Experience a captivating evening of musical innovation and brilliance at the 28th BMF as the BBC Philharmonic under John Storgårds welcomes the exceptional virtuosity of Hayato Sumino.

 

Anchored by the Asian premiere of the evocative City of Floating Sounds by Huang Ruo, the evening also features Prokofiev’s dazzling Piano Concerto No. 3. This thrilling journey through sound, tradition and modernity concludes with the spirited Symphony No. 9 by Dmitri Shostakovich.

 

“The orchestra’s performance was polished and committed, reflecting their strength in supporting new music.”—The Times

 

“City of Floating Sounds is a versatile and up-to-the-moment work for mobile phones and orchestra, underscoring Huang Ruo’s innovative compositional style.”—The Telegraph

 

“Hayato Sumino is a rising star… whose soaring if still young career blends classical virtuosity with contemporary appeal.”—Chicago Tribune

Programme
Music: HUANG Ruo
City of Floating Sounds (live version)

 

- Intermission -

 

Music: Sergei Prokofiev
Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26
 I. Andante - Allegro
 II. Thema.Andantino - Variation
 III. Allegro ma non troppo

 

- Intermission -

 

Music: Shostakovich
Symphony No. 9 in E-Flat Major, Op.70
 I. Allegro
 II. Moderato
 III. Presto
 IV. Largo
 V. Allegretto

 

The above information, including performance times, lineups, programmes and ticket prices, are all subject to change without prior notice and for reference only.

 

 

Conductor: John Storgårds
Chief Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, and Principal Guest Conductor of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra Ottawa, John Storgårds has a dual career as a conductor and violin virtuoso and is widely recognised for his creative flair for programming as well as his rousing yet refined performances. As Artistic Director of the Lapland Chamber Orchestra, a title he has held for over 25 years, Storgårds earns global critical acclaim for the ensemble’s adventurous performances and award-winning recordings.

 

Highlights of Storgårds’ 2024/25 season include two appearances at the BBC Proms with the BBC Philharmonic, with programmes including the UK premiere of Hans Abrahamsen’s Horn Concerto, and the fourth symphonies of Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich. Further season highlights include return engagements with, among others, Bamberger Symphoniker and Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, and in North America with Cincinnati Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. In May 2025, Storgårds serves as Jury Chair for the XIII International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition in Helsinki.

 

Storgårds appears with such orchestras as Berliner Philharmoniker, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Münchner Philharmoniker, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien, Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre National de France, Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI, BBC Symphony Orchestra, and London Philharmonic Orchestra as well as all major Nordic orchestras including the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, where he was Chief Conductor from 2008 to 2015. He also regularly returns to the Münchener Kammerorchester, where he was Artistic Partner from 2016 to 2019. Further afield, he appears with Sydney, Melbourne, Tokyo Metropolitan, Yomiuri Nippon, and NHK Symphony Orchestras as well as Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, and Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Soloists with whom he collaborates include Emanuel Ax, Yefim Bronfman, Colin Currie, Sol Gabetta, Kirill Gerstein, Augustin Hadelich, Hilary Hahn, Håkan Hardenberger, Leila Josefowicz, Lucas and Arthur Jussen, Kari Kriikku, Truls Mørk, Gil Shaham, Christian Tetzlaff, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Anne Sofie von Otter, and Roderick Williams, as well as with his “dynamic duo”-partner Barbara Hannigan for acclaimed podium swap engagements. As a violinist, Storgårds regularly performs as chamber musician and in recital, with appearances at festivals worldwide including the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival in Finland and Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival in the USA.

 

Storgårds’ vast repertoire includes all symphonies by Sibelius, Nielsen, Bruckner, Brahms, Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, and Schumann, including the Finnish premieres of Schumann’s only opera Genoveva and the early Zwickau symphony, plus world premieres of Sibelius’ Suite op. 117 for violin and strings and the Late Fragments. As soloist, he gave the Finnish premiere of Schumann’s own violin transcription of the cello concerto, as well as the Violin Sonata No 3. Embracing contemporary repertoire in his programmes, Storgårds regularly performs world premieres with many works being dedicated to him, including Per Nørgård’s Symphony No. 8 as well as Kaija Saariaho’s Nocturne for solo violin. In opera he conducted the world premiere production of Sebastian Fagerlund’s Höstsonaten – Autumn Sonata at the Finnish National Opera directed by Stéphane Braunschweig. The title was a finalist at the 2018 International Opera Awards and was revived in autumn 2019. In the 2022/23 season, Storgårds led the world premiere production of Tapio Tuomela’s new opera The Fur Hat Opera, performing in Rovaniemi and at the Finnish National Opera with his Lapland Chamber Orchestra. Later in the season, Storgårds returned to the Finnish National Opera with Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk.

 

Storgårds’ award-winning discography features works by Schumann, Mozart, Beethoven, and Haydn, and also rarities by Holmboe and Vasks’ featuring him as soloist. With the BBC Philharmonic, two cycles of symphonies by Sibelius (2014) and Nielsen (2015) were released to critical acclaim by Chandos. November 2019 saw the release of the third and final volume of works by American avant-garde composer George Antheil. Their latest project, the symphonies of Shostakovich, commenced in April 2020 with the release of Symphony No. 11. For BIS Records, John Storgårds and the Lapland Chamber Orchestra have released numerous critically acclaimed recordings, including Mahler’s symphony No. 8 in a special arrangement by Michelle Castelletti, works by Finnish composer Outi Tarkiainen, and Danish composer Hans Abrahamsen’s Schnee. Other successes include discs of works by Nørgård, Korngold, Aho, and Rautavaara, the latter receiving a Grammy nomination and a Gramophone Award in 2012. In 2023, Storgårds and the BBC Philharmonic were nominated for Gramophone magazine’s “Orchestra of the Year Award”.

 

Storgårds studied violin with Chaim Taub and subsequently became concert master of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra under Esa-Pekka Salonen, before studying conducting with Jorma Panula and Eri Klas. He received the Finnish State Prize for Music in 2002 and the Pro Finlandia Prize 2012.

 

Artist: Hayato Sumino
Hayato Sumino burst onto the classical music scene with his Grand Prix win at the 2018 PTNA Piano Competition. However, it was his captivating and characterful performances as a semi-finalist at the 18th International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw that truly established him as a rising star. His profound artistry and impeccable technique left both audiences and critics in awe.Renowned for his vibrant stage presence and technical brilliance, Hayato has performed with some of the world's top orchestras, including the Hamburg Symphony, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic, Japan Philharmonic, The Boston Pops, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. His performances have mesmerized audiences across North America, Europe, and Asia, both in concert halls and through his dynamic online presence.

 

In 2025, Hayato was honoured with the prestigious Leonard Bernstein Award from the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, recognizing his exceptional artistry and growing impact on the international music scene.

 

Following a successful 2024/2025 season—including an 11-concert tour across Japan with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra under Marin Alsop, recital debuts at the Berlin Philharmonie and Tonhalle Zürich, and performances of Messiaen’s Turangalîla-Symphonie with the New Japan Philharmonic under Joe Hisaishi—Hayato also toured with the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra under Jakub Hrůša.

 

Looking ahead to the 2025/2026 season, Hayato continues to reach new career milestones with major debuts and international tours. He will debut with the BBC Philharmonic at the Beijing Music Festival, performing Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 3 under John Storgårds, and with the Deutsche Symphonie-Orchester Berlin at the Berlin Philharmonie. His highly anticipated recital debuts include Carnegie Hall (Stern Auditorium) and the Vienna Konzerthaus. He will also return to the Main Hall of the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg and Basel Stadtcasino.

 

Further highlights of the season include an orchestra debut at Carnegie Hall with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Marin Alsop, as well as his first European tour with the Aurora Orchestra, performing in Berlin, Cologne, Munich, Rotterdam, Zurich, Bern, and Geneva. He will also debut with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra at the Vienna Konzerthaus, followed by a tour in Japan under chief conductor Petr Popelka.

 

A significant milestone in his career was his signing as an exclusive Sony Classical artist in March 2024, a partnership that further elevates his international profile. In addition to his musical achievements, Hayato holds a Master of Engineering from The University of Tokyo and was honored with the university’s President's Award in 2020 for his exceptional contributions to both music and academia.

 

Hayato’s unique style—melding classical virtuosity with innovative arrangements and improvisation—has also made him a digital sensation. His YouTube channel “Cateen,” with over 1.4 million subscribers and 200 million views, showcases his original compositions and arrangements, further cementing his influence in the modern music landscape.

 

In 2025, Hayato received both the Young Talent of the Year and Solo Live-Performance of the Year awards from Germany’s prestigious Opus Klassik Awards. He was the first musician ever to win both distinctions in the same year. Named to Forbes Japan's "30 Under 30" list in 2023, Hayato Sumino has been a Steinway Artist since 2021 and serves as an Ambassador for both Apple Music Classical and CASIO. With his fresh and innovative approach to piano music, Hayato continues to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide.

 

Presenter: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
One of the most celebrated broadcast ensembles in the world, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra’s distinctive energy, lightning speed, and iconic musical character has moved and inspired audiences for over 100 years. Founded in 1922 as the 2ZY Orchestra, the Philharmonic has played an essential part in shaping the Greater Manchester region into an unmissable cultural destination and a hub for world-class talent in orchestral music.

 

Outside of the Philharmonic Studio, their broadcast home at MediaCityUK, the orchestra presents a flagship series at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall as well as live concerts recorded in venues across the country, at the BBC Proms, and on tour. Whether encountered in the concert hall, heard on the air, seen on television, or streamed on BBC Sounds and iPlayer, the work of the orchestra is enjoyed by millions of listeners every year.

 

The orchestra’s Chief Conductor is John Storgårds, an inspiring musical leader who has built a close relationship with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra over many years and Anja Bihlmaier is the Principal Guest Conductor. The trailblazing musical storyteller Julia Wolfe is the Orchestra’s Composer in Residence for 2025/26.

 

Artistic innovation and the development of a new audience for classical music has been a keen focus of the orchestra for many years. In June 2024, the Philharmonic gave the world premiere of Huang Ruo’s City of Floating Sounds, an immersive symphonic experience, at the cutting-edge Aviva Studios in Manchester. In March 2025, the Orchestra followed up with its latest collaboration with Aviva Studios, Philharmonic Sessions: The Augmented Orchestra, featuring the UK premiere of Anna Clyne’s PALETTE. Upcoming UK and world premieres in the 2025/26 season include music by Laura Bowler, Edmund Finnis, Gabriella Smith, Julia Wolfe, and the UK premiere of Angel’s Bone, the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera by Du Yun, produced in collaboration with English National Opera and Factory International.

 

Engagement work for children and young people continues to be a vital part of the orchestra’s work. At the end of 2023 CBeebies broadcast Musical Storyland, a 10-part television series produced by the Philharmonic, featuring the musicians of the orchestra. The series brings to life famous stories from around the world using the power of music. This was the first time an orchestra has been commissioned to make a series of films for UK network television. To date, Musical Storyland has been requested over thirteen million times on BBC iPlayer.