The Britton Organ makes its triumphant returnInside the Bristol Beacon(Image: Elliot Simpson/Soul Media)

Bristol Beacon is striking a celebratory note with the unveiling of its newly renovated Grade II listed organ, while announcing an expansive 2025/2026 orchestral season packed with performances from leading national and international ensembles.

The season will see Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra continue its residency and the London Symphony Orchestra return as associate orchestra, alongside appearances by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, The Hallé, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. International visitors include orchestras from Spain, the Czech Republic and Poland.

Organist Anna Lapwood will open the season with a recital showcasing the refurbished Harrison & Harrison pipe organ, now renamed The Britton Organ. Removed during renovation works in 2018 and restored in Durham, the instrument returns to Beacon Hall as a centrepiece of the programme. Anna will also perform Poulenc’s Organ Concerto and Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3 ‘Organ’ with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Chloé Van Soeterstède on Tuesday, June 17.

The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, under chief conductor Mark Wigglesworth, will present five concerts. Highlights include the UK performance of Dani Howard’s Saxophone Concerto featuring Jess Gillam on Thursday, November 6, following its premiere in Poole. The orchestra will also collaborate with soloists Sir Stephen Hough, Clara-Jumi Kang and Alexandre Tharaud.

The London Symphony Orchestra will perform three concerts. Sir Antonio Pappano will conduct Thea Musgrave’s Phoenix Rising and Walton’s Viola Concerto with soloist Antoine Tamestit on Saturday, December 13. Sir Simon Rattle returns to lead Strauss’ Four Last Songs and Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 with soprano Lucy Crowe on Thursday, May 29. The ensemble will also perform Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius with the London Symphony Chorus on Tuesday, April 22.

Simon Wales, chief executive of Bristol Beacon, said: “Classical music is an important part of our varied programme here at Bristol Beacon, and we are proud to work with our partners at Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and London Symphony Orchestra to provide world-class orchestral music for our audiences. This season is particularly special with the unveiling of the renovated organ alongside a programme of concerts by visiting orchestras from around the UK and Europe. We hope the season offers something for everyone and we look forward to welcoming regulars, occasional attendees and first-time visitors to Bristol Beacon in the autumn.”

Visiting UK orchestras include the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor Vasily Petrenko on Wednesday, October 16; the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra with Osmo Vänskä and soprano Helena Juntunen on Thursday, November 20; The Hallé with Kahchun Wong and violinist Viktoria Mullova on Tuesday, March 25; and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performing the UK premiere of Joe Hisaishi’s The Border for three horns on Wednesday, June 4.

The Manchester Collective will make its debut in Lantern Hall on Friday, December 5, performing Wintering with the Marian Consort. They return on Monday, February 3, with a new work by Jasmine Morris and music by Arvo Pärt, Mica Levi, and others.

International contributions include the Czech Janáček Philharmonic with Jennifer Pike on Friday, February 14; the Spanish Galicia Symphony Orchestra on Thursday, April 10; and the Warsaw Philharmonic with pianist Alexandra Dariescu on Sunday, May 18.

Before the main season begins in October, Bristol Beacon will again host a BBC Proms residency during the August bank holiday. Highlights include Paraorchestra with folk duo The Breath on Friday, August 22; Britten Sinfonia on Saturday, August 23; and the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera with Carlo Rizzi and mezzo-soprano Avery Amereau on Sunday, August 24. A late-night live edition of BBC Radio 3’s Late Junction , presented by Verity Sharp, will also take place in Lantern Hall on August 22.

Tickets go on sale from Thursday, May 23, with £10 tickets available for under-26s at each concert.

For full details visit bristolbeacon.org.