Wunderkind conductor Gustavo Dudamel, formally of the the Los Angeles Philharmonic will begin his tenure as conductor during the 2025/2026 season—and classical music fans are ecstatic. The Philharmonic has become known in recent years for programming an eclectic mix of classic symphonies and film scores, and featuring lots of star power: Emanuel Ax and Igor Levit were on the bill in recent performances. Most concerts are performed in the acoustically excellent David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center. Philharmonic tickets range from about $99 to $250, with $25 rush tickets available to students (with ID at pickup, purchased online up to 10 days in advance). A number of concerts feature pre-show talks and meet-the-artist events, which tend to be intimate and informative. There are also kids’ concerts and free concerts in NYC parks over the summer.