Essential commemorations and anniversaries in classical music in 2025
Through 10 centuries, so many anniversaries to remember! Classical music covers 10 centuries of history, from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. There are many opportunities each year to celebrate great composers, creations or emblematic venues of classical music. So many anniversaries! From January to December, there is always a good reason to discover a musician, to rediscover a work. And above all, 365 opportunities to be curious.
Essential celebrations in 2025
Some dates to remember in 2025:
- 1685-02-23, George Frideric Handel (Birth, 1684-01-01)
- 1875-03-07, Maurice Ravel (Birth, 1874-01-01)
- 1685-03-21, Johann Sebastian Bach (Birth, 1684-01-01)
- 1875-06-03, Georges Bizet (Death, 1874-01-01)
- 1935-10-12, Luciano Pavarotti (Birth, 1934-01-01)
No fewer than 5 centenarians are expected in 2025 (and 6 multi-centenarians). This year, among the great figures of classical music to be commemorated are: Pierre Boulez (March), Antonio Salieri (May), Erik Satie (July), Mikis Theodorakis (July), Johann Strauss II (October).
There are many more: 1925, 1825, 1725...
2025, a special year for some orchestras and venues
These orchestras celebrate in 2025:
- 200th anniversary (1825)
- 100th anniversary (1925)
- Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra (Yerevan) (Armenia)
- Berlin Radio Choir
- Danish National Symphony Orchestra (Denmark)
- Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra
- Sioux City Symphony Orchestra (United States of America)
- Malmö Symphony Orchestra (Sweden)
- Swedish Radio Choir (Sweden)
and these venues as well:
- 200th anniversary (1825)
- 150th anniversary (1875)
- 100th anniversary (1925)
- Haus für Mozart (Salzburg), Austria
All commemorations in 2025, month by month
January
14
Work for choir
“Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid (I)” , Commemorations (2025), Classical music
Premiere in 1725 (300th anniversary)
February
13
23
George Frideric Handel , Commemorations (2025), Classical music, German-British Baroque composer (1685–1759)
340th anniversary (Birth)
03
Opera
“Carmen” , Commemorations (2025), Classical music
Premiere in 1875 (150th anniversary)
Opéra-Comique
07
Maurice Ravel , Commemorations (2025), Classical music, French composer (1875-1937)
150th anniversary (Birth)
21
Opera
“L'enfant et les sortilèges, Op. 71” , Commemorations (2025), Classical music
Premiere in 1925 (100th anniversary)
Opéra de Monte-Carlo
Johann Sebastian Bach , Commemorations (2025), Classical music, German composer (1685–1750)
340th anniversary (Birth)
26
Pierre Boulez , Commemorations (2025), Classical music, French composer, conductor and writer (1925–2016)
100th anniversary (Birth)
02
Work for choir
“Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden” , Commemorations (2025), Classical music
Premiere in 1725 (300th anniversary)
07
Antonio Salieri , Commemorations (2025), Classical music, Italian composer and teacher (1750–1825)
200th anniversary (Death)
28
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau , Commemorations (2025), Classical music, German lyric baritone and conductor (1925-2012)
100th anniversary (Birth)
03
Georges Bizet , Commemorations (2025), Classical music, French composer (1838–1875)
150th anniversary (Death)
05
Orlando Gibbons , Commemorations (2025), Classical music, English composer, virginalist and organist (1583-1625)
400th anniversary (Death)
19
Opera
Premiere in 1825 (200th anniversary)
Comédie-Italienne
01
Erik Satie , Commemorations (2025), Classical music, French composer and pianist (1866-1925)
100th anniversary (Death)
29
Mikis Theodorakis , Commemorations (2025), Classical music, Greek composer (1925–2021)
100th anniversary (Birth)
August
09
Dmitri Shostakovich , Commemorations (2025), Classical music, Soviet composer and pianist (1906-1975)
50th anniversary (Death)
September
26
Béla Bartók , Commemorations (2025), Classical music, Hungarian composer and pianist
80th anniversary (Death)
October
06
Bernard Germain de Lacépède , Commemorations (2025), Classical music, French naturalist (1756-1825)
200th anniversary (Death)
10
Dmytro Bortnianskyi , Commemorations (2025), Classical music, Ukrainian-born Russian Classical composer and conductor
200th anniversary (Death)
12
Luciano Pavarotti , Commemorations (2025), Classical music, Italian operatic tenor
90th anniversary (Birth)
22
Alessandro Scarlatti , Commemorations (2025), Classical music, Italian composer
300th anniversary (Death)
24
Luciano Berio , Commemorations (2025), Classical music, Italian composer (1925–2003)
100th anniversary (Birth)
25
Johann Strauss II , Commemorations (2025), Classical music, Austrian composer (1825-1899)
200th anniversary (Birth)
November
06
Work for chamber orchestra
“String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132” , Commemorations (2025), Classical music
Premiere in 1825 (200th anniversary)
December
08
Jean Sibelius , Commemorations (2025), Classical music, Finnish composer (1865–1957)
160th anniversary (Birth)
14
Opera
“Wozzeck, Op. 7” , Commemorations (2025), Classical music
Premiere in 1925 (100th anniversary)
Berlin State Opera
See also...
Other commemorations and anniversaries
Classical music history
timelines
That year