In announcing its 2025-26 season, the Colorado Symphony has finally cemented its long-running relationship with Peter Oundjian. The Toronto-born conductor now steps on the podium as (drum roll) music director.

Oundjian has held titles here dating back to 2003 — starting as the orchestra’s principal guest conductor, then moving up to principal conductor. At last, he got a ring and a date. In September, he signed a four-year contract to helm the Colorado Symphony, and on next September 19 he will begin his tenure, leading the first of seven programs. His biggest night, however, comes with a big-deal concert on March 14, 2026 featuring pianist Lang Lang.

The Chinese superstar is scheduled to perform Beethoven’s early Concerto No. 1. Expect a handful of virtuoso encores to follow. Oh yes, and expect to pay a bit more to attend — maybe a lot more. Near the front of the orchestra’s season brochure are instructions on how to gain pre-sale access for purchasing Lang Lang tickets. Simple: Just join the Luminary Society before April 4 by contributing a minimum of $2,750.

Speaking of pianists, two other familiar names appear in the season line-up, though they’re better known to pop-music fans. On Sept. 12 and 13, Ben Folds returns to Boettcher, following his appearances there in 2016 and ’22. Another cross-over keyboard artist and veteran singer/songwriter, Bruce Hornsby, performs with the orchestra on February 28. Two concert pianists from the younger generation have garnered much attention: Michelle Cann will play Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” (April 24-24) and Albert Cano Smit is soloist in Brahms’ Second Concerto (May 15-17).

Oundjian may be a familiar face, but he won’t be the only one. Veteran violinist Pinchas Zukerman returns to Boettcher in Bruch’s Concerto No. 1 and Beethoven’s Romance No. 2, sharing Oundjian’s season debut (Sept. 19-21). Pianist Olga Kern, always a welcome soloist, will play Shostakovich’s Concerto No. 1, with orchestra principal Justin Bartels adding some crazy trumpet solos (Feb. 20-22). Resident conductor Christopher Dragon will be on the podium for those concerts.

On the subject of conductors, two former Colorado Symphony music directors will make their returns next season. Marin Alsop, whose podium affiliations include posts in Vienna, London, Philadelphia and Chicago — and who last week became the first woman to lead the Berlin Philharmonic — will conduct a program April 10-12 that may be one of the year’s most exotic offerings. It opens with “Antrópolis” by Gabriela Ortiz, described as a musical tour of Mexico City’s dance halls and night clubs, followed by pianist Gabriela Montero as soloist in her “Latin” Concerto No. 1. Alsop then conducts Rimsky-Korsakov’s beloved journey through those Arabian nights in “Scheherazade.” Music director from 2013-16, Andrew Litton’s program consists of a single work — Mahler’s intense, monumental Symphony No. 9.

So, you want to go to the movies with the Colorado Symphony? They oblige with orchestral accompaniments to screenings of “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” and “Elf.”

There’s plenty of pops concerts including salutes to John Denver, David Bowie and the Bee Gees, a joint appearance by Broadway stars Sutton Foster and Kelli O’Hara (Nov. 15), and a holiday-themed performance by singer/songwriter Ingrid Michaelson, with her past hits, of course (Nov. 30).

Finally, we can’t resist mentioning an evening with Dolly Parton, who will be there — sort of. She’ll magically appear, we are told, on a giant video screen, sharing her life story, showing family pictures and leading the audience in sing-alongs. On-screen, though, not in person.