Pittsburgh Camerata showcases tales from the other world
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Like a ghoul lying in wait to spook would-be audience members, Halloween can be a treat-less affair for classical music groups when it lands on one of the weekend nights, as it has five times in the past decade. This year it falls on Sunday, but a few local groups, such as the Pittsburgh Camerata, have decided not to run scared.
"Scheduling a fall concert is always tricky, because Halloween is [often] right in the middle of the best dates," says Rebecca Rollett, music director. "I decided to embrace that fact rather than work around it."
Where and When: 8 p.m. Friday at Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church; 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Sixth Presbyterian Church, Squirrel Hill; 11 p.m. Saturday at Heinz Chapel, Oakland.
Tickets: $5-$15; 412-421-5884.
Appropriately, she's turned to the mythical land of the dead for the theme of the local chamber choir's upcoming concerts, "Tales from the Otherworld," and the great Halloween instrument, the pipe organ. Pittsburgh native Adam Brakel, who studied at Duquesne University and worked at St. Paul Cathedral and Homestead United Presbyterian Church, will perform on Bach's famous Toccata in D Minor, as well another work of equal haunting power that has not been heard much on the organ.
"I had the idea of beginning the concert with an organ rendition of [Modest Mussorgsky's] 'Night on Bald Mountain'," says Mrs. Rollett. "The only hitch is that apparently no one else has ever thought of this. Seems unlikely, but in an extensive Internet search I turned up [only] a 19th-century piano transcription." She used it to arrange a version for organ. "It took a lot longer than I expected, but it turned out really well. Adam is really excited to play it. I think it will be quite a showpiece for him." She played off Mr. Brakel's virtuosity in the arrangement. "Not too many other people can play it, I suspect. I had the luxury of sticking in all sorts of stuff that normal organists wouldn't want to attempt."
First Published October 28, 2010 12:00 am
