As a resident of Los Angeles, attending the L.A. Philharmonic at least once seems almost like some sort of cultural obligation. Even if you don’t think you like classical music, know that listening to it live is worlds removed from the tirade of Spotify playlists with terrifying names like “Bach to Bed” and “40 Gentle Jogging works.”

Not convinced? Well, if not for the music, then at least go to one concert to bask in the luxury of the Disney Concert Hall, Frank Gehry’s oblong, twisty contribution to downtown.

If the curves and the music fail to inspire you, at least it's a perfect location for all forms of social media bragging, from subtly haughty twitter updates to full-fledged Instagrams at the entrance, location tagged.

And it’s not like it’s all Wagner and Vivaldi either. This season, the L.A. Philharmonic has an excellent lineup of unique concerts that shake things up musically. Here’s a list of some of the badass highlights for this season. Read it, pick one, buy tickets, invite a hot date and for the love of God don’t clap between movements:

1. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, "HURRICANE MAMA": Salonen, Saariaho & Sibelius

In celebration of the 10th birthday of the Disney Concert Hall’s organ (an instrument that looks like a set of French-fries), the L.A. Philharmonic is hosting an evening of organ music that ranges from military fanfare to Finnish mythic. Why is the organ called “Hurricane Mama”? Ask renowned minimalist composer and evident psychedelic-taker Terry Riley, who gave the organ that name at a concert in 2008. 

Date: Friday, Oct. 24 

Featuring:

Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor

Olivier Latry, organ

Program: 

JANÁCEK: Sinfonietta 

SAARIAHO: Maan varjot (Earth Shadows) (U.S. premiere) 

SIBELIUS: Lemminkäinen Suite 

2. Halloween Film with Live Organ: Nosferatu

Yes, another organ concert. But it’s with good reason. This concert will be showing the horror classic Nosferatu with a live organ accompaniment. Live organ + black-and-white silent film. Cancel all your Halloween plans, they are of no consequence. 

Date: Friday, Oct. 31

Featuring:

Clark Wilson, organ

3. Green Umbrella: European Avant-Garde

Listen to the first minute or so of the video below. You may think you’re hearing the tragic abduction of a school choir by a troop of key-guitar-playing aliens, but you’re not. That’s Stockhausen's 1956 piece “Song of the Youths”, which mixes electronic sounds with the voices of boys. People will ask you how the concert was. Not knowing what to say, you will simply shake your head in disbelief. They will find you mysterious and compelling. 

Date: Tuesady, Dec. 9

Program:

STOCKHAUSEN: Gesang der Jünglinge (Song of the Youths)

ROMITELLI: Amok Koma (West Coast premiere)

FURRER: linea dell'orizzonte (U.S. premiere)

PINTSCHER: songs from Solomon’s garden for baritone and ensemble (West Coast premiere)

4. Itzhak Perlman in Recital

Perlman is one of if not the most famous violinist in the world. He took the U.S. by storm at age 13, when he appeared on The Ed Sullivan show for the first time. At 18, he made his debut at Carnegie Hall. These days, Perlman devotes a lot of his time to teaching, so it’s always a rare treat whenever he performs. 

Date: Wednesday, Jan. 21

5. USC Thornton Symphony, Sounds About Town

This isn’t meant to be a shameless plug. The USC Thornton Symphony is astoundingly impressive. Combined with the acoustics of the Disney Concert Hall, they’re sure to be great. Plus they’re playing Bartok’s “Concerto for Orchestra,” so you know it’s going to be insane. And the tickets are fairly cheap.

Date: Saturday, Jan. 24

Featuring:

USC Thornton Symphony

Carl St.Clair, conductor

Glenn Dicterow, violin

Program:

BERNSTEIN: Slava! A Political Overture

BARBER: Violin ConcertoProgram Notes

BARTÓK: Concerto for Orchestra

6. Herbie Hancock & Chick Corea

Get pumped for two of the most prominent living jazz musicians, and enjoy a night of masterful improvisation. 

Date: Saturday, Mar. 21

7. Falla & Flamenco with Dudamel

This is probably going to be the L.A. Phil’s most sensual concert of the season. Accompanying the symphony will be the Siudy Garrido Ballet Flamenco, adding another layer of Latin flare to the evening. 

Date: Thursday, May 21

Featuring:

Gustavo Dudamel, conductor

Angel Romero, guitar

Siudy Garrido Ballet Flamenco

Program:

FALLA: Suite No. 2 from The Three-Cornered Hat  

RODRIGO: Concierto de Aranjuez  

FALLA: El amor brujo 

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