Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s Beethoven in Liverpool festival marks 200th anniversary of his death with all nine symphonies and six world premieres led by Chief Conductor Domingo Hindoyan

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic will mark the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s death with a festival celebrating his enduring legacy and influence, bringing together all nine of his symphonies alongside the world premieres of six new orchestral works written by composers and young musicians from the North West. Highlighting Liverpool Philharmonic’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of talent.

Beethoven in Liverpool lies at the heart of the Orchestra’s 26/27 season and will see Hindoyan conduct all nine Beethoven symphonies in a complete cycle for the first time across five concerts over two weeks, from 14 – 30 January. 

Chief Conductor, Domingo Hindoyan says: “Beethoven’s Seventh was the first symphony I conducted with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and I still remember the immediate connection I felt with the musicians. Since then, we have built a relationship based on mutual trust, and I feel this is the right moment for us to take on one of the greatest artistic challenges for any orchestra: the complete Beethoven symphony cycle.

Performing all nine allows us to follow the extraordinary evolution of Beethoven’s genius, from the classical foundations of his First Symphony to the revolutionary vision of the Ninth. Each work challenges us in a different way, demanding everything from us as musicians.

m particularly excited to bring the voices of young and living composers alongside one of the greatest voices in music history. Beethoven himself was once a young composer with revolutionary ideas, and music history continues to be written today.

Having children from In Harmony Liverpool Philharmonic involved makes this project even more meaningful to me. It reflects my belief that music belongs to everyone, and that inspiring the next generation is an essential part of what we do as an orchestra.”

Chief Executive of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Vanessa Reed says: ‘This series of concerts is an opportunity to celebrate Beethoven's extraordinary contribution to music while shining a light on the wealth of creative talent here in the North West. From our world-class Orchestra to young people taking their first steps in composition, we want everyone to feel that there is a place for them in orchestral music, and that Liverpool Philharmonic is here to help make that possible. I can't wait to experience  Domingo Hindoyan's leadership of this festival in our iconic Hall and to celebrate our city's role as England's only UNESCO City of Music.’

Now in his sixth season as Chief Conductor, Domingo Hindoyan continues to shape the orchestra’s artistic identity with programmes that bring his unique energy to core symphonic repertoire and reflect his strong commitment to new music. Developed by Hindoyan over several years, the cycle reflects his deep personal connection to Beethoven and traces the arc of the composer’s symphonic output, culminating in Symphony No. 9 ‘Choral’, performed by the Orchestra and Choir (directed by Matthew Hamilton) with soloists Lauren Fagan, Stephanie Maitland, Ed Lyon, and Roderick Williams, and British Sign Language interpretation by Paul Whittaker.

Alongside these landmark works, the next generation of composers in the North West will have their work performed by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, connecting Beethoven’s influence with the creative voices of today and tomorrow. This includes young people from some of the most underserved areas of North Liverpool who have received free orchestral music making through the In Harmony Liverpool Philharmonic programme.

The festival’s six commissions reflect Liverpool Philharmonic’s commitment to championing new music and supporting composing talent, from young people creating their first works to established composers who have developed their careers with the organisation’s support. Lasting around two to three minutes each, the new works will accompany the Beethoven performances in Liverpool and Barrow (where the orchestra have a residency), drawing on the organisation’s longstanding relationships with composers, composition schemes, youth ensembles and community programmes to support the development of composing talent across the North.

New commissions by Grace Evangeline Mason and Christopher Cook, both previous winners of the Rushworth Composition Prize, will be paired with Beethoven’s Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2 (14 January), and Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4 (17 January), respectively. Since winning in 2017, Mason has written several works for the orchestra, including The Imagined Forest, premiered at the BBC Proms by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Cook, the 2022 winner, saw his work In Their Wake premiered by contemporary music ensemble, Liverpool Philharmonic’s 10:10.

Two further commissions will bring together six alumni of the Rushworth Young Composers&Songwriters Scheme, working in two groups of three to create new three-movement suites. Each composer will contribute a movement of up to one minute, allowing their distinctive voices and styles to shine through. Beethoven Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6 (21 January) will be paired with a suite by Seth Barraclough, Jess Hughes and Cassie Worsley, supported by composer and mentor Carmel Smickersgill, winner of the Rushworth Composition Prize in 2018.

A second suite, by Tallulah Gustafsson-Green, Samuel Oliver-Sherry and Lucy McKenzie, will accompany Symphonies Nos. 7 & 8 (24 January), with mentoring from Michael Betteridge, whose work has previously been commissioned by the RPS, for Liverpool Philharmonic's 10:10. 

For the final concert, young people from In Harmony Liverpool Philharmonic’s Walton Youth Hub, will create a new digital work responding to Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Supported by In Harmony Lead Musician Matt Humphries, they will compose a three-minute digital track, performed alongside an orchestral accompaniment composed by Timothy Jackson.  

As part of its residency in Barrow-in-Furness, young people from Barrow Youth Hub will also help create a three-minute soundscape responding to Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 (23 January in Furness Academy Sports Hall). Working with Lead Musicians Jonathan Hering and Isobel Mortimer to collect sounds from their communities, the young people will contribute field recordings, voices and found sounds reflecting life in Barrow, woven into an orchestral soundscape composed by Timothy Jackson.