ST. PETERSBURG — The Florida Orchestra’s 2026-2027 season will be built around epic masterpieces paired with innovative American voices, bold experiences for all generations and the belief that meaningful live music should be accessible to everyone — whether you’re a longtime patron or discovering the orchestra for the very first time.
For the 59th season, Music Director Michael Francis and The Florida Orchestra continue to redefine how audiences connect with music – from Beethoven to The Beatles to Bollywood. The season will begin with a full blast of musical firepower as Maestro Francis launches opening weekend with Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, Beethoven’s Wellington’s Victory and Rossini’s William Tell Overture. Opening weekend concerts will be presented on Friday, Oct. 2, 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 4, 2 p.m., at the Duke Energy Center for the Arts — Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg.
“This season is about new discovery and familiar connection,” said Francis, who will enter his 12th season with the largest professional orchestra in Florida. “We’re performing some of the most powerful works ever written, while pairing them with music that feels fresh and unexpected. We’re asking: What are the American voices shaping the next 250 years? At the same time, we’re re-examining Beethoven — arguably the most influential composer ever — in surprising ways. What excites me most is helping audiences experience these works in a way that feels personal. I want people to leave feeling like they’ve reconnected with themselves, with each other and with something larger than everyday life.”
The heart of the season lives in the classical Hough Family Foundation Masterworks series. Francis has curated 14 programs that each weave a story or reveal a deeper human connection.
Inspired by America’s 250th anniversary, the season focuses ahead as much as it looks back. American composers take center stage, from George Gershwin and Florence Price to Joan Tower, Michael Torke and Christopher Theofanidis. Together, they explore a living, evolving sound that’s defining music for the next generation. Even Frank Zappa joins the conversation, with The Yellow Shark bringing electric energy and a sense that anything can happen.
At the same time, the orchestra rediscovers Beethoven with a fresh perspective ahead of the 200th anniversary of his death in 2027. Maestro Francis introduces audiences to three Beethoven works the orchestra has never performed before, from the drama of the full Egmont music and the explosive power of Wellington’s Victory to the profound humanity of his only opera, Fidelio. Audiences also will experience Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1, a preview of the revolutionary voice that would change music forever.
Throughout the season, audiences will experience some of classical music’s most powerful works through a distinctive lens. Francis’ storytelling-driven approach connects great masterpieces to the emotions and questions we navigate in everyday life:
• Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade (Oct. 16 & 17, 2026): Courage through storytelling.
• Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, “Titan” (Feb. 19-21, 2027): Hope amid chaos.
• Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 (April 16-18, 2027): Resilience in the face of failure.
• Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue (May 1 & 2, 2027): Finding your voice by breaking all the rules.
• Verdi’s Requiem (May 28 & 30, 2027): Confronting loss with strength.
In a centerpiece of the season, Maestro Francis will conduct the orchestra’s first-ever performance of Fidelio in concert (March 20 & 21, 2027). No sets. No costumes. The spotlight lands squarely on the music, revealing the full force of Beethoven’s only opera and its timeless message of courage and freedom.
The performance features an internationally acclaimed cast led by one of the world’s foremost heroic tenors, Stuart Skelton as Florestan, alongside The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, the principal chorus of The Florida Orchestra.
Through his engaging commentary and storytelling from the podium, Maestro Francis continues to redefine how audiences connect with the music. Whether it’s your first concert or your hundredth, the experience feels welcoming and full of discovery, often with a surprise “mystery piece” along the way.
The season brings an exceptional lineup of internationally acclaimed guest artists and rising stars to Tampa Bay stages, with programs that feature concertos from American composers, the revolutionary influence of Beethoven and bold new perspectives from around the world.
One of the season’s most exciting debuts comes from pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, a rising international star from Britain’s Kanneh-Mason family of musicians. While many may recognize the family name, Jeneba is quickly building a unique artistic identity of her own. She makes her Florida Orchestra debut performing Piano Concerto in One Movement (Oct. 16 & 17, 2026), a work shaped by the fearless spirit of its trailblazing American composer, Florence Price.
The orchestra also welcomes renowned conductor Leonard Slatkin, one of America’s most respected musical leaders and a six-time Grammy Award winner, for Bernstein’s The Age of Anxiety and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 (April 2 & 3, 2027).
The season highlights standout performances from within the orchestra itself, including Concertmaster Jeffrey Multer for Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 (May 14-16, 2027), Principal Harp Anna Kate Mackle for Ginastera’s Harp Concerto (Nov. 6-8, 2026) and Principal Cello Yoni Draiblate for Friedrich Gulda’s Cello Concerto (Nov. 20 & 21, 2026).
The Raymond James Pops series delivers large-scale, crowd-pleasing experiences with the power of a live orchestra, including popular, rock, Broadway and film music. This season is anchored by two big productions:
The first is Revolution: The Music of The Beatles (Oct. 9 & 10, 2026): It’s a ticket to ride through the history of The Beatles. Part rock concert, part visual documentary, it’s one of the biggest Pops events of the season. Featuring hundreds of rare photos from the Beatles Book Photo Library and stunning video, along with top vocalists singing hits like Penny Lane, Get Back, Here Comes the Sun and Hey Jude.
The second is Dreams of Bollywood (May 21 & 22, 2027): In spectacular color, the global phenomenon of Bollywood bursts onstage with lavish dances and unstoppable rhythms in an innovative, high-impact production. The international cast features the Veils of Bollywood dancers, vocalists and acclaimed tabla virtuoso Shawn Mativetsky. It will be an experience unlike anything the orchestra has presented before.
Other Pops highlights include a tribute to the music of John Williams; the traditional Holiday Pops concert; “Soul Sisters,” celebrating legendary voices of soul and blues; music from “The Wizard of Oz,” “Wicked,” and “The Wiz” in one concert; and “Come Swing with Me,” featuring music from the Great American Songbook.
Season ticket packages are on sale now. Single tickets go on sale on Aug. 11. For more information and to explore a digital brochure detailing The Florida Orchestra’s 2026-2027 season, visit floridaorchestra.org.