conductor Martyn Brabbins and conductor Alessandro Bonato. Spanning the Classical, Romantic and early modern eras, the season continues the orchestra’s Beethoven symphonic cycle alongside masterpieces by Mozart, Strauss, Wagner, Shostakovich, Elgar, Rossini, Respighi, Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky. Featuring internationally acclaimed soloists Annelien Van Wauwe, Bryan Cheng and Francesca Dego, the season explores music of profound humanity, drama and imagination — from intimate reflection to monumental orchestral expression — while celebrating two decades of the SOI’s artistic journey.
Season Discount:
For the SOI Autumn 2026 Season of the Symphony Orchestra of India, we are offering patrons who purchase tickets for three or more concerts a 20% discount on their purchase.
Student Discount:
A 50% student discount for the SOI Autumn 2026 Season concerts. Please note that there will be a limit on the number of discounted transactions per concert. Only one discounted seat per transaction will be permitted.
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SOI Autumn 2026: Beethoven, Mozart, Strauss
Sunday, 16th – 5.00 pm
Jamshed Bhabha Theatre
Martyn Brabbins, conductor
Annelien Van Wauwe, clarinet
Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36
Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622
Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30
In celebration of 20 years of the SOI, Chief Conductor Martyn Brabbins, opens the Autumn 2026 Season with a grand programme. The orchestra launched its Beethoven symphonic cycle last season, and this concert begins with Symphony No. 2, which was composed at the threshold between Classical tradition and the bold Romantic voice he would soon unleash. Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto will be performed by acclaimed Belgian clarinettist Annelien Van Wauwe, whose “playing has abundant warmth and lyricism, allied to a sinuous vocal quality” (Classical Source). The evening concludes with the vast, cosmic tone poem Also sprach Zarathustra, unfolding from a thunderous sunrise into a sweeping meditation on humanity, nature and transcendence.
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SOI Autumn 2026: Wagner, Shostakovich, Elgar
Friday, 21st August – 7.00 pm
Jamshed Bhabha Theatre
Martyn Brabbins, conductor
Bryan Cheng, cello
Wagner: Parsifal Vorspiel, WWV. 111
Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, Op. 107
Elgar: Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 “Enigma”
Martyn Brabbins continues the season with the SOI, opening the concert with Parsifal Vorspiel from Parsifal—a luminous gateway into Richard Wagner’s final music drama, introducing themes of the Holy Grail, faith, and compassion.
Queen Elisabeth Competition prize-winner Bryan Cheng returns to the SOI to perform Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1—a deeply personal and powerful work, charged with intensity and introspection. The concert concludes with Enigma Variations by Edward Elgar, a set of 14 characterful musical portraits that playfully and affectionately immortalise the composer’s friends.
SOI Autumn 2026: Rossini, Beethoven, Respighi
Wednesday, 26th August – 7.00 pm
Jamshed Bhabha Theatre
Alessandro Bonato, conductor
Francesca Dego, violin
Rossini: Overture to La gazza ladra
Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61
Rossini/Respighi: La Boutique fantasque (The Magic Toyshop)
Alessandro Bonato makes his India debut with the SOI. The concert opens with the overture to La gazza ladra, a sparkling, high-spirited showpiece. Italian violinist Francesca Dego, particularly admired for her interpretations of Beethoven, joins the orchestra for his Violin Concerto—a brilliant showcase of technical prowess and virtuosity. The evening concludes with La Boutique fantasque (The MagicToyshop), in which Respighi re-imagines Rossini’s music into a vivid theatrical tapestry of elegance and mischief.
SOI Autumn 2026: Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky
Sunday, 30th August – 5.00 pm
Jamshed Bhabha Theatre
Alessandro Bonato, conductor
Rossini: William Tell Overture
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90 “Italian”
Beethoven: Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93
Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture, Op. 49 “Solemn Overture”
The closing concert of the season brings together some of the most exhilarating works in the classical repertoire. The evening opens with the overture to William Tell by Rossini—a thrilling orchestral journey that moves from pastoral calm to its iconic galloping finale. This is followed by Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4, often called the “Italian” Symphony, a bright, sunlit work inspired by the composer’s travels through Italy in the early 1830s. Continuing Beethoven’s symphonic cycle, the programme moves to his Symphony No. 8—a work of wit, energy and classical poise—composed during a period marked by the shifting fortunes of Napoleon Bonaparte. The season concludes with Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, a spectacular and theatrical work commemorating Russia’s defence against Napoleon, renowned for its triumphant crescendos, pealing bells and thunderous cannon fire.
Box office on 23rd June for Friends of the SOI, 26th June for NCPA members and 29th June for public.
RECITALS
SOI Autumn 2026: Cheng² Duo
Monday, 17th August – 7.00 pm
Experimental Theatre
Cheng² Duo
Bryan Cheng, cello
Silvie Cheng, piano
Janá?ek: Pohádka (Fairy Tale)
Boulanger: 3 Pièces
Poulenc: Cello Sonata, FP. 143
Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition (arr. Cheng² Duo)
Rooted in a sibling bond that transcends the familial, the JUNO-nominated Cheng² Duo enchants music lovers worldwide with impassioned expressivity, contagious joy and instant rapport with listeners. Cellist Bryan Cheng, the only prizewinner of both the Queen Elisabeth and Geneva International Music competitions in 40 years, and pianist Silvie Cheng, former Cecilia Concerts Musician-in-Residence and National Arts Club Artist Fellow, have cultivated a lifelong musical dialogue, forged in childhood and refined through years of shared artistry. Since officially founding the Cheng² Duo with their 2011 Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall debut, they have toured extensively across the Americas, Europe, Asia and South Africa.
Please note: The Symphony Orchestra of India does not perform at this concert
SOI Autumn 2026: Violin & Piano Recital
Monday, 27th August – 7.00 pm
Experimental Theatre
Francesca Dego, violin
Francesca Leonardi, piano
Tartini: Sonata in G minor Op. 1, no. 10 “Didone Abbandonata” (Dido the Forsaken)
Bériot: Two pieces for violin and piano
Debussy: Violin Sonata in G minor, L. 140
Respighi: Violin Sonata in B minor, P 110
Ravel: Tzigane
Italian violinist Francesca Dego is celebrated for her compelling interpretations and flawless technique. She collaborates regularly with Italian pianist Francesca Leonardi, with whom she has performed for over 17 years. The duo made their debut on the prestigious Deutsche Grammophon label with a recording of the complete violin sonatas of Beethoven, and in 2018, released a programme inspired by Italy featuring several world premiere recordings. Following acclaimed releases for Chandos Records, including the albums Il Cannone and a Mozart project, a CD dedicated entirely to Mozart’s violin sonatas is set for release. Their recital features a rich and varied programme.
Please note: The Symphony Orchestra of India does not perform at this concert
