Perth’s state orchestra unveils a 2027 season featuring live Lord of the Rings scores, five premieres, and Beethoven’s Ninth

The West Australian Symphony Orchestra has mapped out an ambitious 2027 season. It stretches from Beethoven’s Ninth to John Williams’ Star Wars score — and from central Perth to the South West coast. Principal Conductor and Artistic Adviser Asher Fisch anchors the year, leading major works including Bruckner’s Fifth Symphony, Tchaikovsky’s Fourth, and an evening of Wagner and Strauss.

The season opens with Beethoven’s Ninth, featuring the WASO Chorus and a full cast of vocal soloists. Other core programme highlights include Stravinsky’s Petrushka, Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra, Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, and Ravel’s Boléro. Guest artists arriving in Perth include Ukrainian conductor Kirill Karabits, pianists Vadym Kholodenko and Alexander Gavrylyuk, violinist Simone Lamsma, and cellist Li-Wei Qin. Additionally, Italian-Turkish conductor Nil Venditti and Korean pianist Joyce Yang make their WASO debuts.

Australian music gets serious real estate in 2027. WASO has commissioned five world premieres: Carl Vine’s Piano Concerto No. 3 (performed by Kholodenko), Richard Mills’ Percussion Symphony (showcasing WASO’s own percussionists), a new work by Elizabeth Younan, James Ledger’s Cello Concerto (performed by Li-Wei Qin), and Lachlan Skipworth’s Oboe Concerto (performed by WASO Principal Oboe Liz Chee). Two emerging Western Australian composers — Darcy Lewis and Amy Skellern — will also receive world premieres through WASO’s ongoing Composition Project.

Audiences will also encounter works performed by WASO for the first time, including pieces by Camille Pépin, Anna Clyne, Louise Farrenc, and Ethel Smyth.

Two screen-music events stand out in the special events calendar. The Music of The Lord of the Rings explores Howard Shore’s scores with live demonstrations and commentary. Meanwhile, a performance of Star Wars: A New Hope — marking 50 years since the film’s release — will feature John Williams’ complete Oscar-winning score performed live to picture, conducted by Jessica Gethin.

The Baroque Series returns to His Majesty’s Theatre under Shaun Lee-Chen, with programmes spanning Handel, Bach, and Vivaldi. The Chamber Series moves to Government House Ballroom for intimate evenings covering Brahms, Shostakovich, Dvořák, Janáček, and Piazzolla, among others. At Perth Festival, Warangka (Sing) brings Gina Williams-Ghouse AM together with WASO for new arrangements of songs she wrote with her late husband Guy Ghouse AM.

As the State Orchestra, WASO takes the 2027 season beyond the city. Regional performances begin in March at Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre. Further stops include Mandurah, Albany, and a return to Bunbury in October — featuring conductors Asher Fisch and Chloé van Soeterstède, alongside violinists Francesca Dego and Simone Lamsma.

Education and community programmes, including Crescendo, WASO in Schools, Side-by-Side Symphony, and Music for the Ages, continue across Western Australia. They bring live music to schools, hospitals, and aged care settings all year. Full season details and ticketing are available through the WASO website.