Classical Music and a world-class orchestra in Rome
When it comes to great music around the world, Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia is at the top of its class. It’s an Italian excellence. An academy that houses the treasures of music, a place where you are transported by culture. Not to mention it’s one of the oldest musical institutions worldwide. Since its foundation in 1585, Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia has evolved from an organization of mostly local musicians to a modern academy and symphonic concert organization, earning itself international acclamation.
The Orchestra has been conducted by some of the major musical figures of the 20th century: from Mahler, Debussy, Saint-Saëns, Strauss, Stravinsky, Sibelius, Hindemith, Toscanini, Furtwängler, De Sabata, Karajan and Abbado to the most impressive performers of our day including Gergiev, Thielemann, Dudamel and Temirkanov.
The Academy unites 100 of the brightest exponents of culture and music with a symphonic orchestra and chorus that are among the most prominent worldwide. It carries out high-standing professional musical training and conserves an extremely rich historical patrimony, reflecting its own multi-century history. It’s impossible not to be fascinated by their performances. And it’s not only the music that will take your breath away, the concert hall is just as beautiful as the sounds you will hear. The venue is a pearl of modern architecture and boasts perfect acoustics for a memorable experience. With 250 performances year round, Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia offers a wide range of cultural and musical events, including chamber concerts and operas in concert version.
Daniele Harding: new music Director
The 2025–26 season of the Accademia opens with the second year of Daniel Harding as Music Director of the Orchestra and Chorus of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. Following his posts with the Orchestre de Paris (2016–2019) and as Principal Guest of the London Symphony Orchestra (2007–2017), Harding launches the program with Die Walküre and will lead eight productions in Rome in addition to three international tours.
For all classical music and symphonic repertoire enthusiasts who are in the Bel Paese, an evening at Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia is a must.
2025-2026 SEASON
The concert program of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia is truly packed, covering a wide variety of styles and eras, with a shift toward contemporary pieces that undoubtedly appeal to a more diverse audience.
The 2025/2026 season opens with Wagner’s Die Walküre conducted by Daniel Harding (staging by Vincent Huguet): the first chapter of the staged Ring cycle, which will continue through 2028/29, with Sala Santa Cecilia transformed into a true theatrical space.
Harding leads eight productions and three international tours. On the program: Mahler 3 (with Wiebke Lehmkuhl) and Mahler 4, the Italian premiere of Alexey Shor’s Violin Concerto No. 7 with Gil Shaham, Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G with Yunchan Lim (followed by an Asia tour), Haydn’s The Creation, and two Brahms concertos with Daniil Trifonov (No. 2) and Igor Levit (No. 1).
On the podium among the greats: Myung-Whun Chung, Tugan Sokhiev, Semyon Bychkov, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Daniele Gatti. Sir Antonio Pappano returns for two engagements (Bruckner’s “Grosse Messe” and Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto with Leonidas Kavakos).
Debuts and returns include: Teodor Currentzis with Shostakovich 13 “Babi Yar” (and in June with Orchestra Utopia), Petr Popelka with Hélène Grimaud (Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F), Joana Mallwitz, Cristian Măcelaru. Charles Dutoit returns with Berlioz’s La damnation de Faust.
Among the soloists, Sheku Kanneh-Mason makes his Santa Cecilia debut in Elgar’s Cello Concerto, with Lorenzo Viotti (whose program also features Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5). The lineup also includes Isabelle Faust, Kian Soltani, András Schiff, Beatrice Rana, Grigory Sokolov, Víkingur Ólafsson, Arcadi Volodos, and Lang Lang to close the season.
The Chamber Season (20 concerts) opens 1 November with Batiashvili–Capuçon–Thibaudet; Les Musiciens du Louvre/Marc Minkowski return; there’s a tribute to Alessandro Scarlatti (Choir + Accademia Ghislieri), Andrea Lucchesini for Berio’s centenary, Antonio Florio/Cappella Neapolitana with Rosa Feola (Piccinni), and Christophe Rousset with the English Baroque Soloists and Monteverdi Choir for Messiah. Launching the complete Beethoven Quartets with the Quatuor Ébène (through 2027) and a recital by Asmik Grigorian.
For the full schedule, visit the official website and choose the musical experience that speaks to you, for an evening in a true temple of music history.
Address: Auditorium Parco della Musica – Viale Pietro de Coubertin, 30
