classical

The halls of the Kimmel Center will ricochet with the sounds of Beethoven this week, including competing performances of the ever-familiar Fifth Symphony (sing it: dah dah dah dum!). While a celebration of Beethoven might seem unimaginative to veteran concertgoers, there is no denying that he is the very face of classical music, and after all, the music never wears out. Christoph Eschenbach kicks off his season-long Rediscover Beethoven festival with concerts including the Fifth, and the first family concert also features a "Beethoven Surprise." Over at the Perelman Theater, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia answers back with its own all-Beethoven opener, including the Fifth, and beginning with, appropriately enough, the Consecration of the House overture. The glamorous Eroica Trio will join the band for a performance of the Triple Concerto for violin, cello and piano. Music director Ignat Solzhenitsyn conducts.

Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Sept. 25, 2:30 p.m., $35, and Sept. 26, 7:30 p.m., $23-$80, Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St.; Philadelphia Orchestra, Sept. 22, 24 and 27, 8 p.m., and Sept. 23, 2 p.m., $10-$122; Family Concert, Sept. 24, 11:30 a.m., $5-$44, Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center, Broad and Spruce sts.; 215-893-1999, www.kimmelcenter.org.