Philharmonia returns to Mauritius with 75 world-class musicians for 10 Day Festival

• The Philharmonia Orchestra returns for third Philharmonia Mauritius Festival with full 75-piece Orchestra, marking its most ambitious commitment to the island to date.
• The Festival features the first complete cycle of Beethoven’s nine symphonies ever performed in Mauritius, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the composer’s death over two weekends of concerts.
• Two performances of The Best of John Williams: 50 Years of Star Wars, including orchestral hits from E.T. to Harry Potter, and the iconic Star Wars Suite
• An outstanding line-up of conductors and presenters includes Ryan Bancroft, Stephen Bell and Paul McCreesh CBE, with narration by broadcaster John Suchet OBE.
• Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony brings together the Philharmonia, Island Voices Mauritius Choir, the Francis Thomé Choir of the Conservatoire National de Musique François-Mitterand, and soloists from the Royal College of Music, London for the Festival finale.
• The finale also features the world premiere of William Mival’s Louis en Maurice, a specially commissioned new work for choir and orchestra bringing together local Mauritian musicians to perform with the Orchestra in a piece celebrating the island and its unique heritage.
• A series of four uniquely conceived Half Time Shows between the symphonies, involving Mauritian artists from other artforms, including Arvind Bhujun, Nina Hellis, Les Frères Joseph, Kritya Fusion, Sarah Honoré and Neriyen Veerlapin, as well as acrobats and parkour artists from Impulsion Events, who have created their own responses to the ideas and themes of Beethoven as well as four newly commissioned orchestral encores on Mauritian themes.
• In the lead-up to the Festival, an extensive learning and engagement programme will reach young people and communities across the island through workshops and the Philharmonia’s Virtual Orchestra VR experience, followed by a free Schools’ Concert during the Festival in January.

Following two highly successful visits, the Philharmonia Orchestra returns to Mauritius in January 2027 for the next chapter in its growing relationship with the island. Combining world-class performances with Mauritian collaborations and extensive work with young people and communities, the Festival builds on connections established since the Orchestra’s first visit in 2024 and marks a significant deepening of its commitment to Mauritius.

The Philharmonia Festival will run from 22 – 31 January 2027 at the Trianon Convention Centre, with the Philharmonia becoming the first international symphony orchestra to perform a multi-date festival at the venue. The Festival celebrates two major milestones in music and popular culture, with the Orchestra performing all nine of Beethoven’s symphonies alongside two concerts celebrating the music of John Williams. Tickets go on public sale at 10am on Saturday 12 September.

Beyond the orchestral works, Mauritian artists will feature throughout the Festival, including performances and collaborations as part of and around the concert programme. These partnerships build on relationships developed during the Philharmonia’s previous visits, and are part of a wider ambition to create meaningful opportunities for cultural exchange between the Orchestra and artists on the island.

Ahead of the Festival, from 5-10 October 2026, the Orchestra will work with young people and communities through an extensive programme of workshops, masterclasses and activities, culminating, in January, in a free orchestral concert for local schools. The programme will also include demonstrations of the Philharmonia’s groundbreaking Virtual Orchestra virtual reality experience.

Thorben Dittes, Chief Executive of the Philharmonia Orchestra says; “The extraordinary response by Mauritian audiences to our first two visits has encouraged us to build long-term relationships on the island. In 2027, we return with our full symphony orchestra for the first complete Beethoven cycle ever performed on the island – nine symphonies that changed the course of music – alongside the iconic music of John Williams. But this is much more than a flying orchestral visit: through our growing collaborations with Mauritian artists, young people and communities, we are building a relationship with the island that we hope will deepen for many years to come, offering unique world-class artistic experiences and opportunities for cultural exchange as well as capacity building for the performing arts in Mauritius.”

Laurence Modiano, Founder of the Philharmonia Festival in Mauritius and leading supporter says; “This Philharmonia Festival in Mauritius began as a dream of bringing this great orchestra and the gift of classical music to a country I love with all my heart. In 2027, that dream grows further, with a Festival encompassing Beethoven’s nine symphonies – masterpieces which sit at the heart of the orchestral repertoire – alongside music that has cemented the symphony orchestra’s place in popular culture. Just as importantly, thousands of Mauritian schoolchildren will have the opportunity to experience a great orchestra, many for the very first time.

I am profoundly grateful to my fellow supporters, Dev Joory and Anne-Marie Shepherdson, and to our Platinum Strategic Partner, Mauritius Commercial Bank, for sharing in the ambition to establish Mauritius as an international destination for culture. I would also like to acknowledge the brilliant musicians of the Philharmonia, as well as the enormous efforts of Chief Executive Thorben Dittes and his team in making this Festival possible.

Above all, I am grateful to the audiences in Mauritius who have embraced the Philharmonia so warmly over our previous visits. Their enthusiasm and support have enabled the Festival to grow into what it is today, and we look forward to welcoming even more people in 2027.”

The Orchestra will perform all nine Beethoven symphonies over five evenings to mark 200 years since the composer’s death. Renowned journalist, author and broadcaster, John Suchet OBE will join the Philharmonia to guide audiences through Beethoven’s dramatic life story and the evolution of his symphonies. Ryan Bancroft will conduct Beethoven’s Symphonies 1-6 and Paul McCreesh CBE Symphonies 7-9.

McCreesh will bring his highly regarded interpretation of choral works to Beethoven’s setting of Ode to Joy, with the Orchestra joined by Island Voices Mauritius Choir and the Francis Thomé Choir from the Conservatoire National de Musique François-Mitterrand for a spectacular festival finale. Words from the Ode to Joy will be sung in Creole, English and French, and the performance will continue the Philharmonia’s deepening relationship with the two Mauritian choirs, following collaborations during the Orchestra’s previous visits in 2024 and 2026.

Soloists for Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony will join the Philharmonia from London’s Royal College of Music (RCM), continuing the Orchestra’s collaboration with the institution and providing a major international opportunity for some of its outstanding young musicians.

The world premiere of William Mival’s Louis en Maurice will be performed alongside Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Commissioned for the Festival, the new work by Mival, Professor of Composition at the Royal College of Music, celebrates the island’s heritage and diversity while paying homage to Beethoven’s setting of Ode to Joy. The piece has been specially conceived to bring Mauritius’s musical community together with the Philharmonia on the TCC stage.

The first four Beethoven concerts will include specially commissioned orchestral encores on Mauritian themes, set by composer Richard Birchall. They will also include four Half-Time Shows where Mauritian artists from other genres and artforms respond to Beethoven and his themes of heroism, rhythm and nature. These unique fusions involve musicians Sarah Honoré, Nina Hellis, Arvind Bhujun, Neriyen Veerlapin and dance companies Les Frères Joseph, Kritya Fusion, plus acrobats and performers from Impulsion Events.

The Philharmonia Orchestra will present two concerts dedicated to acclaimed film composer John Williams, conducted by Stephen Bell. Marking 50 years since the release of Star Wars: A New Hope and Williams’ iconic score, the concert will feature the Star Wars Suite alongside a selection of Williams’ most legendary film music, including Jurassic Park and Jaws.

The Philharmonia’s Schools’ Concert returns on Thursday 28 January, following its successful launch on the island in 2026. The free, interactive, hour-long concert is designed for students aged 7+ and forms the culmination of the Orchestra’s wider programme of work with young people and communities across Mauritius.

Director of Conservatoire National de Musique François-Mitterrand and Festival education partner, Dr. Marie-Christinne Clarisse, says: “The Conservatoire National de Musique François Mitterrand cannot emphasise enough how privileged we are of the evolving musical partnership that is being forged by the Philharmonia Orchestra with the Mauritian community of musicians at large. In its role to advance music education, the Conservatoire remains a committed partner and facilitator in terms of artistic, pedagogical and professional development opportunities.”

Philharmonia Festival in Mauritius is made possible by a leading donation from the Laurence Modiano Charitable Trust, leading supporters Dev Joory and Anne-Marie Shepherdson, the Philharmonia’s Platinum Strategic Partner MCB, and the Orchestra’s Gold Hotel Partner Ninety-Six Hotel Collection.