April 23, 2026
“Duke Bluebeard’s Castle” wins BBC Music Magazine Opera Award 2026
The Radio Filharmonisch Orkest, under the direction of chief conductor Karina Canellakis, has won the prestigious BBC Music Magazine Award 2026 in the Opera category with the album Bartók: Duke Bluebeard’s Castle. The award was presented last night during a festive ceremony in London.
On the album Duke Bluebeard’s Castle, released in April 2025 by Pentatone, the Radio Filharmonisch Orkest is joined by Rinat Shaham (mezzo-soprano) and Gábor Bretz (bass-baritone). In the jury report, they are praised for the exceptionally bold and compelling interpretation of their roles, in which they do not shy away from any risk and continuously heighten the dramatic tension. Chief conductor Karina Canellakis also made a strong impression: she leads the orchestra with an intensity and commitment as if her life depended on it, bringing an exceptional sense of urgency and expressiveness that elevates the performance to a higher level.
Chief conductor Karina Canellakis: “It is a tremendous honour to receive this award. I would like to thank the jury and the audience of BBC Music Magazine for this recognition. It was such a joy to record this work with two of my favourite singers: Gábor Bretz and Rinat Shaham. I am also very very proud of the orchestra for the way they played their hearts out on this album. You can hear it in every measure of the piece.”
March 31, 2026
Karina makes German opera debut at Staatsoper Hamburg
This April Karina Canellakis will make her German opera debut at the Staatsoper Hamburg, conducting the premiere of "Frauenliebe und -sterben" at the Großes Haus, leading the Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg in a new production by Tobias Kratzer, which combines works by Schumann, Bartók and Zemlinsky.
The program brings together Schumann’s "Frauenliebe und -leben", Bartók’s "Duke Bluebeard's Castle", and Zemlinsky’s "A Florentine Tragedy", forming a staged narrative across two centuries.
The performances will take place on April 12, 15, 17, 22 and 25, as well as May 15, 20 and 22.
March 20, 2026
Britten’s Peter Grimes with the Radio Filharmonisch Orkest
On 21 March, Karina Canellakis conducts Britten’s Peter Grimes in an afternoon performance with the Radio Filharmonisch Orkest and the Groot Omroepkoor, marking their 80th anniversary. Tenor Joachim Bäckström sings the title role, with Nicole Car as Ellen Orford.
The performance will be broadcast live from the Concertgebouw at 1 pm CET on NPO Klassiek.
February 18, 2026
Karina Canellakis embarks on tour with Anne-Sophie Mutter and the London Philharmonic
In February 2026, Karina Canellakis starts a sold out, multi-city tour with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, where she is Principal Guest Conductor, alongside violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter.
The tour covers eight dates: 18, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27 and 28 February — and travels to London, Cologne, Luxembourg, Düsseldorf, Hanover, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Vienna. The program features Sibelius’s Pohjola’s Daughter, Tchaikovsky’s celebrated Violin Concerto with Anne-Sophie Mutter, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7.
February 04, 2026
“Duke Bluebeard’s Castle” nominated for BBC Music Magazine Award 2026
"Duke Bluebeard’s Castle" - Karina's recording with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Rinat Shaham and Gábor Bretz released in April 2025 - has been nominated for a BBC Music Magazine Award 2026 in the Opera category.
The album was awarded with 5* and an Opera Choice in its original review last year, where standout quotes included: "A blood-curdling and brilliant Bartók Bluebeard", "Detailed and powerful: Karina Canellakis and the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic put on a terrific, and terrifying show" and "Karina Canellakis conducts the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic if her life depends on it".
The winner will be decided by an online vote and your vote can make a difference. Voting closes on March 3rd.
January 06, 2026
Karina Canellakis makes her Vienna Philharmonic debut at Mozartwoche
On 24 January 2026, Karina Canellakis makes her debut with the Vienna Philharmonic in Salzburg as part of the Mozartwoche festival. She is joined by violinist Maria Dueñas in a program that highlights the festival’s spirit:
The concert program features Mendelssohn’s "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" Overture and his Violin Concerto, as well as Mozart's Maurerische Trauermusik and the "Idomeneo" Overture. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2 brings the evening to a close.
This appearance marks a significant step in Karina’s work with major European orchestras and her first performance at Salzburg’s annual celebration dedicated to Mozart. On 25 January Karina will take the program to Tiroler Festspiele Erl with the Vienna Philharmonic's concert master as soloist of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto.
December 10, 2025
Karina returns to Vienna Symphony and Musikverein
On 17 and 19 December, Karina Canellakis returns to conduct the Vienna Symphony at the Musikverein, reconnecting with both the orchestra and the hall where she was previously Artist in Focus. She will be joined by pianist Leif Ove Andsnes for Brahms’s Piano Concerto No. 2, alongside Dvořák’s The Noon Witch and Strauss’ Tod und Verklärung.
Their conversation in the Musikverein’s artist room offers insight into their musical perspectives and approach to this collaboration:
October 19, 2025
Karina Canellakis releases Tchaikovsky recording with London Philharmonic Orchestra
As part of the London Philharmonic Orchestra label’s 20th anniversary celebrations, Karina Canellakis will release her first full recording as Principal Guest Conductor with the LPO label on 24 October 2025: Tchaikovsky’s Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6. This release represents a significant milestone in the partnership between Karina and the Orchestra and has already garnered widespread critical acclaim.
Both symphonies were recorded live in London at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall. Under her leadership, the LPO delivers a performance that fully captures the brilliance and emotional depth of Tchaikovsky’s music, showcasing the composer’s genius as a central figure of the Romantic era.
Karina returns to the London Philharmonic for three concerts this week.
August 16, 2025
Karina opens new season with festival highlights in Edinburgh, Lucerne and Berlin
Karina Canellakis begins her 2025/26 season with three major festival appearances in August. She returns to the Edinburgh International Festival (21 August) with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Edinburgh Festival Chorus in a program featuring Messiaen’s Les Offrandes oubliées, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms with countertenor Hugh Cutting, and Stravinsky’s Petrushka.
On 27 August she makes her debut at the Lucerne Festival, leading the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir with soprano Liv Redpath and pianist Bertrand Chamayou in a wide-ranging program: Boulez’ Le Soleil des eaux, Unsuk Chin’s Piano Concerto, the world premiere of Robin de Raaff’s L’Azur, and Boulez’ Don from Pli selon pli.
The month closes with an appearance at Musikfest Berlin (31 August), where she conducts the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic and Choir at the Philharmonie in celebration of Pierre Boulez’ centenary year. Alongside Messiaen and Boulez, the program features the German premiere of de Raaff’s L’Azur and Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances.
With these performances, Canellakis opens her season at three of Europe’s most prestigious festivals.
July 25, 2025
Season Highlights 2025-26
The upcoming 2025-26 season marks Karina's highly anticipated debut with the Vienna Philharmonic at Mozartwoche Salzburg in January 2026, as well as with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande in Geneva. She returns to leading orchestras including the Chicago and San Francisco Symphonies, the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Vienna Symphony, and embarks on a European tour with the London Philharmonic and Anne-Sophie Mutter.
In opera, she makes her debut at Staatsoper Hamburg conducting a bold triptych: Schumann’s "Frauenliebe und -leben", Bartók’s "Bluebeard’s Castle", and Zemlinsky’s "A Florentine Tragedy". She also leads Britten’s Peter Grimes in concert with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic in Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw.