For immediate release:
May 31, 2023
Contact: Julie Goetz, Director of Communications 
(412) 905-9058
jgoetz@pittsburghsymphony.org

 

PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ADDS MOVIES IN CONCERT AND PSO360 CONCERTS TO THE 2023-2024 SEASON

Five blockbuster movies with beloved scores will be performed live to film by the full orchestra

The immersive concert experience PSO360 returns with three new concerts including a special collaboration with Violins of Hope 


PITTSBURGH—The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra announces eight new concerts for the 2023-2024 season under two of its special concert series. “Movies with the PSO” will include “Superman in Concert,” Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert,” “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ in Concert,” and “The Princess Bride in Concert.”  The PSO360 concerts will feature violinist James Ehnes, pianist Benjamin Grosvenor, and a collaboration with the Violins of Hope project. Tickets are on sale now at the Heinz Hall Box Office for classical and Pops subscribers and will be on sale to the general public on Friday, June 2, 2023. All concerts take place at Heinz Hall. 

“Coming to Heinz Hall for ‘Movies with the PSO’ is perfect way to get swept up in the adventure, romance, wizardry and nostalgia of the big screen—all with the fantastic musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony playing beloved scores live to the film,” said Melia Tourangeau, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. “For anyone who has wanted to be up close with the musicians, the PSO360 series offers a unique and incredible experience of audience members surrounding the PSO and world-renowned guest artists right on stage.” 

Ticket information: Tickets are on sale now at the Heinz Hall Box Office for BNY Mellon Grand Classics and PNC Pops subscribers and will be on sale to the general public on Friday, June 2, 2023, at 10:00AM Eastern. Movies with the PSO: tickets for individual movies start at $35; a package of three or more movies unlocks a 15% discount. PSO360: Tickets are $75 each. The Heinz Hall Box office can be reached online at pittsburghsymphony.org; by phone at 412.392.4900; and in person at Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Ave. in downtown Pittsburgh. 

With deep gratitude, to our sponsors: 

  • The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is grateful for overall support provided by 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. 

  • Fairmont Pittsburgh is the official hotel of the Pittsburgh Symphony. 

  • Delta Air Lines is the official airline of the Pittsburgh Symphony. 

  • Diehl Automotive Group is the official auto dealer of the Pittsburgh Symphony. 

  • Radio station WQED-FM 89.3/WQEJ-FM 89.7 is the official voice of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. 


 
MOVIES WITH THE PSO

All concerts take place at Heinz Hall 

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

You’ll believe a man can fly as “Superman in Concert” arrives in concert halls around the world accompanied by the power of the full Pittsburgh Symphony orchestra performing John Williams’ triumphant original score, live to picture. 

Directed by Richard Donner, and showcasing a young Christopher Reeve in a breakout performance that would make him an international superstar, Superman relays the hero’s inspiring origins, from his narrow escape as an infant from the doomed planet Krypton, to his formative years on a farm in Smallville, Kansas, and finally to his arrival in Metropolis, where he leads dual lives as mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent and as the mythic Man of Steel.  Don’t miss this exciting chance to experience the film that started it all in a way you’ve never seen it before! 

SUPERMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics. © 2019 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. TM & Ó DC Comics. 2019 WBEI 

 

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

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will present Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” featuring a screening of Disney’s timeless holiday classic with Grammy®-winning composer Danny Elfman’s musical score performed live to the film. First released in 1993, Tim Burton's “The Nightmare Before Christmas” was directed by Henry Selick (“James and the Giant Peach”) and based on a story and characters by Tim Burton. The film follows the earnest-but-misguided adventures of Jack Skellington, Halloween Town's beloved Pumpkin King, as he attempts to take over the Christmas holiday. Against the advice of Sally, a lonely rag doll who has feelings for him, Jack enlists three mischievous trick-or-treaters – Lock, Shock, and Barrel – to help him kidnap Santa Claus. The film is rated “PG.”  

 

THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL IN CONCERT LIVE TO FILM 
Saturday, December 9, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. 
Moon Doh, conductor 

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will present Disney’s “The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert” featuring a screening of the complete film with the musical score performed live to the film. The Muppets perform the classic Charles Dickens holiday tale, with Kermit the Frog playing Bob Cratchit, the put-upon clerk of stingy Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine). Gonzo, as Dickens, narrates the story with the help of Rizzo the Rat. The film also features Miss Piggy as Emily Cratchit, Gonzo as the narrator Charles Dickens, Fozzie Bear as Fozziwig, and Robin the Frog as Tiny Tim.  Scrooge receives visits from spirits of three Christmases—past, present and future. They show him the error of his self-serving ways, but the miserable old man seems to be past any hope of redemption and happiness.  

The original score was composed by Miles Goodman (“Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” “Little Shop of Horrors”) with songs by Oscar®, Emmy® and Grammy®-winning songwriter Paul Williams (“Rainbow Connection,” “Evergreen”).  

 

HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE™ IN CONCERT 
Saturday, January 20, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. 
Sunday, January 21, 2024, at 2:30 p.m.
conductor to be announced 

The “Harry Potter” Film Concert Series returns to Heinz Hall with “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” in Concert, the fourth film in the “Harry Potter” series. In “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” Harry Potter is mysteriously entered into the Triwizard Tournament, a grueling contest among three wizarding schools in which he confronts a dragon, water demons and an enchanted maze only to find himself in Lord Voldemort’s grasp. All will change when Harry, Ron and Hermione leave childhood forever and face challenges beyond their imagining. 

Winning both the International Film Music Critics AWARD (IFMCA) and ASCAP Film and Television Music Award for the score, the rich tapestry of music composed by Patrick Doyle (“Brave,” “Hamlet,” “Sense and Sensibility”) brought fresh emotional gravitas with darker melodic undercurrents as Harry Potter, Ron, and Hermione face these new adventures. 

WIZARDING WORLD and all related trademarks, characters, names, and indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR. (s23)  

 

THE PRINCESS BRIDE IN CONCERT 
Saturday, March 9, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. 
Moon Doh, conductor

Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles: experience one of the most beloved films of all time as never before, with the power of the full Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performing the entire musical score live-to-picture. Now for the first time, composer Mark Knopfler’s unforgettable score has been specially arranged for symphony orchestra. Missing this cinematic concert experience would be inconceivable!  

Directed by Rob Reiner, “The Princess Bride” features an all-star cast including Robin Wright, Cary Elwes, Wallace Shawn, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, Christopher Guest, Fred Savage and André the Giant. The great Peter Falk narrates this romantic tale of the beautiful maiden, Buttercup, and her one true love, a young farm hand named Westley.  After he’s captured by a ruthless pirate and presumed dead, Buttercup’s unhappy marriage to the horrible Prince Humperdinck seems inevitable.  But before the wedding can take place, she’s kidnapped by three outlaws and it’s up to a mysterious Man in Black to come to her rescue. 

 

About Disney Concerts 
Disney Concerts is the concert production and licensing division of Disney Music Group, the music arm of The Walt Disney Company.  Disney Concerts produces concerts and tours, and licenses Disney music and visual content to symphony orchestras, choruses and presenters on a worldwide basis.  Disney Concerts' concert packages include a variety of formats, such as "live to picture" film concerts and themed instrumental and vocal compilation concerts and range from instrumental-only symphonic performances to multimedia productions featuring live vocalists and choir.  Current titles include the Star Wars Film Concert Series, Toy Story, Aladdin, Disney Princess - The Concert, Coco, The Lion King, Up, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Muppet Christmas Carol. 
 

About CineConcerts  
CineConcerts is one of the leading producers of live and digital music experiences performed with visual media, and continues to redefine entertainment. Founded by Producer/Conductor Justin Freer and Producer/Writer Brady Beaubien, CineConcerts will engage over 4.8 million people worldwide in concert presentations in over 3,000 performances in 48 countries through 2025, and recently launched CineConcerts +PLUS - a global digital network and app suite with hundreds of exclusive podcast episodes and produced content. CineConcerts continues to work with some of the most prestigious orchestras and venues in the world including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, London Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, and more. Recent and current live and digital concert experiences include Elf in Concert, The Pinball Concert (Digital), The Polar Express in Concert, Rudy in Concert, The Passion of the Christ in Concert, The Da Vinci Code in Concert, The Harry Potter Film Concert Series, Gladiator Live, The Godfather Live, It’s a Wonderful Life in Concert, DreamWorks Animation In Concert, Star Trek: The Ultimate Voyage 50th Anniversary Concert Tour, Breakfast at Tiffany’s in Concert, and A Christmas Dream Live
 

About Warner Bros. Discovery Global Themed Entertainment (WBDGTE) 
Warner Bros. Discovery Global Themed Entertainment (WBDGTE), part of Warner Bros. Discovery Global Brands and Experiences, is a worldwide leader in the creation, development, and licensing of location-based entertainment, live events, exhibits, and theme park experiences based on the biggest franchises, stories and characters from Warner Bros.’ film, television, animation, and games studios, HBO, Discovery, DC, Cartoon Network and more. WBDGTE is home to the groundbreaking locations of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal theme parks around the world, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, The WB Abu Dhabi, The FRIENDS Experience, The Game of Thrones Studio Tour and countless other experiences inspired by the Wizarding World, DC, Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, Game of Thrones, FRIENDS and more. With best-in-class partners, WBDGTE allows fans around the world to physically immerse themselves inside their favorite brands and franchises. 


2023-2024 PSO360 CONCERTS 
All concerts take place at Heinz Hall 

PSO360: VIOLINS OF HOPE 
Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at 7:30 p.m. 
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra musicians 

For more than 30 years, Israeli violin maker and luthier Amnon Weinstein, the son of a Holocaust survivor, has devoted his life to finding and restoring a collection of instruments played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust. A once-in-a-lifetime experience, members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will take center stage for an intimate evening of music in collaboration with the landmark Pittsburgh Violins of Hope community project. Across the performance, the treasured collection of instruments and their stories, previously silenced, will be given voice in a program inspired by resilience, perseverance and hope. 
 

PSO360: RADIANT BEAUTY WITH VIOLINIST JAMES EHNES 
Saturday, March 16, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. 
James Ehnes, violin 
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra musicians 

James Ehnes has established himself as one of the most sought-after violinists on the international stage. Gifted with a rare combination of stunning virtuosity, serene lyricism and an unfaltering musicality, Ehnes is a favorite collaborator of artists around the world including the musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, who will join him on stage for this special concert. 
 

PSO360: THE ART OF THE PIANO WITH BENJAMIN GROSVENOR 
Saturday, June 1, 2024 
Benjamin Grosvenor, piano 
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra musicians 

British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor, heralded as one of the most important pianists to emerge from the United Kingdom in decades, is internationally recognized for his sonorous lyricism and understated brilliance at the keyboard. Benjamin Grosvenor and musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony will join forces for a mesmerizing evening. 

 

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