Carnegie Hall and WQXR Celebrate the 15th Anniversary Season of CARNEGIE HALL LIVE
Legendary live concert broadcast series kicks off with Carnegie Hall’s Opening Night Gala concert on Tuesday, October 7
Hosted by WQXR’s Jeff Spurgeon and WNYC’s John Schaefer
Airs live on WQXR 105.9FM and wqxr.org

(October 6, 2025 – New York, NY) — WQXR and Carnegie Hall are proud to announce the schedule for the 15th anniversary season of Carnegie Hall Live, the legendary live broadcast series that brings the thrill of live classical performance to audiences in New York, across the country, and around the globe.
The season kicks off on Tuesday October 7 at 7pm with Carnegie Hall’s Opening Night Gala performance by the NYO-USA All-Stars, featuring Yuja Wang on piano. Conducted by Daniel Harding, the program includes selections from Bernstein, Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky.
The season features the Carnegie Hall Live debuts of the Estonian Festival Orchestra led by artistic director and conductor Paavo Järvi in an all-Arvo Pärt program (October 23, 2025), the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, led by music director and conductor Manfred Honeck and featuring pianist Seong-Jin Cho (December 3, 2025), and the Dover Quartet (February 10, 2026). The series will also feature solo recitals for pianists Beatrice Rana (November 12, 2025) and Yunchan Lim (May 28, 2026).
Season highlights include a performance of Verdi’s Requiem by The Cleveland Orchestra, the Vienna Philharmonic, and appearances from Carnegie Hall’s “Perspectives” artists, including conductor Marin Alsop, pianist Lang Lang, mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, and violinist Maxim Vengerov. Carnegie Hall Live will also feature two special broadcasts from the Hall’s “United in Sound: America at 250” festival, celebrating the nation’s 250th birthday and its vibrant musical heritage. The Dover Quartet performs a program highlighting works by Native American composers Pura Fé and Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate (February 10, 2026), while The Philadelphia Orchestra, led by Marin Alsop, is joined by pianist Hayato Sumino for Gershwin’s Piano Concerto and the New York premiere of a new work by American composer John Adams (March 31, 2026).
Additionally, this season will include Carnegie Hall’s “Concert of the Century” performance on May 5, 2026. This special performance celebrates the 50th anniversary of the original Concert of the Century and will feature a star-studded cast, including the NYO-USA All Stars, conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin, soprano Renée Fleming, mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, pianists Emanuel Ax, Evgeny Kissin, Lang Lang, and Daniil Trifonov, and the Oratorio Society of New York, led by Kent Tritle.
Carnegie Hall Live broadcasts are hosted by WQXR’s Jeff Spurgeon and WNYC’s John Schaefer and air live on New York’s only all-classical music station, WQXR FM, and on demand at wqxr.org, and carnegiehall.org/wqxr. In addition, the series airs on public radio stations across the country throughout the year. The full WQXR broadcast schedule is listed below.
“We are so excited to be celebrating this landmark 15th anniversary season,” said LaFontaine Oliver, President, CEO, and Executive Chair of New York Public Radio. “At a time when public media, the arts, and the values of free expression are under continued threat, this partnership stands as a shining example of why access to great music matters. Carnegie Hall Live brings the world’s leading artists into homes across the country, reaffirming our shared commitment to preserving and expanding the reach of live performance. We believe that classical music belongs to everyone, and look forward to another year of unforgettable performances, live from one of the world’s most legendary stages.”
“Celebrating the 15th anniversary of Carnegie Hall Live with our valued partner WQXR is both a joy and a proud milestone for all of us at Carnegie Hall,” said Clive Gillinson, Carnegie Hall’s Executive and Artistic Director. “This season’s series features an extraordinary lineup of many of today’s finest artists and ensembles. Thanks to our longstanding partnership with WQXR, we are thrilled to share the magic of their live performances from Carnegie Hall with music lovers around the world.”
UPCOMING LIVE BROADCAST SCHEDULE
Tuesday, October 7, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Carnegie Hall’s Opening Night Gala
NYO-USA All-Stars
Daniel Harding, Conductor
Yuja Wang, Piano
BERNSTEIN Selections from Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No. 1
STRAVINSKY The Firebird Suite (1919 version)
Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Estonian Festival Orchestra
Paavo Järvi, Artistic Director and Conductor
Midori, Violin
Hans Christian Aavik, Violin
Nico Muhly, Piano
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
Tõnu Kaljuste, Director
ALL-ARVO PÄRT PROGRAM
Cantus in memoriam Benjamin Britten
Perpetuum mobile
La Sindone
Adam’s Lament
Tabula Rasa
Fratres
Swansong
Credo
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Beatrice Rana, Piano
PROKOFIEV Selections from Ten Pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 75
DEBUSSY Etudes, Book II
TCHAIKOVSKY Selections from The Nutcracker Suite (arr. Mikhail Pletnev)
PROKOFIEV Piano Sonata No. 6 in A Major, Op. 82
Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Manfred Honeck, Music Director and Conductor
Seong-Jin Cho, Piano
LERA AUERBACH Frozen Dreams (NY Premiere)
RACHMANINOFF Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 5
Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Maxim Vengerov, Violin
Vilde Frang, Violin
James Ehnes, Viola
Daniel Müller-Schott, Cello
Yefim Bronfman, Piano
Anthony McGill, Clarinet
ALL-BRAHMS PROGRAM
Piano Quintet
Clarinet Quintet
Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 8:00 PM
The Cleveland Orchestra
Franz Welser-Möst, Music Director and Conductor
Asmik Grigorian, Soprano
Deniz Uzun, Mezzo-Soprano
Joshua Guerrero, Tenor
Tareq Nazmi, Bass
The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus
Lisa Wong, Director
VERDI Requiem
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Dover Quartet
- Joel Link, Violin
- Bryan Lee, Violin
- Julianne Lee, Viola
- Camden Shaw, Cello
FELIX MENDELSSOHN String Quartet in F Minor, Op. 80
PURA FÉ Rattle Songs (orch. Jerod Impichcha?achaaha’ Tate) (NY Premiere, co- commissioned by Carnegie Hall)
JEROD IMPICHCHA?ACHAAHA’ TATE Abokkoli’ Taloowa’ (Woodland
Songs) (NY Premiere; co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall)
DVOŘÁK String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, “American”
Friday, February 27, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Vienna Philharmonic
Andris Nelsons, Conductor
Lang Lang, Piano
BARTÓK Piano Concerto No. 3
G. MAHLER Symphony No. 1
Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Concerto Köln
Shunske Sato, Violin
Max Volbers, Recorder
TELEMANN Selections from Klingende Geographie
MRS PHILARMONICA Sonata sesta in G Major (arr. for string orchestra)
J. S. BACH Violin Concerto in D Minor, BWV 1052R
GIUSEPPE SAMMARTINI Recorder Concerto in F Major
HANDEL Concerto Grosso in F Major, Op. 6, No. 9
VIVALDI Concerto in A Minor for Two Violins, Strings, and Continuo, RV 522
Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at 8:00 PM
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Marin Alsop, Principal Guest Conductor
Hayato Sumino, Piano
JOHN ADAMS New Work (NY Premiere, co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall)
GERSHWIN Piano Concerto in F
PROKOFIEV Selections from Romeo and Juliet
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 7:00 PM
NYO-USA All-Stars
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Conductor
Renée Fleming, Soprano
Joyce DiDonato, Mezzo-Soprano
Isabel Leonard, Mezzo-Soprano
Emanuel Ax, Piano
Evgeny Kissin, Piano
Lang Lang, Piano
Daniil Trifonov, Piano
Oratorio Society of New York
Kent Tritle, Director
Additional artists to be announced
A Gala Evening at Carnegie Hall
Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 9:00 PM
*Pre-recorded Broadcast
Yunchan Lim, Piano
CHOPIN Fantasy in F Minor, Op. 49
SCHUBERT Piano Sonata in G Major, D. 894
R. SCHUMANN Fantasy in C Major, Op. 17
About Carnegie Hall
Since it opened in 1891, Carnegie Hall has set the international standard for musical excellence as the aspirational destination for the world’s finest artists. From Tchaikovsky, Dvorák, Mahler, and Bartók to George Gershwin, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Judy Garland, and The Beatles, music-making by a long list of artists representing the best of every genre has filled Carnegie Hall over the years. The Hall’s unique history has grown out of its stunning acoustics, the beauty of its three concert halls, and its location in New York City, where it has played a central role in helping to elevate the city into one of the world’s great cultural capitals.
Carnegie Hall presents a wide range of performances each season on its three stages—the renowned Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, intimate Weill Recital Hall, and innovative Zankel Hall—including concert series curated by acclaimed artists and composers; citywide festivals featuring collaborations with leading NYC cultural institutions; orchestral performances, chamber music, new music concerts, and recitals; and the best in jazz, global, and popular music.
Complementing these performance activities, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute creates wide-reaching music education and social impact programs that annually serve hundreds of thousands of people in the New York City area, nationally, and internationally. These programs play a central role in delivering on Carnegie Hall’s commitment to making great music accessible to as many people as possible.
Last year, Carnegie Hall in partnership with WQXR launched If This Hall Could Talk, a new eight-episode podcast series that delves into stories of great performances and the shaping of American culture as witnessed at the legendary venue throughout its 130+ year history. Hosted by celebrated Broadway actress/vocalist Jessica Vosk, each episode centers on a unique object drawn from the collection of Carnegie Hall’s Rose Archives—from Benny Goodman’s clarinet and Ella Fitzgerald’s glasses to a ticket from Carnegie Hall’s first Opening Night in 1891 and beyond.
For more information, please visit https://www.wqxr.org/shows/carnegie/about/.
About WQXR
WQXR is New York City’s only all-classical music station, immersing listeners in the city’s rich musical life on-air at 105.9FM, online at WQXR.org, and in the community through live events and performances. An essential partner to the city’s musical and cultural organizations, WQXR presents new and archival classical recordings and performances from New York City’s esteemed performance venues. Signature programs include Carnegie Hall Live, Metropolitan Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcasts, New York Philharmonic This Week, New York in Concert, the Young Artists Showcase, as well as limited edition podcasts including The Open Ears Project, Made in New York: the NY Philharmonic Story, Every Voice with Terrance McKnight, Helga, and Aria Code, a joint project with the Metropolitan Opera. As a public media station, WQXR is supported through the generosity of its members, donors, and sponsors, making classical music relevant, accessible and inspiring for all.