BMW Group and London Symphony Orchestra announce BMW Classics in Trafalgar Square on 15 June 2025. Free open-air concert can be enjoyed from selected BMW models for the first time this year.

London/Munich. BMW Group and the London Symphony Orchestra present the 13th edition of BMW Classics in London’s renowned Trafalgar Square on Sunday 15 June at 5pm. The concert highlights the continued partnership between the BMW Group and the London Symphony Orchestra, which since 2012 has brought superlative live orchestral music to audiences in one of the world’s most iconic public spaces and to tens of thousands more around the globe watching on YouTube. From this year, the concert and a selection of previous LSO concerts can also be streamed in selected BMW models.

The BMW Classics 2025 concert is conducted by new LSO Chief Conductor Sir Antonio Pappano for the first time, and the programme celebrates his Italian heritage with the prerequisite passion and soaring melodies from some of the great Italian composers for opera and orchestra. The concert will open with the spirited overture to Rossini’s final Italian opera “Semiramide”, before Sir Antonio, renowned throughout the world as one of the great conductors of Puccini’s operas will lead the orchestra with one of the composer’s early works for orchestra, “Capriccio sinfonico”.

For the central section of the concert, the LSO play the world premiere of Isabella Gellis’ new work “Opera for Orchestra”, specially commissioned for this occasion and continuing the exploration of operatic repertoire. Her piece, written for a mixed-ability orchestra, brings together LSO and Guildhall School of Music & Drama musicians with 55 young musicians from east London as part of the LSO Discovery programmes.

For the final section of the concert, the Orchestra will perform the rousing Grand March from Verdi’s opera “Aida”, and Victor de Sabata’s exuberant symphonic poem “Juventus” (Youth).

In a new initiative starting this year, BMW drivers will also be able to stream the concert and a selection of previous LSO concerts from the comfort of their parked cars, via a dedicated app on the in-car entertainment systems of selected models. The content is made available via the Video App (DTS AutoStage Video Service Powered by TiVo™) in the latest infotainment systems of BMW and MINI*. The Video App brings together a wealth of video content from a wide range of providers, including news and live or on-demand shows. A number of streaming services are available internationally, including Joyn, Pluto TV, Bloomberg, TED, Yahoo! and Chili. These are accompanied by market-specific streaming services.

Commenting on this year’s concert, Dame Kathryn McDowell, Managing Director of the LSO said, “A big welcome to our new Chief Conductor Sir Antonio Pappano who conducts and presents his first BMW Classics concert this year, which is always a highlight of the Orchestra’s London Season and an important fixture in London’s summer calendar of music events. On behalf of the LSO and our audiences both in Trafalgar Square and online, a big thank you to our esteemed partner BMW, and the Mayor for London for making this possible.”

Ms Ilka Horstmeier, Board Member for Human Resources and Real Estate at BMW Group: "We are very pleased to return to Trafalgar Square for BMW Classics, and to welcome Sir Antonio Pappano to conduct the concert for the first time this year. It is wonderful to celebrate the joy of classical music with so many people in the heart of London. BMW's global commitment to music and the arts has inspired people around the world for more than half a century. It is an honor for us to join the renowned London Symphony Orchestra on one of the most famous public stages in the world."

The Mayor of London, Mr Sadiq Khan: “The London Symphony Orchestra’s free performances in Trafalgar Square are a highlight of our cultural calendar. The BMW Classics are a unique chance for Londoners and visitors to enjoy world class classical music in the heart of our capital for free. It is also an incredible opportunity for young musicians to perform alongside this hugely talented orchestra, as we work to build a better London for everyone.”

Composer, Ms Isabella Gellis: “I am grateful to the London Symphony Orchestra for commissioning this piece, and I am doubly thrilled that for its premiere the LSO are forming a mega-orchestra with LSO Discovery young musicians. I cannot wait to hear them fill Trafalgar Square with sound at this year's BMW Classics.” 

BMW Classics
London Symphony Orchestra
Conductor Sir Antonio Pappano
Sunday 15 June at 5.00pm
Trafalgar Square, London

Gioachino Rossini Semiramide: Overture
Giacomo Puccini Capriccio sinfonico
Isabella Gellis Opera for Orchestra (world premiere), with young musicians from LSO Discovery
Giuseppe Verdi Aida: Grand March
Victor de Sabata Juventus

https://www.lso.co.uk/bmwclassics/

For audiences around the world, the concert will be live streamed on the London Symphony Orchestra’s YouTube Channel and Facebook page, and will be available to watch on demand from 14 days after the concert for up to 90 days.

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