"It's a long time," Milton said.

Milton, who has been based in Germany for the last decade, joined the CSO in 2007. His successor will be announced next year.

"What I'm really excited about is the incredible virtuosity of the orchestra and the growing respect the orchestra is commanding on a national landscape."

He was also keen to talk about the 2020 season which, he said, would feature Australian works across the CSO's ensembles including Carl Vine's Percussion Symphony (1995) Matthew Hindson's LiteSPEED (1997) and the premiere of Ella Macens' The Lake.

Popular classics that will feature include Grieg's Piano Concerto, Saint-Saens' "Organ" Symphony, and Mahler's Fifth Symphony.

There will also be a Proms-style Best of British concert featuring former Canberra soprano Lorina Gore.

Guest conductors will include Guy Noble for the Shell Prom and George Ellis for Symphony in the Park featuring Rumours - the Australian Fleetwood Mac Experience.

Also conducting will be the 2020 Artist in Focus, cellist Umberto Clerici.

He'll lead an Italian-themed concert with Mendelssohn's "Italian" Symphony, Mozart's Violin Concerto No 4 and one of Respigh's suites of Ancient Airs and Dances.

He will also work with the 2020 Kingsland Resident Artists on a chamber music program and perform in Inner Worlds, a chamber concert featuring a new CSO commission by Anne Boyd, among other Australian works.

Other recitals will include pianist Konstantin Shamray playing Bach's Goldberg Variations.