The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has announced its summer series, which includes two film screenings with live accompaniment as well as visits from cellist Yo-Yo Ma and singer-songwriter Ben Folds.
The BNY Mellon Grand Classics series continues into June with appearances by Mr. Ma performing Dvorak’s Cello Concerto in B minor, pianist Emmanuel Ax performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major (“Emperor”) and pianist Igor Levit in his Pittsburgh debut playing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major. PSO music director Manfred Honeck will lead these performances, which also feature works by Mozart, Wagner, Berlioz and a world premiere by Reza Vali.
New this summer: The PSO will perform two soundtracks live while the films are projected above the orchestra (the original soundtrack will be muted, all other dialogue and sound will be audible). The films are “Star Wars: A New Hope” (July 12-13) and “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” (July 26-27), both of which feature scores by John Williams.
Pops programming will feature Derek Smalls of the film “This Is Spinal Tap” in concert with the orchestra, as well as the pop rock band Hanson in a touring orchestral collaboration titled “String Theory.”
There will also be numerous community concerts in Wilkinsburg, Point State Park, Oakland, South Park and the North Side.
Ticket information and the complete schedule at pittsburghsymphony.org. Box office: 412-392-4900.
Summer with the Symphony
May 31: “An American Salute” Wilkinsburg Community Engagement Concert – Wilkinsburg High School Auditorium.
June 3: Free concert at Point State Park.
June 8-10: Manfred Honeck, conductor; Igor Levit, piano. Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4, Mozart’s Symphony No. 33, Reza Vali’s “Isfahan (Calligraphy No. 16),” Liszt’s “Les Preludes,” Wagner’s Prelude to Act I from “Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg.”
June 9: Manfred Honeck, conductor; Yo-Yo Ma, cello. Dvorak’s Cello Concerto in B minor.
June 15-17: Manfred Honeck, conductor; Emanuel Ax, piano, Paul Appleby, tenor; Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh Youth Chorus. Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, (“Emperor”), Berlioz’s “Te Deum.”
June 20: Ben Folds in concert with the PSO.
June 22-24: Jack Everly, conductor; singers Christina Bianco, Kristen Plumley, Christina DeCicco and N’Kenge. Broadway hits from “Wicked,” “Cabaret” and “Porgy and Bess.”
June 27: Derek Smalls in concert with the PSO.
June 29: Free concert at Soldier & Sailors Memorial Hall in Oakland
June 30-July 1: Free concerts at South Parks and Hartwood Acres
July 12-13: “Star Wars: A New Hope”
July 18: Francesco Lecce-Chong, conductor. Brahms’s Hungarian Dance No. 5 in G minor, Brahms’ Concerto in A minor for Violin, Cello and Orchestra, Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 in C minor.
July 20: Members of the PSO at Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, North Side.
July 26-27: “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.”
July 31: Performance in the Kaufmann Auditorium in the Hill House, Hill District.
Aug. 1: Andres Franco, conductor. Rossini’s Overture to “L’Italiana in Algeri,” Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons for Violin and Orchestra,” Stravinsky’s Suite from “Pulcinella.”
Aug. 2: Hanson in concert with the PSO.
Jeremy Reynolds: jreynolds@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1634; twitter: @Reynolds_PG. Mr. Reynolds' work is supported by a grant from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the Getty Foundation and the Rubin Institute.
First Published: March 29, 2018, 8:47 p.m.
