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The PSO keeps it real

Friday, May 17, 2002

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Pittsburgh Symphony and the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble are doing their best, but the classical music scene will again go into summer hibernation. Most of the concerts that are happening are in June, but there are also some good outdoor events in July.

	Hot Picks Pittsburgh Symphony Festivals The Pittsburgh Symphony has owned June for years. But this year, it's making a conscious attempt to offer serious music to complement its light classical and pops programming. Renowned violinist and former concertmaster of the Boston Symphony Joseph Silverstein will conduct the concerts of a Beethoven Festival. The Eroica Trio performs his Triple Concerto and Joseph Kalichstein his piano concertos Nos. 2 and 5, while the PSO performs symphonies Nos. 5 and 8 as well as violin romances (with Silverstein) and overtures. (Heinz Hall, June 5, 7-8). Then comes the East End Bach Festival. In various churches, the PSO invites violinist Jamie Laredo and Martin Haselbock to lead it in works primarily by J.S. Bach, but also by his son, C.P.E. Bach. The festival presents a wide variety of J.S. Bach's music, with PSO members providing the solos, excepting those of soprano Chen Reiss. Calvary Episcopal Church, Shadyside Presbyterian Church, Third Presbyterian Church (June 14-15, 21-22). Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble While most ensembles treat the summer as a light version of the regular season, PNME's offerings will be a refreshing change. Due to economic and scheduling difficulties, the group has left fall, winter and spring for a time when the lack of competing events will hopefully inspire Pittsburghers to come. Those who attend the concerts will hear repertory that's not only cutting-edge but written by living people for living people (as opposed to the three Bs). The brick and metal ambiance of the North Side's Hazlett Theater should be the perfect stage for this experiment in experimental music. North Side (July 6, 13, 20; Aug. 3, 10). -- Andrew Druckenbrod Post-Gazette Classical Music Critic

COMMUNITY BAND SOUTH: Dormont Historical Society (May 15); Upper St. Clair High School (June 3); Peters Creek Presbyterian (June 8); Wallace Presbyterian, Green Tree (June 23); South Hills Assembly (June 29); Cranmore Community Center (July 5); Bower Hill Apartments (July 14); Bethel Park Community Center (July 21); Peters Creek Historical Society, Venetia (July 22); Ligonier Concert Series (Aug. 11); Whitehall Community Day (Aug. 31). 412-833-6110.

EDGEWOOD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: Bach, Beethoven & Brunch. Mellon Park, Shadyside (July 14); Edgewood Koenig Field (Aug. 17). 724-444-6694.

MENDELSSOHN CHOIR OF PITTSBURGH: "High Flight" with astronaut John Glenn. Soldiers and Sailors Hall, Oakland (June 2). 412-823-4188.

MCKEESPORT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: "Love and Redemption." McKeesport High School (May 18). 412-672-1168.

MUSIC AT PENN ALPS: Concerts most Saturday evenings. Grantsville, Md. (June 1-Aug. 27). 301-895-5985.

NORTH PITTSBURGH PHILHARMONIC: "All Aboard: A Musical Train Ride," North Hills Junior High Auditorium (May 18); Ligonier in the gazebo (June 9); ACORD Park, Ben Avon (June 19); Sherwood Oaks, Wexford (June 20); Butler Community College (June 30); Beethoven, Bach & Brunch, Mellon Park, Shadyside (July 28); Crafton (Aug. 1). 412-486-1888.

NORTH SUBURBAN SYMPHONIC BAND: 10th Anniversary Celebration. Ross Elementary School (June 2). 412-366-1983.

PITTSBURGH OPERA: Summer recital series. Washington Park, Washington, Pa. (June 7); Unity Center, Bloomfield (June 11). Avonworth Community Park (June 12); South Park (June 14). 412-281-0912.

PITTSBURGH CONCERT CHORALE: "That French Touch." Orchard Hill Church, Wexford (May 17). 412-394-3353.

PITTSBURGH CONCERT SOCIETY: Alumni Concert with pianists Donna Amato and L. Mark Carver. Duquesne University PNC Bank Recital Hall, Uptown (June 2). 412-279-2970.

PITTSBURGH NEW MUSIC ENSEMBLE: The inaugural summer season. Hazlett Theater, North Side (July 6, 13, 20; Aug. 3, 10). 412-394-3353.

PITTSBURGH PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA: Jewish Community Center, Squirrel Hill (June 2). 412-521-8011.

PITTSBURGH POPS: "Marvin's Wild, Wild West" with Riders in the Sky, Marvin Hamlisch conducting. Heinz Hall, Downtown (May 16-19). 412-392-4900

PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY: At Upper St. Clair High School (May 31); Beethoven Festival, Heinz Hall (June 5, 7-8); Community Side-By-Side concert (June 12); "America's Tenors" Michael Amante and Danny Rodriguez, Heinz Hall (June 13); Tony Bennett, Mellon Jazz Festival, Heinz Hall (June 14); East End Bach Festival, various venues (June 14-15, 21-22); at Peters Township High School (June 16); Anne Murray (June 20); Martin Short at Heinz Hall (June 21); Classical Mystery Tour, Beatles tribute concert (June 22); Symphony on the Rocks, happy hour and concert, Heinz Hall (June 27); "Postcard from The New World," an in-depth look at Dvorak, Heinz Hall (June 29); "SuperOrchestraMan," concert for kids, Heinz Hall (June 30); Beach Boys, Heinz Hall (July 2); PSO at Point State Park (July 4); at South Park (July 6); at Hartwood (July 7); Three Dog Night, Heinz Hall (July 10); Johnny Mathis, Heinz Hall (July 12-13); PSO at Laurel Valley High School (July 14). 412-392-4900.

RENAISSANCE CITY CHOIRS: Men's Choir in "Oliver Button is a Sissy." Kelly-Strayhorn Theater, East Liberty (June 1). 412-362-9484.

RIVER CITY BRASS BAND: Casino Theatre, Vandergrift (June 8); Hartwood Acres (June 23); Westminster College, New Wilmington (July 3); Bloomsburg Bicentennial, Bloomsburg (July 4); Wildflower Music Festival, White Mills (July 6); Bach, Beethoven & Brunch, Mellon Park (July 21); Pine Richland Stadium, Pine Township (Aug. 17); Sewickley Heights Park, Sewickley (Aug. 25). 800-292-7222.

TIFFANY CONCERT SERIES: Renaissance City Winds. Calvary United Methodist Church, North Side (May 19). 412-323-1070.

WHEELING SYMPHONY: "Music Under the Stars." Oglebay Park, Wheeling (Sept. 1). 800-395-9241.

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