WASO Thrills in 2025

With five new distinct series to choose from, and a host of classic and contemporary special events, 2025 is the year to choose your own adventure; experiencing your State Orchestra, your way.

Winthrop Hall’s majestic architecture and superb acoustics provide the perfect setting for evenings of musical brilliance in the MACA Symphonic Series. Daytime concertgoers will enjoy a tailored experience in the state-of-the-art comfort of Heath Ledger Theatre for the Matinee Symphony Series. The Baroque Series sees some of Australia’s leading Baroque players perform the era’s astonishingly diverse and vibrant music in the opulence of His Majesty’s Theatre, while the talents of WASO’s own musicians are on full display in the intimate Chamber Series at Government House Ballroom. Those looking to push the sonic envelope and discover something new can immerse themselves in music from the best local, national and international composers of today in the Underground Series at the State Theatre Centre of WA.

Season highlights include Beethoven’s Symphony No.5 and a week-long celebration featuring all five of the composer’s acclaimed Piano Concertos, Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, Johann Strauss II’s beloved operetta Die Fledermaus with Asher Fisch and a star-studded all-Australian cast of soloists, Dvořák’s Symphony No.9 From the New World, and many other renowned symphonies, concertos, overtures and new works.

Principal Conductor and Artistic Adviser, Asher Fisch is back leading the Orchestra for his 12th season, the longest relationship of any principal conductor with WA’s State Orchestra. Conductors Edward Gardner, Satu Vänskä, and Sam Weller make their WASO debuts, while audience favourites Nicholas Buc, Shaun-Lee Chen, Umberto Clerici, Vasily Petrenko and Otto Tausk make welcome returns to lead the Orchestra. Our talented Associate Principal Clarinet Som Howie, Principal Viola Daniel Schmitt, and Associate Principal Oboe Liz Chee all appear as soloists across the season. Guest soloists include pianists Lukáš Vondráček and Alexander Gavrylyuk; violinists Simone Lamsma and Satu Vänskä; cellists Li-Wei Qin and Umberto Clerici; and vocalists from across the country.

2025 will include the world premiere performances of James Ledger’s Camera abscura, Andrew Schultz’s Symphony No.4 and Paul Stanhope’s Mahāsāgar, along with new works from Melody Eötvös and WASO Composer in Residence Olivia Davies. Winner of WASO’s 2024 Composition Project, Sahil Sidhu, will compose a new work for family concert, Classic Adventures: Witches & Wizards, with WASO Associate Conductor Jen Winley at the helm.

Film buffs will love the latest instalment of our WASO at the Movies series! See Jurassic Park as never before: projected in HD with a full symphony orchestra performing the iconic score live to film. Dan Golding and Andrew Pogson from the Art of the Score podcast return to Perth with The Music of John Williams, a concert experience paying tribute to one of the biggest names in cinematic music.

There’s so much to experience in 2025. Explore what’s on and plan your year of musical adventure today.

WASO 2025 Subscription Packages
Season packages on sale from Thursday 28 November 2024.
For bookings phone WASO on 9326 0000 (9am-1pm Monday to Friday) or visit waso.com.au/subscriptions.

WASO 2025 Single Tickets
Tickets on sale from Wednesday 15 January 2025.

Asher Fisch appears courtesy of Wesfarmers Arts. Jen Winley is supported by the Simon Lee Foundation and JACE Foundation. Liz Chee’s Chair is supported by Ruth E. Thorn and Michael & Helen Tuite through the Duet program. James Ledger’s Camera abscura, Andrew Schultz’s Symphony No.4, and Melody Eötvös’ New Work commissioned for WASO by Geoff Stearn. Paul Stanhope’s Mahāsāgar commissioned for WASO by members of the WASO Chorus. Olivia Davies’ new works commissioned by Prue Ashurst. The performance of Sahil Sidhu’s New Work is supported by the Bendat Family Foundation. We gratefully acknowledge the philanthropic donors, corporate community, and Trusts and Foundations who generously support Crescendo, with special thanks to Lead Partner, The Balnaves Foundation.