For immediate release:
September 7, 2023
Contact: Julie Goetz, Director of Communications, Pittsburgh Symphony
Photos of New Artists Here

 

PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ADDS FOUR NEW COMMUNITY CONCERTS IN 2023-2024 SEASON

Pittsburgh Symphony Continues "PSO In Your Neighborhood" with New Concerts at Two Area High Schools

Orchestra’s Fall Calendar Brings Wide Variety of Concerts from Classical to Popular to Film with Orchestra, Specials and the annual free RAD Days Concert

New artists added to announced programs are Jennifer Johnson Cano, Andrew Foster-Williams, John Matthew Myers, Yoshiani Nakano, and Nikki Porter

PITTSBURGH—On September 19, 2023, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will come back after summer vacation and a major Heinz Hall exterior renovation to perform the first of 30 concerts of 20 diverse programs this fall. Additional concerts have been added to the season and changes have been made to select programs throughout the season.

Kicking off the 2023-2024 season in a concert with indie music favorite Guster, the Pittsburgh Symphony invites Pittsburgh to join them to “Experience the Power of Now” this season with its annual gala, the BNY Mellon Grand Classics subscription series, the PNC Pops subscription series, Fiddlesticks Family Concerts, Films with Live Orchestra, PSO Disrupt, PSO360, Schooltime concerts, community concerts, and several orchestra specials.

Four evening community concerts have been added to the 2023-2024 season. PSO In Your Neighborhood concerts of about 75-minutes each will take place at Gateway High School (Oct. 17) and Mars Senior High School (Oct. 19), featuring the music of Dvořák, De Falla and others. The previously announced Schooltime concert Sound Fusion will also now be presented as an evening community concert (Mar. 5) featuring the Pittsburgh premiere of Philharmonia Fantastique, a Pittsburgh Symphony co-commission by Mason Bates. The annual Student Side-by-Side program, which brings together high school musicians to rehearse and perform side-by-side their Pittsburgh Symphony counterparts, will culminate in a full concert experience on the Heinz Hall stage (Apr. 8). These community concerts have special ticket prices of $15/adult, $10/groups of 10 or more, $10/student or child, and $5/groups of 10 or more student.

Tickets for all Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra concerts, including subscriptions to BNY Mellon Grand Classics, PNC Pops, Films with Orchestra and Fiddlesticks Family Concerts are available at the Heinz Hall Box office online (pittsburghsymphony.org), by phone (412.392.4900) and in person at 600 Penn Ave. in downtown Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Fall Concert Calendar and Season Concert Changes
Please note these updates replace any previous press announcements or materials related to these concerts. All concerts are at Heinz Hall, except for the PSO In Your Neighborhood concerts on October 17 and 19, 2023.

Pops Special: GUSTER
Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.
Moon Doh, conductor
Guster
Justine Campagna, violin

NOW is the Time Gala
Saturday, September 23, 2023, at 8:00 p.m.
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Renée Fleming, soprano

Repertoire change: Schumann Piano concerto will replace Bartók Concerto No. 3 for Piano and Orchestra.
BNY Mellon Grand Classics 1: OPENING WEEKEND
Friday, September 29, 2023, at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 1, 2023, 2:30, at 2:30 p.m.
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Hélène Grimaud, piano
GABRIELA ORTIZ: Kauyumari – PITTSBURGH PREMIERE
SCHUMANN: Piano Concerto
RACHMANINOFF: Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Opus 27

Repertoire change: Boris Pigovat’s “Yizkor” has been moved to November 25, 2023, “Violins of Hope.” John Adams “Short Ride in a Fast Machine” has been added to this program.
BNY Mellon Grand Classics 2: SCHUMANN & BEETHOVEN
Friday, October 6, 2023, at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 8, 2023, at 2:30 p.m.
Manfred Honeck, conductor
David McCarroll, violin (debut)
JOHN ADAMS: Short Ride in a Fast Machine
SCHUMANN: Concerto in D minor for Violin and Orchestra – PITTSBURGH PREMIERE
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 7 in A major, Opus 92

PSO DISRUPT: LUDWIG GROOVES
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Event: 7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.; music 7:45 – 8:45 p.m. (played without intermission)
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Jacob Joyce, host
JOHN ADAMS: Short Ride in a Fast Machine
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 7

Change in repertoire: Sarah Gibson’s” to make this mountain taller” has been added to this program; it was previously announced for November 24-26, 2023.
Community Concert: RAD DAYS
This concert is free and open to the public; best for ages five and older.
Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.
Jacob Joyce, conductor
NANCY GALBRAITH: A Festive Violet Pulse from Mozaika
Selections from DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Opus 70 [old No. 2]; MOZART Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551, “Jupiter”; PROKOFIEV Suite from Romeo and Juliet, Opus 64
SARAH GIBSON: to make this mountain taller – PITTSBURGH PREMIERE & COMMISSION (TOULMIN FOUNDATION COMMISSION
GEORGE GERSHWIN: Promenade, “Walking the Dog,” from The Real McCoy
MANUEL DE FALLA: Suite No. 1 from The Three-Cornered Hat (Scenes and Dances)

PNC Pops 1: DISNEY: THE SOUND OF MAGIC
Friday, October 13, 2023, at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 14, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 15, 2023, at 2:30 p.m.
Moon Doh, conductor

PSO360: VIOLINS OF HOPE
Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra musicians: David McCarroll, Marta Krechkovsky, and Jennifer Orchard, violin; Tatjana Mead Chamis, viola; Bronwyn Banerdt, cello; Michael Rusinek, clarinet; Andrew Reamer, percussion; and Rodgrigo Ojega, piano.
Selections from Pavel Haas, Alexander Krein, Ernst Toch, Ernest Bloch, Joseph Achron and Sergei Prokofiev.

Concert addition:
Community Concert: PSO IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.
Gateway High School
Thursday, October 19, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.
Mars High School
Jacob Joyce, conductor
NANCY GALBRAITH: A Festive Violet Pulse from Mozaika
A preview of what’s to come ahead in the season with selections from DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Opus 70 [old No. 2]; MOZART Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551, “Jupiter”; PROKOFIEV Suite from Romeo and Juliet, Opus 64.
Plus, GEORGE GERSHWIN: Promenade, “Walking the Dog,” from The Real McCoy; and MANUEL DE FALLA: Suite No. 1 from The Three-Cornered Hat (Scenes and Dances)

Fiddlesticks Family Concerts 1: BOO-TIFUL MUSIC
Saturday, October 21, 2023, at 11:15 a.m.
Moon Doh, conductor
Katy Williams, vocalist

Films with Orchestra: SUPERMAN IN CONCERT
Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.
Jacob Joyce, conductor

BNY Mellon Grand Classics 3: BUCHBINDER & THE FIVE PIANO CONCERTOS
Friday, October 27, 2023, at 8:00 p.m.
BEETHOVEN: Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 19
BEETHOVEN: Concerto No. 4 in G major for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 58
BEETHOVEN: Concerto No. 3 in C minor for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 37
Sunday, October 29, 2023, at 2:30 p.m.
BEETHOVEN: Concerto No. 1 in C major for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 15
BEETHOVEN: Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 73, "Emperor"
Rudolf Buchbinder, conductor and piano

BNY Mellon Grand Classics 4: RAVEL’S LA VALSE
Friday, November 3, 2023, at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 4, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 5, 2023, at 2:30 p.m.
James Gaffigan, conductor
Bomsori, violin (debut)
MOZART: Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551, "Jupiter"
TCHAIKOVSKY: Concerto in D major for Violin and Orchestra, Opus 35
RAVEL: La Valse

Pops Special: THE GLORIOUS SUCCESSION OF FRZY
Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.
Frzy
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Moon Doh, conductor

PNC Pops 2: CIRQUE CARNIVAL
Friday, November 10, 2023, at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 11, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 12, 2023, at 2:30 PM
Byron Stripling, conductor
Troupe Vertigo

Films with Live Orchestra: TIM BURTON’S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Friday, November 17, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.
Jacob Joyce, conductor

Change in repertoire: Gloria Isabel Ramos Triano’s “Joy,” and Franz von Suppé’s “Overture to Light Cavalry” have been added to this program. Sarah Gibson’s “to make this mountain taller” has been moved to October 10, 2023.
BNY Mellon Grand Classics 5: THANKSGIVING WITH THE SYMPHONY
Friday, November 24, 2023, at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 26, 2023, at 2:30 p.m.
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Randall Goosby, violin (debut)
GLORIA ISABEL RAMOS TRIANO: Joy – PITTSBURGH PREMIERE
ERICH KORNGOLD: Concerto in D major for Violin and Orchestra, Opus 35
VON SUPPÉ: Overture to Light Cavalry
A selection of Strauss family waltzes and polkas.

Change in repertoire – Boris Pigovat’s “Yizkor,” previously announced for October 6, 2023, has been moved to this program. The Beethoven “Leonore” Overture has been added to this program.
VIOLINS OF HOPE
Saturday, November 25, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Joshua Bell, violin
BORIS PIGOVAT: Yizkor – WORLD PREMIERE & COMMISSION
MENDELSSOHN: Violin Concerto in E minor
ERNEST BLOCH: “Nigun” from Baal Shem
BEETHOVEN: Leonore Overture No. 3, Opus 72A

Addition of soloist: Andrew Foster-Williams, bass-baritone, has been added to this program.
BNY Mellon Grand Classics 6: BRAHMS’ REQUIEM
Friday, December 1, 2023, at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 3, 2023, at 2:30 p.m.
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Behzod Abduraimov, piano
Elena Villalón, soprano (debut)
Andrew Foster-Williams, bass-baritone (debut)
Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh
ĒRIKS EŠENVALDS: Lux Aeterna - PITTSBURGH PREMIERE
MOZART: Concerto No. 20 in D minor for Piano and Orchestra, K. 466
BRAHMS: Ein deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem), Opus 45

Addition of soloists: John Matthew Myers, tenor, and Andrew Foster-Williams, bass-baritone, have been added to this program.
HANDEL’S MESSIAH
Saturday, December 2, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Elena Villalón, soprano (debut)
Reginald Mobley, countertenor
John Matthew Myers, tenor (debut)
Andrew Foster-Williams, bass-baritone
Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh
HANDEL: Messiah

Change in soloist: previously announced soloist Jazmine Olwalia, mezzo-soprano, is not able to join the Pittsburgh Symphony for this concert. Yoshiani Nakano, dancer, and Nikki Porter, vocalist, have been added to this program.
Community Concert: The Courage to Stand
Heinz Hall
Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
Moon Doh, conductor
Yoshiaki Nakano, dancer
Nikki Porter, vocalist

Change in repertoire and addition of soloist: Prokofiev’s Concerto No. 2 in G minor for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 16, will be performed instead of Rachmaninoff’s Concerto No. 2 in C minor for Piano and Orchestra. Jennifer Johnson Cano, mezzo soprano, has been added to the program.
BNY Mellon Grand Classics 11: RACHMANINOFF’S SECOND PIANO CONCERTO
Friday, March 1, 2024, at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 3, 2024, at 2:30 p.m.
Pablo Heras-Casado, conductor
Yunchan Lim, piano (debut)
Jennifer Johnson Cano, mezzo soprano
RAVEL: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
PROKOFIEV: Concerto No. 2 in G minor for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 16
DE FALLA: The Three-Cornered Hat (complete ballet)

Concert addition:
Community Concert: SOUND FUSION
Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
Jacob Joyce, conductor
BERNSTEIN: Overture to Candide
RAVEL: Le Tombeau de Couperin; I. Prélude
MASON BATES: Philharmonia Fantastique: The Making of the Orchestra
STRAVINSKY: Suite from The Firebird (1919 revision); V. Finale

Associate Conductor Jacob Joyce leads the Pittsburgh premiere of Mason Bates’ multi-media concerto Philharmonia Fantastique, fusing the creative vision of one of America’s leading composers with the technological brilliance of Skywalker Ranch film and sound professionals. The result is an incredible journey across mediums and into the heart of the orchestra.

Concert addition:
Learning & Engagement: STUDENT SIDE-BY-SIDE
April 8, 2024, at 6:30 p.m.
Moon Doh, conductor

Change in repertoire: The Beethoven Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 73, “Emperor” will replace the Beethoven Concerto No. 4 in G major for Piano and Orchestra.
BNY Mellon Grand Classics 20: FIFTEEN & FIREBIRD
Friday, June 14, 2024, at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 15, 2024, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 16, 2024, at 2:30 p.m.
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Yefim Bronfman, piano
MICHAEL DAUGHERTY: Fifteen: Symphonic Fantasy on the Art of Andy Warhol
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN: Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 73, “Emperor”
IGOR STRAVINSKY: Suite from The Firebird (1919 revision)

With Deep Gratitude to our Sponsors:

  • BNY Mellon Grand Classics concerts are made possible by title sponsorship support from BNY Mellon. The 2023-2024 season marks BNY Mellon’s 23rd consecutive year as title sponsor of the series.
  • PNC Pops concerts are made possible by title sponsorship support from PNC. The 2023-2024 season marks PNC’s 23rd consecutive year as title sponsor of the series.
  • Highmark Holiday Pops concerts are made possible by title sponsorship support from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. The 2023-2024 season will mark the 16th year for Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield as title sponsor of Holiday Pops.
  • The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is grateful for overall support from local and state government entities: Allegheny Regional Asset District, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community and Economic Development, and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.
  • The Sarah Gibson commission is made possible by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program.
  • PSO360 is supported in part by Presenting Sponsor Dentons Cohen & Grigsby
  • PSO Disrupt is supported in part by the Emma Clyde Hodge Memorial Fund.
  • Pittsburgh Symphony Learning & Engagement programs are supported in part by The Jack Buncher Foundation.
  • Fiddlesticks Family Concerts are endowed by Gerald and Audrey McGinnis, honoring the Center for Young Musicians.
  • “The Glorious Succession of Frzy” is made possible in part by Randi Dauler.
  • BNY Mellon Grand Classics 5: Thanksgiving with the Symphony is supported in part by Presenting Sponsor UPMC Health Plan.
  • Schooltime and Student Side-By-Side is supported in party by PSO Educational Improvement Supporters: Diehl Automotive Group, Dollar Bank, Baird, Williams Coulson Johnson Lloyd Parker & Tedesco LLC, PPG Foundation, P.J. Dick, Trumbull & Lindy Paving, and NexTier Bank.
  • Endowment funding for the performance of Handel’s Messiah is provided by the Howard & Nell E. Miller Foundation.
  • The commission of Philharmonia Fantastique by Mason Bates is made possible by generous support from the Emma Clyde Hodge Memorial Fund.
  • The “Courage to Stand” and “Sound Fusion” concerts are supported in part by S&T Bank.
  • Diehl Automotive Group is the official auto dealer of the Pittsburgh Symphony.
  • Fairmont Pittsburgh is the official hotel of the Pittsburgh Symphony.
  • Delta Airlines is the official airline of the Pittsburgh Symphony.
  • Radio station WQED-FM 89.3/WQEJ-FM 89.7 is the official voice of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

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