2026 HIGHLIGHTS | Mysite 1

2026 Season highlights

National Orchestra of Poland

I have been invited back to the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra for the third time, after the success of concerts of Beethoven, Richard Strauss, Ravel, Elgar and Mark-Anthony Turnage.

This time I have curated a program of the elements, with Mendelssohn's Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage, coupled with the evocative "Cloud Burst" of American composer Eric Whitacre.

The Philharmonic Chorus then joins the orchestra in Mendelssohn's epic choral symphony, "Lobgesang".

I will be continuing my collaboration in 2026 with performances of Benjamin Britten's cantata "Saint Nicholas" along with the Tenor Ian Bostridge.

The Krakow Philharmonic, Poland

Last year I performed the first performance in Poland of Elgar's final oratorio, The Kingdom.

The success of this large scale project has meant being asked back for another unusual and colourful program.

In 2025 we have performed the complete 1910 Stravinsky Firebird ballet alongside two dramatic Polish pieces :

The Fantasy for flute by the Polish composer and conductor Stanislaw Skrowaczewski and a rarely performed ballet suite by Karol Szymanowski - Mandragora , an entertaining comic suite based on Comedia del'arte characters.

National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico

I am very excited to have been invited to conduct the National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico for the first time.

The program will include the Rameau Suite from Les Boreades, Ravel Tombeau de Couperin and Beethoven's 4th symphony.

Jalisco Philharmonic, Guadalajara, Mexico.

Later in the year I had the pleasure of conducting one of Mexico's finest young orchestras in a program including the Dvorak Cello Concerto and the extraordinarily expressive 7th Symphony of Dvorak.

"Bach and Sons" program in Cyprus

I will be conducting the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra in November 2025 with a program contrasting the music of the "Bach's" :

JS Bach, CPE Bach, JC Bach ,

along with Haydn's symphony 82 - "L'ours"

Return to the Swedish Chamber Orchestra

I was happy to come back after many years to one of my favourite chamber orchestras: the Swedish Chamber Orchestra.

We performed a Robert Schumann program, with his Symphony no.2, Mozart's Magic Flute Overture and the beautiful Schumann Violin concerto played by Alina Ibragimova.

Beethoven Orchestra Bonn

I will be conducting this highly regarded specialised orchestra in a program of Beethoven contemporaries, presenting rarely performed repertoire : The first modern day performance of the B major Symphony of Wineberger, Reicha's rarely performed Symphony in D and the ever popular oboe concerto in D minor by Lebrun. A piece that I myself recorded on period oboe for the first time, on the Deutsche Grammophon label.
Happily they are also re-inviting me to return in 2027 to direct a new production of Handel's Opera, Giulio Cesare at the Opera Theater Bonn.

Rheinische Philharmonic Orchestra, Germany

Mozart : Symphony No.38 in D, "Haffner"

Mendelssohn : Piano Concerto No.1 in g minor.

Beethoven Symphony No. 7 in A major.

I am happy to continue my collaboration with this fine orchestra in a 9 concert German tour along with the inspiring pianist Martin Stadtfeld and more programs in 2027 .

The passion and commitment of the orchestra has resulted in regular standing ovations and two fine reviews:

Badische Neueste Nachrichten (Isabel Steppeler)

"Neustart mit Esprit"

Kulture-in-Emden:

“Prachtvoll dynamischer Saison-Auftakt”

( Magnificently dynamic season’s start !)

Badische Neueste Nachrichten:

In Mozart's Haffner symphony, Paul Goodwin lets loose with a sparkling tempo, clearly defined with sparks and feathery elegance… and with all the energy, which Mozart inscribed in the score almost two hundred fifty years ago.

Goodwin leads the orchestra in Beethoven's 7th Symphony with real precision and clear, direct hand movements – and the Rheinische Philharmonie reacts alertly. And so emerges an interpretation of appealing clarity: no romantic overflowing, but instead a clearly defined mosaic, put in place with precision and animated with inner energy. Goodwin’s individual approach demonstrates this in the all too famous Allegretto. Hollywood often uses it for a sentimental carpet of sound. Here it advances almost soberly, which is exactly what makes it so exceptionally convincing. A movement, which says what it means and makes its rhythmic logic audible.

Figaro: Last but not least: as an encore, Goodwin and the Rheinische Philharmonie offers the public the overture to Mozart’s Figaro and pours sparkling champagne into everyone’s glass. Pure joy!

Kulture-in-Emde:

The Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie, led by the highly dynamic conducting of Paul Goodwin, was a wonderful partner for Martin Stadtfeld playing the Mendelssohn concerto No. 1.

With Beethoven’s symphony No. 7, the orchestra and the conductor began to roar. The irresistable rhythm which governs the entire piece transformed Paul Goodwin into a dancer – and the entire orchestra let itself be carried away with the flow of the composition. Great applause for the Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie. The conductor joined in the applause and was clearly very much pleased with the performance of his musicians.

Below, I include some happy pictures of the tour !

George Enescu Festival,

Enescu Philharmonic.

I was excited to have been invited to conduct Enescu's greatest and most spiritual choral work, "Vox Maris", in the Enescu Festival in Bucharest, Rumania. The success of this performance has meant that I have been invited back already to conduct a program with the Enescu Suite no.1 along with Vaughan Williams The Wasps Overture, the Ligeti Concerto Romanesc and a Mozart Piano Concerto played by Stephen Osbourne.

Bodensee Philharmonic Konstanz

In February I had a lovely week with this fine orchestra on the banks of Lake Konstanz performing Mozart concerts to sold out audiences. I will include the glowing review in the German SûdKurier newspaper below.
I will also be returning for more concerts in September with an unusual program highlighting a new commission along with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra of American composer Jimmy Lopez's 5th Symphony, Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto and Haydn's Drum Roll Symphony.

Mozart in the starlight: "Youth and Perfection" palpable in every tone

The conductor Paul Goodwin led the Konstanz Klangkörper with great sensitivity for the basically accompanying role of the orchestra, promoting a gentle and elegant fulness of sound, but without this being too dominant in the centre of attention. Rather, it transparently supported the splendour of the oboe. Mutual listening characterised the interaction here.

The same thing could also be experienced after the break in Mozart's Symphony No. 41 in C major : With almost dance-like lightness and great vigilance, Goodwin let the orchestra flourish in the most diverse facets and was thus able to make this Jupiter Symphony, which seems monumental in many interpretations, appear transparent and yet noble.

"What a treasure this Lake Constance Philharmonic is," was the tenor of the listeners, who then must have started their way home soulled and delighted and delighted with the radiance of Jupiter.

SûdKurier review Von Constanze Wyneken

05.02.26,

Warsaw Chamber Opera

I am enjoying regular invitations to the Warsaw Chamber Opera in baroque and classical programs, with a New Year Gala concert in January 2026 and performances of Mozart's opera Die Entführung aus dem Serail in May.

Educational projects

I am continuing to direct and conduct the performance practice course in the Escuela de Musica Reina Sofia in Madrid.

We have both orchestral and chamber concerts of English, French, Italian and German baroque music and a program that covers the 1690's, 1720's and 1760's, giving the students the widest baroque educational experience.

The concerts are live streamed on the School YouTube channel and will be broadcast on National Radio.

In February I will directing the orchestra in two concerts of Rameau, Fasch and Handel, including collaborating with the vocal department for the first time in virtuoso arias. The first of these concerts will be an immersive experience for 100 of our sponsors, who will be placed in the middle and all around the orchestra ; chatting to the players and experiencing what it is to face my direction along with musical chat!

In April I will be curating and tutoring the students in a chamber concert of Bach, Purcell, Locke Telemann and much more.

In August I will be conducting and teaching on a summer school in Mainz, Germany, along with soprano Elisabeth Scholl. We will be studying and performing the Handel opera, Giulio Cesare.