(Credit: Benjamin Ealovega)

The BBC Symphony Orchestra has announced that Sakari Oramo’s contract as Chief Conductor has been extended until the end of the 2025-26 season.

The decision comes following a nine-year relationship between Oramo and the orchestra, which has seen them explore new and underperformed works alongside core repertoire. Oramo has conducted 27 Proms thus far, including five of their Last Nights.

“Sakari joined the BBC SO as Chief Conductor for the 2013 Proms and the relationship has strengthened and deepened year-on-year becoming the great musical partnership it is today,” says Orchestra Director Paul Hughes. “Knowing that Sakari will continue in this role through until 2026, to see the orchestra into its new home in Stratford’s East Bank, is fantastic news for the orchestra, for the BBC and for our audiences around the world. I could not be happier.

The Orchestra and Oramo are set to open their tenth season together at the Barican, with the world premiere of French composer Sophie Lacaze’s “Sighs of the Stars” on October 5, 2022. Oramo will also lead the first Total Immersion concert of the season with the “Sibelius the Storyteller” program. Artists from BBC’s SO and the Guildhall School will perform and discuss the influences of the composer’s works.