The GRAMMY® Award-winning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) announces programming for its 2026/27 Delta Classical Series today—its 82nd season and Music Director Nathalie Stutzmann’s fifth season at its helm. The season is distinctive for its focus on the works of Johannes Brahms (on the heels of its wildly successful Beethoven Project), the welcome of a new Artist-in-Residence, Anna Geniushene, and the presentation of two world premieres.

“Each Atlanta Symphony Orchestra season is custom-curated for our community with an eye to the past, present and future of Atlanta, bridging tradition and innovation,” said Executive Director Jennifer Barlament. “Tying it all together are the brilliant musicians of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, our Music Director Nathalie Stutzmann, and our guests, who inspire us with their passion and virtuosity. This season, following the tradition of focusing on major composers, we bring Johannes Brahms into focus, hearing his works in new ways with new voices. I'm particularly excited to hear Nathalie, the Orchestra and our Chorus performing his German Requiem, as well as Fauré’s Requiem.”

In addition to Stutzmann’s penchant for programming the great works of the early orchestral and choral repertoire, she has brought in-depth exploration of Beethoven and Bruckner—and now, Brahms. All four of his symphonies will be paired with complementary works that provide artistic dialogue and context.

About the Brahms symphonies, Stutzmann remarks, “These symphonies represent the whole adventure of my early days as a conductor. My first audition for Jorma Panula, my dreams when I first saw Karajan conduct them, and my first symphonic program. I had conducted them all in my dreams for so long, and the day it finally happened was one of the most intense moments I have ever experienced.”

The unparalleled Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus (ASOC) under the leadership of Norman Mackenzie will tackle one of their signature pieces, Brahms’ German Requiem. Conducted by Stutzmann, she said that it is “One of the most radiant requiems ever written. Both in terms of the musical treatment and in terms of the subject matter itself—where death leads us on a journey to life.”

With her programs, Stutzmann is creating a throughline across the seasons, highlighting composers that the ASO will come back to again and again. Bruckner (Nov. 19/21) and Shostakovich (Apr. 1/2), along with Mahler, have nearly become must-have composers when programming each season. Featuring their voices is a continuation of the conductor’s own journey with repertoire and the orchestra.

“These are composers that she feels close to the orchestra with. There is a feeling of mutual understanding that is organic and immediate,” said Gaetan Le Divelec, the ASO’s vice president of artistic planning. “They’re likely to be a feature of most of her seasons, if not every season.”

Joshua Bell performs Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole in a September 2026 special concert. ASO musicians also take solo turns with the orchestra as well. David and Julie Coucheron perform the rarely performed Mendelssohn Double Concerto, and wind principals Cameron Bonner and Jesse McCandless perform Strauss’ Duet Concertino.

Notable guest artists include violinist Johan Dalene, jazz pianist Sullivan Fortner, Veronika Eberle and Johannes Moser (Brahms Double Concerto), and an incredible lineup of vocal talent (Ian Bostridge, Leon Košavić, Emily Pogorelc, Samuel Hasselhorn, Felecia Moore, and Clay Hilley, among many others).

World premieres of works by Jasmine Arielle Barnes and Adam Schoenberg are scheduled for April.