After 10 years at the helm of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, Kazuki Yamada will soon be moving on to new artistic endeavours.
“Throughout these seasons, he has forged unbreakable bonds with the orchestra and its audiences, offering a dazzling and varied program featuring the greatest soloists, and striving to reveal the talents of young, emerging artists,” said the Princess of Hanover, president of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra.
During his time with the orchestra, Kazuki Yamada has conducted operas, accompanied ballets, participated in the Spring Arts Festival and introduced the Principality to little-known or somewhat forgotten works.
“The 25-26 season will be my last at the OPMC and will be an opportunity to present to you the final culmination of our work. We have chosen to perform works from countries such as France, Germany, Russia, and many others,” said Kazuki Yamada.
For the 2025-2026 season Maestro Yamada will be conducting (among many others): Mozart’s Requiem, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, and “The Song of the Forests”, in tribute to Shostakovich, who passed away 50 years ago.
“For my final concert at the Rainier III Auditorium in June 2026, I will conduct Beethoven’s 9th Symphony to emphasize the message of this work: we are all brothers and sisters and the world must live in peace. I would also like to sing the Ode to Joy because I am pleased to see that the OPMC has undoubtedly become one of the finest orchestras in the world,” said Kazuki Yamada.
Artist in Residence: Pablo Ferrández
Winner of the 15th International Tchaikovsky Competition and an exclusive Sony Classical artist, Pablo Ferrández is considered the “new genius of the cello”. Pablo Ferrández performed with the OPMC in 2018 and 2024, and in June 2025, he played with Anne-Sophie Mutter under the direction of Kazuki Yamada.
“I am particularly excited about this residency because it is an excellent opportunity to build deeper connections with the orchestra’s musicians and the audience in Monaco, where I have wonderful memories of my concerts,” said Pablo Ferrández.
Four Tributes
In addition to Dmitri Shostakovich and Maurice Ravel, in 2026, the OPMC will commemorate the two hundredth anniversary of the passing of composer Carl Maria von Weber, a pioneer of German Romantic opera and composer of two of the most virtuoso clarinet concertos. 2026 will also mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Spanish composer Manuel de Falla.
Recitals and Chamber Music
This year’s OPMC Grande Saison series offers eight recitals and five chamber music concerts. One of the recitals will feature a promising young talent, who will perform at the Salle Garnier: Russian pianist Vsevolod Zavidov. Just 20 years old, the young artist won the UBS Young Soloists Prize in Lucerne in December 2024.
The Grande Saison also features two symphonic film concerts: “Blackmail” by Alfred Hitchcock and “La La Land” by Damien Chazelle, as well as a traditional music concert with the Sirba Octet.
Concerts for Youth
Each year, the OPMC offers concerts for young audiences. Children can discover instruments and are introduced to orchestral music, whether classical or contemporary, often accompanied by narration provided by an actor or visual illustration. Two concerts for young people are on the program this season: January 7, 2026 (Le Lac des cygnet) and May 20, 2026 (Les Fables de la Fontaine).
Spiritual concerts
The OPMC, in collaboration with the Diocese of Monaco, is offering free-admission spiritual concerts in churches throughout the Principality. These concerts, open to all, aim to showcase the rich repertoire of sacred orchestral and choral music and Monegasque heritage. Two spiritual concerts are on the agenda this season: December 10, 2025 (Christmas concert) and February 27, 2026 (Les Sept Dernières Paroles du Christ en croix).
