How will the San Diego Symphony follow up the most extensive and star-studded season in its 115-year history, let alone one that saw the orchestra return to its home at Jacobs Music Center last fall after the concert hall’s $125-million-plus redesign?
“By making even more music with our wonderful orchestra to share with our audiences,” said Rafael Payare, who has been the symphony’s music director since the start of its pandemic-truncated 2019-20 season.
“We just keep going,” agreed symphony President and CEO Martha Gilmer. “Rafael’s imagination is limitless, so we’re continuing to build on what the orchestra has been doing.”
That building process will be amply showcased during the symphony’s 2025-26 Jacobs Masterworks season, which will include 57 concerts between early October and late May of next year. Payare will conduct at least 23 of those performances, which are being billed in part as “Stories in Music.” Tickets go on sale today at 10 a.m.
The lineup showcases such noted guest artists as pianists Conrad Tao and Javier Perianes, mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill, guest conductor Anja Bihlmaier and cellist Alisa Weilerstein, who is Payare’s wife and an internationally renowned soloist.
The repertoire for the new season will include classic works by, among others, Beethoven, Brahms, Ravel, Debussy, Holst, Schubert, Mussorgsky, Strauss and Bartok.
There will also be eight pieces that have not been performed here by the orchestra before. They include Russian-born Austrian-American composer Lera Auerbach’s Icarus, Polish composer Wojciech Kilar’s Orawa, American composer Olly Wilson’s Shango Memory, South Korean composer Unsuk Chin’s subito con forza and Mexican composer Gabriela Ortiz’s Dzonot, a new cello concerto that was written specifically for Weilerstein.
Another likely highlight is Peruvian composer Jimmy López’s Perú Negro, which was inspired by indigenous Afro-Peruvian melodies. Lopez, 46, will be the orchestra’s composer-in-residence for two seasons, starting this fall. The Lima native will be composing a new piece for the symphony.
“We will also perform Jimmy’s piano concerto — and he will conduct — which is super exciting,” Payare said.
And there’s more.
Jazz at the Jacobs returns
The new season will feature three Jazz @ The Jacobs concerts. Each will be curated by top trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos, who has expertly guided the consistently popular jazz series since its inception a decade ago. The season will see him leading tributes to landmark albums by such legends as John Coltrane and Dave Brubeck. Guest artists will include pianist Joshua White, drummer Lewis Nash and sax legend Charles Mherson, a longtime San Diego resident.
“I’ve been on tour all over the world and have never witnessed what we have in San Diego, in of a music community that feels like a family,” said Castellanos, the founder of the Young Lions Jazz Conservatory.
“People music here in so many ways, and Jazz at the Jacobs is a big one of them. I’m extremely grateful to Martha Gilmer for believing in my vision.”
That vision extends beyond jazz and conventional classical music.
The symphony’s 2025.2026 Family Series will include two world premieres, David Mackenzie’s Right Whale, Wrong Letter and Ivan Trevino’s Space Junk. There will also be a mini-festival early next year celebrating the music of Brahms, with four back-to-back concerts in February and March.
“We will showcase four symphonies by Brahms in two weeks and the Brahms Violin Concerto,” Payare said. “Our new season will also include Mahler, Shostakovich and Bruckner.”
The mix of cherished masterworks with more recent and brand new compositions is pivotal for Gilmer and Payare, who is also the music director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra.
“Absolutely!” he said.
“I don’t think some of the pieces in our next season have ever been played in San Diego before by the orchestra, starting with our October opening concerts at which we’ll perform Ravel’s The Joyful Isle and The Box of Toys, and Ravel’s The Child and The Magical Spells. And we are closing the season with Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle. It will be wonderful to present these to our audience.
“With some of this music — as a (first-time) listener — you don’t really know what’s happening, but you feel it in your socks, whether it’s Schubert or Bruckner, or music by newer composers that maybe has never been played here. We really take into consideration our audience and the development of the sound of the orchestra, and what they want to explore. And I have to say that our audience has been very, very open to (newer) music. At the same time, we don’t want what we do to be something that’s too harsh.”
Gilmer, who has headed the symphony since 2014, shares Payare’s desire to present diverse programming that looks back and to the present.
“We want people to be in the moment with us,” she said. “Curatorially, as opposed to from my marketing or (ticket) sales perspective, I find that mixing different pieces from different styles and time periods is a more interesting way of listening to music. I like the combinations you get when you mix things up.
“Our 2024-2025 opening concert last October included Schoenberg’s Pelleas und Melisande. Rafael wanted our audience to be comfortable, so so we added a 10-minute introduction from the stage. and we’re doing something similar this spring with our two May concerts of Shostakovich’s Leningrad Symphony.”
Like a train ride
The new season will also see a few changes, some more visible than others.
Last fall’s opening of the current season included a number of concerts with the same artists and repertoire on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The 2025-26 season will trim the third day, with concerts instead taking place Friday and Saturday, or Saturday and Sunday, but not all three days.
“In general, we haven’t done three (of the same) concerts every week since my second year here. We do some with three, but rarely,” Gilmer said.
The current ongoing season, which concludes in May, saw the debut of the Currents concert series which used music to explore timely social and civic issues. That series will be on hiatus, at least for next season.
“We are deciding if we are going to continue that; it may be every other year,” Gilmer said.
No matter what the repertoire in any given season, even when he shoots for the stars, Payare’s goal is an earthbound one.
“I think of it like taking a trip on a train, rather than on a plane,” he said, invoking one of his favorite analogies for musical travels.
“When you go from one place to another by train, you can see how the landscape is changing, rather than just going from A to Z on a plane. There is always something new and exciting with the orchestra,” he said.
“Rafael also uses food analogies a lot,” Gilmer noted, “and 2025-2026 is surely going to be a storytelling season. One of the common threads is that you lay out each season like a menu, a series of menus, with our signature of an adventurous and diverse repertoire.
“What the orchestra plays is so important — in of developing and honing a sound — in their life and work together. It also has a real meaning to those people who are regular concert attendees and experience the orchestra’s growth from week to week and month to month. And Rafael is particularly wonderful at nurturing the growth, even more so now that we are back in our new concert hall.”
Payare chuckled.
“It’s like new shoes adapting to your feet and there are little surprises we didn’t anticipate,” he said. “We are looking at things we can do to our advantage. And that will come with time.”
2025-26 Jacobs Music Center Season
Season ticket packages go on sale today at sandiegosymphony.org and 619-235-0804. Prices for each concert could change because of dynamic pricing.
Friday, Oct. 3, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 5 at 2 p.m.: Debussy’s The Joyful Isle (L’isle joyeuse), The Box of Toys (La boîte à joujoux) and Ravel’s The Child and The Magical Spells: a lyric fantasy in two scenes (L’enfant et les sortilèges: Fantaisie lyrique en deux parties), featuring music director Rafael Payare, soprano Liv Redpath, the San Diego Symphony Chorus, directed by Gerard McBurney. ($30-$108)
Saturday, Oct. 11, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 12 at 2 p.m.: Chabrier’s España, Rhapsody for Orchestra, López’s Ephemerae, Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, Schumann’s Symphony No. 2, featuring music director Rafael Payare and pianist Javier Perianes. ($30-$108)
Friday, Oct. 17, and Saturday, Oct. 18, at 7:30 p.m.: Lera Auerbach’s Icarus for Orchestra, Williams’ The Lark Ascending, Holst’s The Planets, featuring conductor Gemma New, violinist Geneva Lewis and of the San Diego Master Chorale. ($30-$108)
Saturday, Oct. 25, at 11 a.m.: The Firebird Family Concert 1, featuring John Williams’ “Hedwig’s Theme” from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Anna Clyne’s Masquerade, Saint-Saens’ Danse macabre, Op. 40, and Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite, 1919 version. ($20-$40)
Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 7:30 p.m.: Fragments 4, featuring cellist Alisa Weilerstein. ($29-$79)
Saturday, Nov. 1, at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.: Mother Goose – Meet the Winds (Symphony Kids, Program 1). ($15)
Friday, Nov. 7, and Saturday Nov. 8, at 7:30 p.m.: Selections from Mahler’s The Boy’s Magical Horn (Des Knaben Wunderhorn), Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4, “Romantic,” featuring music director Rafael Payare and baritone Matthias Goerne. ($30-$108)
Friday, Nov. 14, and Saturday, Nov. 15, at 7:30 p.m.: Mendelssohn’s The Hebrides Overture “Fingal’s Cave,” Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D minor, Schubert’s Symphony No. 9, featuring music director Rafael Payare and violinist Augustin Hadelich. ($30-$108)
Sunday, Nov. 16, at 6 p.m.: Davina and The Vagabonds. ($29-$99)
Friday, Nov. 21, at 11 a.m.; Saturday, Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m.: Olly Wilson’s Shango Memory, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4, Sibelius’ Symphony No. 1, featuring conductor Anja Bihlmaier and pianist Steven Osborne. ($30-$108)
Saturday, Nov. 29, at 7:30 p.m.: Jazz @ The Jacobs, John Coltrane: Blue Train, featuring saxophonist Brian Levy, trombonist Andre Howard, bassist Mike Gurrola and trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos. ($25-$81)
Saturday, Dec. 6, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 7, at 2 p.m.: Unsuk Chin’s subito con forza (Suddenly with force), Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition (orchestrated by Ravel), featuring conductor Kahchun Wong and violinist Randall Goosby. ($30-$108)
Saturday, Dec. 13, at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.: ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas — Meet the Brass (Symphony Kids, Program 2), featuring a San Diego Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet. ($15)
Saturday, Jan. 10, at 6 p.m.: Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band. ($29-$99)
Saturday, Jan. 17, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 18, at 2 p.m.: Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1, Dvořák’s Symphony No. 7, featuring conductor Thomas Guggeis and pianist Marc-André Hamelin. ($30-$108)
Saturday, Jan. 24, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 25, at 2 p.m.: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1, Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 8, featuring music director Rafael Payare. ($30-$108)
Saturday, Jan. 31, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 1, at 2 p.m.: Mahler’s Symphony No. 7, featuring music director Rafael Payare. ($30-$108)
Saturday, Feb. 7, at 11 a.m.: Peter and the Wolf Family Concert 2. ($20-$40)
Saturday, Feb. 14, at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.: Ferdinand the Bull – Meet the Strings (Symphony Kids, Program 3. ($15)
Sunday, Feb. 14, at 7:30 p.m.: Jazz @ The Jacobs “Songs For Lovers: The music of Chet Baker, Sarah Vaughan, Clifford Brown, Charlie Parker, and Dinah Washington,” featuring saxophonist Charles Mherson, singer Melissa Morgan, drummer Willie Jones III and trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos. ($25-$81)
Sunday, Feb. 15, at 2 p.m.: Pianist Yefim Bronfman in recital (Prices to be determined)
Saturday, Feb. 21, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 22, at 2 p.m.: Britten’s Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes, Ravel’s Piano Concert in G Major, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6, “Pathétique,” featuring conductor Nicholas Carter and pianist Benjamin Grosvenor. ($30-$108)
Friday, Feb. 27, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, March 1, at 2 p.m.: Brahms’ A German Requiem, featuring music director Rafael Payare, soprano Julie Boulianne and bass-baritone Michael Sumuel. ($30-$108)
Saturday, Feb. 28, at 7:30 p.m.: Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 and Brahms’ Symphony No. 2, featuring music director Rafael Payare. ($30-$108)
Friday, March 6, at 7:30 p.m.: Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D major, Brahms’ Symphony No. 4 in E minor, featuring music director Rafael Payare and violinist Leonidas Kavakos. ($30-$108)
Saturday, March 7, at 7:30 p.m.: Brahms’ Symphony No. 3 in F major, Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D major, featuring music director Rafael Payare and violinist Leonidas Kavakos. ($30-$108)
Saturday, March 14, at 7:30 p.m.: “An Evening on Broadway,” with Rob Fisher. ($29-$79)
Saturday, March 28, at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.: Clapping Music – Meet the Percussion (Symphony Kids, Program 4), featuring a San Diego Symphony Orchestra Percussion Ensemble. ($15)
Saturday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m.: Jazz @ The Jacobs presents Dave Brubeck’s “Time Out,” featuring pianist Josh Nelson and more to be announced. ($25-$81)
Friday, April 10, and Saturday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m.: Schoenberg’s Cool Cat, Adams’ Century Rolls, Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 3 in A minor, featuring conductor Robert Spano and pianist Conrad Tao. ($30-$108)
Saturday, April 11, at 11 a.m.: Space Junk (Family Concert 3), featuring the Wind Sync wind quintet and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. ($20-$40)
Saturday, April 18, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, April 19, at 2 p.m.: Wojciech Kilar’s Orawa, Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in E minor, Borodin’s Symphony No. 2, Borodin’s Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor, featuring conductor Anna Sulkowska-Migon and pianist Ingrid Fliter. ($30-$108)
Friday, April 24, and Saturday, April 25, at 7:30 p.m.: Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor,” Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in F major, featuring conductor Trevor Pinnock and pianist Alexandra Dovgan. ($30-$108)
Saturday, May 9, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, May 10, at 2 p.m.: Gabriela Ortiz’s Dzonot, R. Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben, featuring music director Rafael Payare and cellist Alisa Weilerstein. ($30-$108)
Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m.: Jimmy López’s Perú Negro, Berg’s Violin Concerto, Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3, “Scottish,” in A minor, featuring music director Rafael Payare and violinist Jeff Thayer. ($30-$108)
Friday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday May 24 at 2 p.m.: Strauss’ Also Sprach Zarathurstra, Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle, featuring music director Rafael Payare and mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill. ($30-$108)
2025-26 Season Ticket Packages
Prices include subscription fees.
Jacobs Masterworks “Max” series (28 percent to 39 percent off single tickets)
Saturday A (17 Concerts): $433-$1,487
Jacobs Masterworks full series (24 percent to 35 percent off single tickets)
Friday A (10 Concerts): $275-$935
Saturday B (9 Concerts): $250-$844
Saturday C (8 Concerts): $225-$753
Sunday A (11 Concerts): $300-$1,026
Jacobs Masterworks partial series (17 percent to 25 percent off single tickets)
Friday B (5 Concerts): $160-$510
Friday C (5 Concerts): $160-$510
Saturday D (6 Concerts): $187-$607
Saturday E (6 Concerts): $187-$607
Saturday F (5 Concerts): $160-$510
Sunday B (6 Concerts): $187-$607
Sunday C (5 Concerts): $160-$510
Jazz @ The Jacobs series (3 concerts, 9 percent to 13 percent off single tickets) $106-$241
Family concert series (3 concerts, 16 percent to 19 percent off single tickets) $70-$130
Symphony kids series (4 10 a.m. concerts, $60, and 4 11:30 a.m. concerts, $60, 31 percent off single tickets)
