FANTASIA ORCHESTRA ANNOUNCES 2025–26 SEASON: THE LAUNCH 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 – a landmark year that marks the beginning of a bold new artistic chapter. The season features new creative partnerships, genre-crossing repertoire, high-profile collaborations and a residency at Smith Square Hall – one of the London's most exciting venues for live classical music. 

Fantasia Orchestra

Fantasia made their acclaimed debut at the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall last summer alongside soloists and longstanding friends Sheku and Braimah Kanneh-Mason and Plínio Fernandes and this won them a host of new admirers as they brought their trademark energy and vibrancy to the famous festival. Their repertoire included music by musicians as diverse as Bartók, Brahms, Dvorak, Laura Mvula, Piazzolla, and Nile Rodgers and Chic. 

Over the past decade, Fantasia has developed a reputation for its imaginative programming, collaborative spirit, and top-level players drawn from across the UK. The new season takes that ethos even further. 

Under the direction of conductor and founder Tom Fetherstonhaugh, the orchestra is now building on the success of the BBC Proms with a season featuring hand-curated programmes. Each concert is shaped by Tom’s personal musical connections, friendships, and artistic vision. 

The season opens 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’. Soar through centuries of music with one of the country's most exciting orchestras and finest of singers. 

February sees the orchestra travel 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 continues on 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. French Baroque composer Rameau's heart wrenching aria 'Tristes Apprêts' is played on the sitar, and Degun's own compositions take centre stage for this coming together of cultures, styles, and joyful music-making. 

Steven Osborne is one of the nation's most renowned concert pianists — and he has a deep love of jazz.  Fantasia Orchestra will team up with Osborne 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 go hand-in-hand with repertoire from beautiful song cycles and symphonies, creating a unique menu of musical gems not to be missed. 

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.” 

Michael Garvey, Executive Director, added, "What makes Fantasia unique is the way each project is carefully crafted – we don’t work to a formula. Every concert is different, curated from scratch to really bring out the best from the artists involved and the music we want to share. It’s an incredibly exciting moment for the orchestra as we step into full artistic independence – and audiences are going to see that reflected in the ambition and diversity of what’s to come in the future as well." 

Fantasia Orchestra’s full season details, including tickets and project announcements, will be shared at fantasiaorchestra.com and on social media @fantasiaorchestra.