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Fall Arts Preview: Filling the concert halls
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Long live live music.
The past five years have seen an explosion in popularity of iPods and other MP3 players. The sheer amount of music of all styles and genres that's available in recordings boggles the mind. It's wonderful, but still nothing beats the live experience. And Pittsburgh has a staggering amount of live classical concerts to choose from again this autumn, especially considering the size of the town. Some highlights, and then the listings follow:
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra celebrates the 100th anniversary of Dimitri Shostakovich's birthday with a not-to-be-missed concert of the complicated and often oppressed Soviet composer (Oct. 6 and 8 Heinz Hall, Downtown). Conductor Vassily Sinaisky leads pianist Vladimir Feltsman in Piano Concerto No. 1, and then directs the PSO alone in Symphony No. 5. The gem will be the Suite from Shostakovich's ballet "The Bolt," a piece of near-agitprop about a disgruntled worker who attempts to sabotage a factory. The PSO has not forgotten former music director Mariss Jansons' brilliant insights into performing Shostakovich, so you know the orchestra will be ready to go.
Later in the season, a good bet on excellence is the return of violinist Joshua Bell playing the Brahms Violin Concerto.
The Pittsburgh Opera production to look forward to is Britten's "Billy Budd" in May, but the fall won't be overlooked with Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci" and Gounod's "Romeo and Juliet." Opera Theatre chimes in with "Carmen Jones."
There's a mini-percussion festival in Pittsburgh this fall with So Percussion, the Yale Percussion Group and Michael Lipsey all appearing. The Pittsburgh Chamber Music Society brings two outstanding ensembles with Pittsburgh roots, Miro Quartet (Joshua Gindele) and Orion Quartet (Todd and Daniel Phillips), and the Renaissance & Baroque Society brings back two stellar groups: Chris Norman Ensemble and Piffaro. Guitarists Sergio and Odair Assad lead off the Guitar Society of Fine Art's season, but later the focus is on Eliot Fisk, who will also perform with the Miro.
No speakers you can buy can beat the sound in a concert hall, so peruse the listings, take off the headphones and enjoy a live concert this fall.
ALLEGHENY BRASS BAND: Ingomar United Methodist Church, North Hills: Fall concert (Oct 28.). Christ Church at Grove Farm, Ohio Township: Holiday concert (Dec. 3). 412-486-1888.
SO PERCUSSION: Hazlett Theater, North Side. Percussion ensemble presented by The Andy Warhol Museum (Oct. 7). 412-237-8300.
BACH CHOIR OF PITTSBURGH: Trinity Cathedral, Downtown. "On Hallowed Ground" (Oct. 28-29). 412-394-3353.
BACH AND THE BAROQUE: Heinz Chapel, Oakland. "Music of Henry Dumont and J.S. Bach" (Nov. 12). 412-624-4125.
BRAHMS ON THE BLUFF: PNC Recital Hall, Uptown. "Sextet in the City" (Sept. 24); "Quintessentially in 'Cinq' " (Nov. 5). 412-396-4632.
BUTLER COUNTY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: Butler Intermediate High School Auditorium. "Blue" (Oct. 14); "Rainbow," a family concert (Nov. 11); "Red & White" (Dec. 2). 724-283-1402.
CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL CHORUS: First Baptist Church, Oakland. Christine Jordanoff, conductor. "Bless the Beasts and the Children" (Dec. 10). 412-281-4790.
CHATHAM BAROQUE: Various venues. "Sweet Desire: Unearthing 'Prothimia' " (Sept. 15-17); "Shining Stars & Sacred Treasures" with members of the National Gallery of Art Vocal Ensemble (Dec. 8-10). 412-394-3353.
CORO LATINOAMERICANO: University of Pittsburgh's Student Union, part of the Latin American Festival (Sept. 30); Frick Fine Arts Auditorium, Oakland, Christmas concert (Dec 9). 412-661-1211.
CUARTETO LATINOAMERICANO: CMU's Kresge Recital Hall and Alumni Concert Hall, Oakland. Concerts (Sept. 21, Nov. 9). 412-268-2383.
EDGEWOOD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: Rodef Shalom Congregation, Shadyside: fall concert (Oct. 7). First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood: holiday concert (Dec. 9). 412-473-8880.
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH: Shadyside Mozartfest conducted by Robert Page (Nov. 5). 412-621-8008, ext. 105.
MUSIC FOR EXHIBITIONS: Frick Art & Historical Center, Point Breeze. "The Joy of Autumn" (Nov. 7). 412-371-0600.
GUITAR SOCIETY OF FINE ART: Various venues. Sergio and Odair Assad (Oct. 14); Eliot Fisk (Oct. 28); Flamenco Fiesta (Dec. 2). 412-281-1910.
HEINZ CHAPEL CHOIR: Heinz Chapel, Oakland. Fall concert (Oct. 15); Christmas Concerts (Dec. 2-3, 8, 10). 412-624-4125.
HEINZ CHAPEL ORGAN SERIES: Heinz Chapel, Oakland. Robert Sutherland Lord (Sept. 24). 412-624-4157.
LYRA: St. Paul Cathedral, Oakland. Six-member Russian a cappella choir in concert (Sept. 24). 412-621-4951, ext. 15.
MCKEESPORT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: McKeesport High School. "Opening Night" (Oct. 21); "Home for the Holidays" (Dec. 2). 412-664-2854.
MUSIC AT CALVARY: Calvary Episcopal Church, Shadyside. Organist Ken Cowan (Nov. 19); Festival of Lessons and Carols with Chatham Baroque (Dec. 3). 412-661-0120, ext. 20.
MUSIC AT RODEF SHALOM: Rodef Shalom Congregation, Shadyside. Douglas Levine Trio (Oct. 16); Inna Faliks, piano (Dec. 11). 412-621-6566.
MUSIC IN A GREAT SPACE: Shadyside Presbyterian Church. Guenko Guechev, baritone, and Xiu-ru Liu, mezzo-soprano, vocal duo (Sept. 17); Rastrelli Cello Quartet (Oct. 29). 412-682-4300.
MUSIC ON THE EDGE: Bellefield Hall Auditorium, Oakland. Yale Percussion Group (Sept 19); percussionist Michael Lipsey (Nov. 18). 412-624-4125.
NORTH SUBURBAN SYMPHONIC BAND: Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center. Concerts (Oct. 22, Dec. 17). 412-366-1983.
OPERA THEATER: Byham Theater, Downtown, "Carmen Jones" (Nov. 17-18); Heinz Chapel, Oakland, "Amahl and the Night Visitors" (dates TBA in Dec.). 412-394-3353.
ORGAN ARTISTS SERIES OF PITTSBURGH: Heinz Chapel, Oakland, James Welch (Oct. 22); Calvary Episcopal Church, Shadyside, Ken Cowan (Nov. 19). 412-731-0266.
PITTSBURGH CAMERATA: Various venues. "Tidings of Christmas" (Dec. 2-3, 8-9). 412-421-5884.
PITTSBURGH CIVIC ORCHESTRA: Upper St. Clair High School. Concerts (Nov. 4, and Dec. 16). 412-279-4030.
PITTSBURGH CONCERT CHORALE: Ingomar United Methodist Church, Franklin Park, and Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church. "A Holiday Potpourri!" (Dec. 1-3). 412-635-7654.
PITTSBURGH CONCERT SOCIETY: Kresge Recital Hall, Carnegie Mellon University. Adam Liu, cello; Barbara O'Brien and Yeeha Chiu, flute and piano duo (Sept. 17). Jeong-Hyun Kim, flute; Rachel Smoliar, violin (Oct. 22); Menghua Lin, piano; Ryan Spacht, trumpet (Nov. 19). 412-279-2970.
PITTSBURGH CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY: Carnegie Music Hall, Oakland. Miro Quartet with Eliot Fisk, guitar (Oct. 30); Orion Quartet (Nov. 27). 412-624-4129.
PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST: Byham Theater, Downtown. The 5 Browns, pianists (Sept. 27); Anoushka Shankar, sitar (Oct. 25). 412-456-6666.
PITTSBURGH FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA: St. Andrew's Church, Highland Park. Melissa McBride, conductor. Concert (Nov. 6). 412-661-1245.
PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA (formerly Nuance): Jewish Community Center, Squirrel Hill. Andres Cardenes, conductor (Sept. 19). 412-392-4900.
PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: Heinz Hall, Downtown. "A Little Knight Music" opening gala with Sir James Galway (Sept. 15); Yan Pascal Tortelier; Leila Josefowicz, violin. (Sept. 29, Oct. 1); Vassily Sinaisky; Vladimir Feltsman, piano (Oct. 6, 8); Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos (Oct. 20-21); de Burgos; Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh. (Oct. 27-29); Marin Alsop; Barry Douglas, piano. (Nov. 9-11); Andrew Davis; Andres Cardenes, violin, Randolph Kelly, viola. (Nov. 24, 26); Davis; Joshua Bell, violin. (Dec. 1-3) Betsy Burleigh; various guests, Handel's "Messiah" with Mendelssohn Choir (Dec. 21-22). 412-392-4900.
PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY POPS: Heinz Hall. "Marvin's Fabulous '50s featuring The 21st Century Platters" (Oct. 12-15); Burt Bacharach (Nov. 16-19); Holiday Pops with the Mendelssohn Choir, Children's Festival Chorus and Kevin Glavin (Dec. 14-17). 412-392-4900.
PSO FIDDLESTICKS FAMILY CONCERT: Heinz Hall. "Melody Makers" (Oct. 28). 412-392-4900.
PITTSBURGH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY: Hicks Memorial Chapel Auditorium, East Liberty. Festival of Lessons and Carols with Pittsburgh Theological Seminary Choir (Dec. 12). 412-362-5610, ext. 2196.
PITTSBURGH OPERA: Benedum Center, Downtown. "Pagliacci" (Oct. 14, 17, 20 and 22); "Romeo and Juliet" (Nov. 11, 14, 17 and 19). 412-456-6666.
RENAISSANCE AND BAROQUE SOCIETY: Synod Hall, Oakland. Chris Norman Ensemble (Sept. 30); Artek (Oct. 21); Les Boreades de Montreal (Nov. 18); Piffaro (Dec. 2). 412-682-7262.
RENAISSANCE CITY CHOIRS: East Liberty Presbyterian Church. "A Joyous Family Holiday" (Dec. 9). 412-394-3353.
RIVER CITY BRASS BAND: Various venues. "We Got Rhythm" (Sept. 9--21); "Soulful Songs" (Oct. 6--19); "RCBB Birthday Bash" (Nov. 2--12); "Christmas Wrapped in Brass" (Nov. 30-Dec.12). 800-292-7222.
ST. VINCENT COLLEGE CONCERT SERIES: Science Center Amphitheatre, Latrobe. Wonny Song, piano (Oct. 7); Manhattan Piano Trio (Nov. 4); Rev. Cyprian Constantine (Dec. 2). 724-537-4565.
SISSEL: Byham Theater. Singer in concert (Oct. 8). 412-456-6666.
SOUTH HILLS CHORALE: Various venues. Concerts (Oct. 8, 14, Dec. 15-16). 412-347-0175.
SYMPHONY EAST: Newlonsburg Presbyterian Church, Murrysville. "Duelling Euphoniums" (Sept. 18); "Bam! Scott Bell and his oboe, cookin' with gusto!" (Oct. 16). 412-823-6040.
WASHINGTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: Washington, Pa., Trinity High School Auditorium. "Explore the Classics" (Oct. 14); "Through the Eyes of a Child" (Dec. 2). 724-223-9796.
WESTMORELAND CHORAL SOCIETY: First Presbyterian Church, Greensburg. "Celebrate Faith" (Oct. 22); "Celebrate Joy" (Dec. 1-2). 724-853-2763.
WESTMORELAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: The Palace Theatre, Greensburg. "Opening Night" (Oct. 14); "Autumnal Fantasies " (Nov. 11); "Home for the Holidays" (Dec. 16). 724-837-1850.
First Published September 14, 2006 12:00 am
