Press Release: BMW Classics 2025

BMW Group and the London Symphony Orchestra present the thirteenth BMW Classics in London’s iconic Trafalgar Square on Sunday 15 June at 5pm, a free live concert by the London Symphony Orchestra also available to tens of thousands more around the globe watching on YouTube. 

This year’s BMW Classics concert is conducted by 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 in one of the composer’s early works for orchestra, Capriccio sinfonico.

For the central section of the concert, the LSO will 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 musicians with 55 young musicians from East London as part of LSO Discovery‘s 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 this year, BMW owners will also be able to stream the concert and a selection of previous LSO concerts from the comfort of their cars, via a dedicated LSO app on the in-car entertainment systems of selected models.  

Commenting today, Dame Kathryn McDowell, Managing Director of the LSO said: ‘A big welcome to our new Chief Conductor Sir Antonio Pappano who will lead 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, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, People and Real Estate, Labour Relations Director said: ‘We are very happy to return to Trafalgar Square with BMW Classics. It is great to celebrate the joy and passion for classical music in the heart of London. BMW’s long-standing commitment to exceptional music is an integral part of our global cultural engagement. This has been around for over half a century and inspires people all over the world. It is an honour for us to present Sir Antonio Pappano and the renowned London Symphony Orchestra on one of the most famous public stages in the world.’

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: ‘I am delighted that the London Symphony Orchestra will return to play in the heart of our capital this summer for BMW Classics. Trafalgar Square will once again become our biggest open-air classical concert venue entertaining both Londoners and visitors with this free performance. It will also be a fantastic opportunity for young musicians from East London to perform alongside the LSO on this world-renowned stage, as we build a better London for everyone.’ 

 Composer, Isabella Gellis said: ‘I am grateful to the London Symphony Orchestra for commissioning this new 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.‘