“His friends call him Ludo.” That got a few giggles this afternoon, as a room full of symphony subscribers imagined addressing the conductor like he was a bridge buddy. But such casual conversation seems plausible with new maestro Ludovic Morlot, the 36-year-old Frenchman who will succeed Gerard Schwarz as musical director in the 2011-12 season. With a bounce to his step and an infectious smile, Morlot presented his debut lineup to the crowd gathered at Benaroya Hall: a predominantly white-haired crew that was visibly energized by the young gun on stage. “I promise this could be quite explosive,” Morlot said. Someone in the crowd whooped.

Though the season may look familiar—Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell, Josh Roman, and soprano Renee Fleming all return—there a few Morlot touches. Of particular note is the Sound Evolution performance on October 18, a new collaboration with young composers commissioned to create work inspired by local music legends: Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, and Quincy Jones among them. Seattle chamber pop band Hey Marseilles will perform, and you already know how much I love them. Also exciting: Herbie Hancock playing Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue on November 18.

Popular series Seattle Pops, Beyond the Score (a traveling multimedia performance), Baroque and Wine, and Masterworks are back in the lineup, in addition to concerts by the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Orchestra with conductor Valery Gergiev.

Morlot still has to finish out an extensive guest conductor schedule this year—with some 35 performances scheduled around the world—but he’ll be on hand to lead the symphony in nine Masterworks concerts, including Beethoven’s Eroica symphony, Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, Holst’s The Planets and Berlioz’s The Damnation of Faust to close out the season. “There’s a little something for everyone,” he said. “I’m most excited about…pretty much everything.” Smile.

Read on for the full 2011-12 Seattle Symphony schedule and more on Ludovic Morlot. The symphony continues to celebrate Gerard Schwarz’s 26th and final season as its chief; he conducts Mozart’s chilling Requiem this weekend.