Discover Beethoven concerts in Manchester across the 2026-27 season, from the grandeur of the Emperor Concerto to the intimacy of his piano sonatas.
The Bridgewater Hall’s Beethoven: 200 Years of Sound brings together world-class orchestras, conductors and pianists to mark 200 years since the death of Ludwig van Beethoven in 2027. Across the 2026-27 season, the celebrations explore music that continues to move, challenge and exhilarate audiences two centuries on.
Five concerts in our International Concert Series sit at the heart of the programme, alongside performances by The Hallé, the BBC Philharmonic and artists in Manchester Midday Music. Whether you are returning to a favourite work or discovering Beethoven for the first time, there is plenty to explore.
Explore all Beethoven 200 concerts and book tickets.
What does Beethoven 200 commemorate?
Beethoven 200 marks the 200th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s death in 1827. It is an opportunity to celebrate a composer who expanded the expressive possibilities of music, from the personal world of the solo piano to the combined force of orchestra and chorus.
At The Bridgewater Hall, that range comes vividly to life. Hear the lyrical Fourth Piano Concerto, the rhythmic drive of the Seventh Symphony and the extraordinary choral finale of the Ninth, alongside piano sonatas that reveal a more intimate side of the composer.
Beethoven in the International Concert Series
Our International Concert Series brings five distinctive perspectives on Beethoven to Manchester, with performances spanning October 2026 to May 2027.
NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover: Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto
Monday 12 October 2026, 7.30pm
Stanislav Kochanovsky, conductor | Lise de la Salle, piano
The triumphant Egmont Overture opens an evening with one of Germany’s leading radio orchestras. Acclaimed French pianist Lise de la Salle then joins the orchestra for Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.4, a work full of lyricism, warmth and imaginative exchanges between piano and orchestra.
Brahms’ Fourth Symphony completes a programme that pairs two great composers of the orchestral repertoire.
Book tickets for NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover.
London Philharmonic Orchestra: Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto
Saturday 20 February 2027, 3.00pm
Paavo Järvi, conductor | Benjamin Grosvenor, piano
British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor performs Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.5, known as the Emperor, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Grand in scale and rich in invention, Beethoven’s final piano concerto combines dazzling solo writing with moments of extraordinary tenderness.
Paavo Järvi conducts a programme that also includes Veljo Tormis’ Overture No.2 and Shostakovich’s gripping Tenth Symphony.
Book tickets for the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Ukrainian National Philharmonic Orchestra: Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony
Monday 1 March 2027, 7.30pm
Theodore Kuchar, conductor | Mark Bebbington, piano
The Ukrainian National Philharmonic Orchestra makes its International Concert Series debut with a programme culminating in Beethoven’s Symphony No.7.
Its irresistible rhythmic energy offers a thrilling conclusion to an evening spanning musical traditions and generations, with Mozart, Brahms and music by Ukrainian and contemporary composers also on the programme.
Book tickets for the Ukrainian National Philharmonic Orchestra.
BBC Philharmonic: Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony
Saturday 13 March 2027, 7.30pm
Anja Bihlmaier, conductor | CBSO Chorus
Beethoven’s Symphony No.9, the Choral, brings orchestra, vocal soloists and chorus together in one of classical music’s most powerful shared experiences.
Anja Bihlmaier conducts the BBC Philharmonic and CBSO Chorus in a performance that journeys from the symphony’s mysterious opening to its exhilarating Ode to Joy finale. It is a chance to experience the scale and emotional force of Beethoven’s final symphony live.
Book tickets for the BBC Philharmonic’s Beethoven Ninth.
Angela Hewitt: an evening of Beethoven piano sonatas
Thursday 20 May 2027, 7.30pm
Angela Hewitt, piano
Celebrated pianist Angela Hewitt brings our International Concert Series Beethoven celebrations to an intimate conclusion with a recital devoted entirely to his piano sonatas.
The programme moves from the compact Op.49 sonatas to the dramatic Tempest and much-loved Pathétique, before reaching the profound beauty of Sonata No.31, Op.110. Together, these works reveal the remarkable variety of Beethoven’s writing for a single instrument.
Book tickets for Angela Hewitt.
More Beethoven concerts in Manchester this season
The celebrations continue across The Bridgewater Hall’s wider programme. The Hallé opens its season with Sir Stephen Hough performing the Emperor Concerto, before returning to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and Piano Concerto No.3 later in the season.
The BBC Philharmonic also performs the Fifth Symphony in February, while Manchester Midday Music offers opportunities to hear Beethoven’s piano music in recitals by Julius Asal and Callum McLachlan.
Browse the complete Beethoven 200 programme.
Save on International Concert Series tickets with Membership
Bridgewater Hall Members can enjoy 20% off International Concert Series tickets for themselves and a guest. If you are planning to explore several concerts, Membership offers another reason to make a season of it.
Explore Bridgewater Hall Membership.
How to book Beethoven 200 tickets
Beethoven 200 concerts take place at The Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley Street, Manchester, M2 3WS. Follow the individual concert links for programme details, prices and booking, or explore the full series to choose your next visit.
From the first notes of a solo sonata to the full force of orchestra and chorus, discover why Beethoven’s music still commands our attention.