Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg

Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg are back at Beacon Hall on Wednesday 10 February 2027, their first Bristol appearance in three years. They're led by Chief Conductor Aziz Shokhakimov, and the night is built around three big names from the French and Russian traditions: Saint-Saëns, Prokofiev and Rachmaninov.

The first half opens with Saint-Saëns' Danse Macabre, a dramatic piece that's hard to mistake. After that, violinist Maria Ioudenitch takes the lead for Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 1. The second half is dedicated entirely to Rachmaninov's Symphony No. 2, so it's a full orchestral night from start to finish.

If you're not usually one for going in cold, there's a pre-concert talk at 18:00 in the Lantern Hall, hosted by Jonathan James — a conductor, music educator, writer and presenter. It's a good way to get your bearings before the main event kicks off at 19:00.

As for the venue, Beacon Hall re-opened in 2023 after extensive refurbishment. It's now one of the city's main concert spaces, with world-class acoustics and the Britton Organ. It hosts visiting orchestras from abroad alongside its Orchestra in Residence, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Tickets run from £10 for under-26s up to £58 for Premium, with Open Concession prices available in bands B and C.