VIDEO: The Philadelphia Orchestra - 6abc Loves the Arts

CENTER CITY (WPVI) -- The Philadelphia Orchestra is getting set to kick off its new season with a plan to treat audience with music they haven't heard in nearly half a century.

Yannick Nzet-Sguin is embarking on his third season as music director of the fabulous Philadelphians and says his goal is to take one of the most distinguished orchestras in the world to even greater heights.

Yannick turns 40 years old, this year, and Conductor-in-Residence Cristian Mcelaru says the orchestra has planned a very special birthday celebration.

"We have what we call our 40/40 project and that is to bring 40 works that have not been performed in the past 40 years."

And Mcelaru says it's a theme they will weave throughout the season.

"It's basically on every concert we will have something that is reminiscent of the 40/ 40 project.

In January, the orchestra will stage a 3 week St Petersburg festival, highlighting three composers closely associated with the Russian city.

"Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich and we will be looking at works that represents the feel of that city," says Mcelaru who adds that the orchestra also plans a month-long tribute to the Kimmel Center's Fred Cooper Memorial Organ-the largest concert hall organ in the US. "celebrating the incredible grandeur of this instrument and the way that it's combined with the orchestra."

The season kicks off September 26th with pianist Lang Lang performing Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 17. A Curtis graduate, he's described by the New York Times as "the hottest artist on the classical music planet."

"Our main mission is to be able to reach people and to have them experience this beautiful music," says Mcelaru who invites people to "just walk through the door and just listen, that's the only thing that's required."

For individual concert tickets or subscription packages, go to www.TheArtsinPhilly.org.

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