James Levine conducts Philadelphia Orchestra - 6abc Loves the Arts

One of the world's most celebrated conductors is coming to the Kimmel Center for a very special concert with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

James Levine is one of the most renowned conductors of his generation, and he's leading the Fabu-lous Philadelphians in a show created just for him.

"This concert's titled The Legendary James Levine because he is such an iconic figure on the concert stage," says the Philadelphia Orchestra's Vice President of Artistic Planning, Jeremy Rothman.

Levine just celebrated his 40th anniversary as the head of the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and Rothman says it's been 2 decades since he's performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, "so we're especially gifted by his presence."

It will be Levine's only guest conducting appearance in the United States, this season, and Rothman says the concert will showcase Levine's mastery of many musical styles, "whether it's contemporary music or opera or the great romantic repertoire, and he's able to bring all of this to us in the course of this one great program."

The program will feature the works of three legendary composers. "You've got the lyricism of Brahms, this beautiful serenade, Second Serenade of Brahms, the sort of folksy eclecticism of Charles Ives' The Three Places in New England and the incredible majesty of Saint-Saens Third Symphony, his organ symphony," says Rothman who adds that the melody from the Third Symphony was also made fa-mous by the movie, Babe, "and I think Philadelphia is going to embrace both the musicians on stage and the audience are going to welcome his performances with great, great excitement."

The Legendary James Levine concert series is February 18-20 in the Kimmel Center's Verizon Hall. For tickets and show times go to www.TheArtsInPhilly.org.