KZN Philharmonic Orchestra 2026 Spring Season
Playhouse Opera: Thurs 12 Nov &
Playhouse Drama: 19 Nov 2026
The KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra opens its two-concert 2026 World Symphony Spring Season of familiar, easy listening popular favourites, in The Playhouse Opera on Thursday, 12 November and in the Playhouse Drama, 19 November, starting at 7pm.
The Spring Season opens on 12 November under the baton of Canadian conductor Jean-Claude Picard, featuring renowned pianist Polina Osetinskaya as soloist.
The evening begins with one of the world’s most beloved concert showstoppers. Sergei Rachmaninoff’s deeply emotional Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor is widely celebrated for its lush lyricism, sweeping piano passages, and dramatic interplay between soloist and orchestra. The concert concludes with Tchaikovsky’s monumental Symphony No. 5 in E minor, a captivating masterpiece built around a recurring ‘fate’ motif that journeys from dark introspection to a triumphant, life-affirming finale.
‘We invite our family of music lovers in Durban and across KZN, to join us for our exciting Spring Season,’ said Bongani Tembe, KZN Philharmonic’s Chief Executive and Artistic Director. ‘Our distinguished guest artists are set to collaborate with our resident musicians in making music for the delight of our dedicated KZN Phil audience.’
A change for regulars is the first concert will be in the usual venue of the Playhouse Opera, but due to the Opera not being availability for the second concert, the concert on 19 November has now been moved upstairs to the Playhouse Drama.
“The Drama Theatre seats just under 500 patrons, compared with the Opera Theatre’s capacity of more than 1,000. We will therefore need to adjust seating allocations and the corresponding sections and ticket categories. We appreciate how important it is to concert regulars to have their preferred seats, and we will take care when making these adjustments,” explained KZN Phil’s Reena Makan.
The second concert on 19 November in the Drama theatre, is led by conductor Christian Schumann, whose international career spans symphonic music and opera, featuring acclaimed Japanese pianist Yu Kosuge as soloist, who is celebrated for her expressive playing, technical brilliance and musical insight. The repertoire opens with Beethoven’s dramatic Coriolan Overture, a tense and powerful piece that sets a striking theatrical tone. This is followed by Beethoven’s lyrical and introspective Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, renowned for its groundbreaking dialogue between the piano and orchestra, where the soloist gently opens the work in serene contrast to traditional bravura. The evening concludes with Georges Bizet’s sparkling Symphony in C Major, a youthful and effervescent creation brimming with infectious melodies, classical grace, and buoyant energy.
Beyond the mainstage performances, the KZN Philharmonic’s commitments are rooted in the community. ‘As always, the KZNPO seasons complement the orchestra’s ongoing school visits, community engagement, and skills transfer programmes, all geared towards reaching out to new-generation artists and audiences alike,’ added Tembe.
Season Tickets available through KZN Phil office on 031 369 9438 or info@kznphil.org.za and individual tickets through Quicket. For those preferring not to self-drive to the concerts, there is a park and ride bus service offered from major arterial points: Upper Highway (St Agnes Church, dep 17h50) North Coast (Grace Family Church, dep 18h10); Westville (Westville Senior Primary, dep 18h10) and Berea (Caister Lodge, dep 18h20). Bus tickets though 031 369 9438 or info@kznphil.org.za and individual tickets through Quicket.
KZN Philharmonic tickets are available through Quicket. For more information, call 031-369 9438, email info@kznphil.org.za, or visit www.kznphil.org.za.
Good to Know
Date: Thursday, 12 November 2026
Time: 19:00
Venue: Playhouse Opera Theatre, 231 Anton Lembede Street, Durban
Conductor: Jean-Claude Picard
Soloist: Polina Osetinskaya, piano
Programme: Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor
Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 in E minor
Date: Thursday, 19 November 2026
Time: 19:00
Venue: Playhouse Drama Theatre, 231 Anton Lembede Street, Durban
Conductor: Christian Schumann
Soloist: Yu Kosuge, piano
Programme: Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture
Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major
Bizet’s Symphony in C Major
It’s Spring! Rejoice In The Music!
