Queensland Symphony Orchestra Shares the Love in February

Love is in the air this February as Queensland Symphony Orchestra sets a passionate tone for its 2026 season with musical love letters, intimate venues, fan favourites and joyous repertoire.

The month starts with two concerts curated by QSO audiences, followed by a new Portraits series, an Up Close Studio Session and, to end, an homage to the cinematic mastery of John Williams.

QSO Director – Artistic Planning Matthew Wood said February’s program was designed to be a warm and welcoming start to the season for audiences and musicians alike.

“We’re welcoming everyone back with familiar repertoire and cracking tunes that showcase the talent of our incredible local musicians,” Mr Wood said.

“There is a real sense of joy, familiarity and comfort in these concerts, whether they’re intimate recitals featuring new work or crowd-pleasing performances of instantly recognisable tunes.”

The first concert of the year is QSO Favourites, a feel-good concert featuring some of the most renowned and cherished pieces in the classical canon on 7 February.

Audiences voted to curate a memorable program of musical gems including Tchaikovsky’s elegant Waltz of the Flowers and Elgar’s Enigma Variations and Cello Concerto, the latter performed by 2025 Young Instrumentalist Prize winner Patrick Phillips.

An adapted encore performance of QSO Favourites then launches QSO’s Music on Sundays series with a morning concert on 8 February.

Two special Portraits recitals debut over the Valentine’s Day weekend, spotlighting QSO’s Principal Flute, Alison Mitchell (13 February), and Principal Harp, Emily Granger (14 February).

QSO Chief Conductor Maestro Umberto Clerici said a real-life love story beat at the heart of the Portraits series.

“Emily’s program revolves around the theme of love because it will happen on Valentine’s Day and also because we are playing the world premiere of a new harp concerto written for her by her husband, Tristan Coelho. It doesn’t get more romantic than this!” Maestro Clerici said.

“Alison curated a hybrid symphony with single movements from her favourite repertoire by different composers, starting with Dvořák and passing through Schumann, Mendelssohn and Sibelius – a sort of travel-book of Alison’s musical life.

“I created this new series to showcase the talent of our musicians and connect them to the audience, not just musically, but through their stories and personalities.”

QSO Concertmaster Natsuko Yoshimoto curates, directs and performs in Up Close at the QSO Studio on 20 February, presenting a program including Beethoven’s Symphony No.2, Mozart’s The Magic Flute overture and mesmeric string textures from Arvo Pärt.

QSO rounds out February with The Music of John Williams, a celebration of the composer famed for his cinematic scores including Jurassic Park, Superman, Jaws, Harry Potter, Star Wars and Indiana Jones.

Conducted by Nicholas Buc, the concert special plays QPAC’s Concert Hall on 27 and 28 February.

“John Williams is the second most-nominated individual in Oscars history, behind Walt Disney, and his work is so iconic that I daresay there won’t be a single piece within our two-hour presentation that the audience doesn’t instantly recognise,” Mr Wood said.

“It’s always a huge privilege to perform an evening of his work and it’s a testament to his craft and popularity that his scores are as beloved by our musicians as they are by the audiences.”

For more information about Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s 2026 Season and to secure the best seats in the house, visit qso.com.au.

FEBRUARY 2026

QSO Favourites

Saturday 7 February, 7.30pm

Concert Hall, QPAC

Conducted by Douglas Boyd

Presented by Ed Le Brocq

Soloist Patrick Phillips, cello

Music on Sundays – QSO Favourites

Sunday 8 February, 11.30am

Concert Hall, QPAC

Conducted by Douglas Boyd

Presented by Ed Le Brocq

Soloist Patrick Phillips, cello

Portraits: Alison Mitchell

Friday 13 February, 6pm

Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University

Conducted by Umberto Clerici

Soloist Alison Mitchell, flute

Portraits: Emily Granger

Saturday 14 February, 6pm

Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University

Conducted by Umberto Clerici

Soloist Emily Granger, harp

Up Close

Friday 20 February, 7.30pm

QSO Studio

Directed by Natsuko Yoshimoto

The Music of John Williams

Friday 27 February, 7.30pm

Saturday 28 February, 7.30pm

Concert Hall, QPAC

Conducted and presented by Nicholas Buc

— ENDS — 

Media Contacts 

Beth Uttley | Aruga
beth@aruga.com.au
0430 726 564

Chelsea O’Brien | Aruga
chelsea@aruga.com.au
0431 113 046