DALLAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MAKES FIRST ORANGE COUNTY APPEARANCE IN MORE THAN 50 YEARS
(IRVINE, CA, FEBRUARY 24, 2026)—The Philharmonic Society of Orange County presents the Dallas Symphony Orchestra led by Music Director Fabio Luisi on Thursday, April 2, 2026, 8pm, at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, marking the orchestra’s first Orange County appearance since 1973. The program features Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor with pianist Hélène Grimaud and Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 with soprano Sofia Fomina. A pre-concert lecture by Brian Lauritzen will take place at 7pm. This performance is part of the Philharmonic Society’s America@250 Celebration.
In the 2025-26 season, Italian conductor Fabio Luisi embarks on his sixth season as Louise W. & Edmund J. Kahn Music Director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, alongside his ninth as Principal Conductor of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra and fourth as Principal Conductor of Tokyo’s NHK Symphony Orchestra. He also serves as Music Director of Italy’s Festival della Valle d’Itria and Emeritus Conductor of Turin’s RAI National Symphony Orchestra. Luisi’s 2025-26 season reflects the breadth of his artistry, with Dallas Symphony premieres by Angélica Negrón and Sophia Jani, concert performances of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, and a California tour featuring Mahler’s Fourth Symphony. With the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, he celebrates the ensemble’s centennial with works by Mahler, Beethoven, Brahms, and Schoenberg, alongside the release of the most extensive collection of Schoenberg’s orchestral works ever issued by Deutsche Grammophon. His distinguished discography includes a Grammy Award for Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen at the Metropolitan Opera and award-winning Nielsen recordings with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra. A native of Genoa, Luisi has held leading roles at major institutions including the Metropolitan Opera, Vienna Symphony, Zurich Opera, and Staatskapelle Dresden, and remains in demand worldwide as a guest conductor. Luisi last appeared on the Philharmonic Society’s series conducting the Danish National Symphony Orchestra in 2017.
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) presents more than 100 concerts annually at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, one of the world’s premier concert halls. As the most prominent performing arts organization in the Southwest, the DSO reaches more than 200,000 adults and children each year through classical and pops performances, educational initiatives and community programs. Founded in 1900, the DSO is a cornerstone of the Dallas Arts District. For more information, visit dallassymphony.org.
Pianist Hélène Grimaud is celebrated worldwide for her poetic expression, technical mastery and deeply personal artistry. Born in Aix-en-Provence, she entered the Paris Conservatoire at 13 and launched her international career following a 1987 invitation from Daniel Barenboim to perform with the Orchestre de Paris. She has since appeared with many of the world’s leading orchestras and conductors, including the Berliner Philharmoniker and New York Philharmonic. Beyond the concert stage, Grimaud is a committed wildlife conservationist—founding the Wolf Conservation Center in New York—and a published author and human rights advocate. An exclusive Deutsche Grammophon artist since 2002, her recordings have received numerous international awards. In 2025-26, she performs Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F with major U.S. and European orchestras and tours Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. She has been named Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur by the French government. Grimaud last appeared on the Philharmonic Society’s series in 2015 with the Rotterdam Philharmonic and conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin, performing Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor.
Soprano Sofia Fomina is internationally acclaimed as one of today’s most compelling interpreters of Mozart and bel canto repertoire, praised for her “stunning silvery” tone and radiant lyricism. She appears at many of the world’s leading opera houses and festivals, with recent and upcoming engagements including Mimì in La Bohème at Israeli Opera, Pamina (Die Zauberflöte) at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Helmwige (Die Walküre) at Opéra de Monte-Carlo, and Adele (Die Fledermaus) at the Tokyo Spring Festival. A celebrated Konstanze in Die Entführung aus dem Serail (one of her signature roles) she has performed at the Wiener Staatsoper, Bayerische Staatsoper, Opernhaus Zürich, and Opéra de Paris. Equally active on the concert stage, she has collaborated with major orchestras across Europe and the United States, including appearances in Mahler’s Symphonies Nos. 2, 4, and 8, and joins Fabio Luisi and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra for Mahler’s Symphony No. 4. This performance marks her first appearance with the Philharmonic Society.
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall is located at 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Ticket prices start at $41 and are available at the Philharmonic Society box office at (949) 553-2422, or online at www.philharmonicsociety.org, and at the Center’s box office at (714) 556-2787.
All artists, dates, venues, programs, and prices are subject to change.
ABOUT THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY OF ORANGE COUNTY:
Founded in 1954 as Orange County’s first music organization, the Philharmonic Society of Orange County presents national and international performances of the highest quality and provides dynamic and innovative music education programs for individuals of all ages to enhance the lives of Orange County audiences through music.
Since its inception, the Philharmonic Society has evolved and grown with the county’s changing landscape, presenting artists and orchestras who set the standard for artistic achievement from Itzhak Perlman, Gustavo Dudamel, Yo-Yo Ma, and Renée Fleming to the Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and many others. In addition, the Philharmonic Society celebrates multi-disciplinary performances under its Eclectic Orange brand and embraces music from a wide range of countries with its World Music performances. Its celebrated concerts introduce children to classical music with creative and inspiring performances, instilling music appreciation for future generations.
The Philharmonic Society’s nationally recognized Youth Music Education Programs, offered free of charge, engage more than 80,000 students annually through curriculum-based music education programs that aim to inspire, expand imaginations, and encourage learning at all levels. These programs are made possible by the Committees of the Philharmonic Society comprised of nearly 450 volunteer members who provide more than 50,000 hours of in-kind service each year. As a key youth program, the exceptional Orange County Youth Symphony and String Ensemble provide top-tier training to the area’s most talented young musicians through multi-level ensemble instruction, leadership training, touring opportunities, challenging professional repertoire, and performances in world-class venues. The Philharmonic Society also promotes life-long learning, connecting with colleges and universities to conduct masterclasses and workshops and providing pre-concert lectures to introduce audiences to program selections.
CONTACT:
Marie Songco-Torres Rosiana Falzon
(949) 553-2422, ext. 230 (949) 553-2422, ext. 105
marie@philharmonicsociety.org rosiana@philharmonicsociety.org