Labor day is just around the corner and that means that it’s back-to-school time. However, students are not the only ones getting back to work. Orchestra members from around the state are dusting off their strings and rosining their bows to kick off a new season of classical music.

September brings an eclectic mix of new collaborations and old favorites from both the Oregon Symphony in Portland and the Eugene Symphony.

The Oregon Symphony begins its season Sept. 6 in an unusual way with “ABBA — The Concert.” The tribute band Waterloo will join the symphony to present the best of the Swedish pop group ABBA. The month is rounded out with performances by pianists Lang Lang (Sept. 12), Jeffrey Kahane (Sept. 28-30) and vocalist Meow Meow (Sept. 14). The symphony will also perform a concert (Sept. 21, 23) featuring Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade” and a percussion concerto by Takemitsu.

All concerts take place at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland. For more information on the Oregon Symphony’s season and to purchase tickets, visit www .orsymphony.org or call 503-228-1353.

South on Interstate 5, the Eugene Symphony opens its 48th season Sept. 26 with some Spanish flair. The concert features music by Bizet, De Falla, Debussy and Ravel. The orchestra’s 2013 lineup also includes performances of Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F (Oct. 17), “Symphonie Fantastique” by Berlioz (Nov. 14) and Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” (Dec. 5).

Events are held at the Hult Center’s Silva Concert Hall in Eugene. For more information, visit www.eugenesymphony.org or call the Hult Center’s box office at 541-682-5000.