Pittsburgh's classical and jazz organizations are largely returning to a normal season beginning in September after more than a year of silence, most having decided to require proof of COVID vaccination or proof of a negative test.
For those still intent on catching the symphony, the opera, the brass band or the Steel City's myriad chamber ensembles live, below are 10 live music events not to be missed this fall.
Opening Weekend Celebration, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (Sept. 24-26, Heinz Hall)
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will herald the beginning of the classical season with its opening weekend celebration, when music director Manfred Honeck leads the orchestra in works by Glinka, Ravel and Tchaikovsky. The orchestra also welcomes superstar pianist Helene Grimaud to the stage of Heinz Hall for the Ravel Piano Concerto in G Major for a festive weekend of music-making; pittsburghsymphony.org
Chatham Baroque & Incantare (Sept. 25-26, Calvary Episcopal Church in Shadyside)
Pittsburgh's resident early music trio Chatham Baroque kicks off its return to live performances with a selection of Renaissance airs from the 16th and 17th centuries, joined by Incantare, an ensemble of violins and sackbuts. (A sackbut is an early form of a trombone.) The latter group aims to perform music not heard since it was written hundreds of years ago, introducing modern listeners to a time when music was a marriage of elegance and simplicity; chathambaroque.org
Swingin' at the Club, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (Oct. 1-3, Heinz Hall)
After a soft debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in July, principal pops conductor Byron Stripling will launch the symphony's pops series with a tribute to Harlem's famous clubs in a night of swing music, a la Duke Ellington's orchestra; pittsburghsymphony.org
Looking Forward, Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh (Oct. 2, Levy Hall at Rodef Shalom)
Chamber Orchestra Pittsburgh is still carving out its place in the city's musical landscape and will begin its season with a bold stroke: a newly commissioned concerto for flute with local performer and educator Zoe Sorrell. To round out the program, the orchestra will also perform Ravel's "Le Tambeau de Couperin" and Stravinsky's "Pulcinella Suite”; copgh.org
Sphinx Virtuosi, Chamber Music Pittsburgh (Oct. 11, Carnegie Music Hall)
The Sphinx Organization is dedicated to finding, cultivating and promoting musicians from underrepresented backgrounds. Sphinx Virtuosi is an 18-member touring ensemble of some of the top string players to attend the program, and in October they'll bring a program of American, Cuban and Argentinian music to the stage of Carnegie Music Hall; chambermusicpittsburgh.org
Grieg's Beloved Piano Concerto, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (Oct. 22-24, Heinz Hall)
Brahms wrote four symphonies, and orchestras around the world continue to perform each of them. None is as sunny as the Symphony No. 2 in D Major, however, with its breezy good humor and the geniality of its melodies. Regular guest conductor Pablo Heras-Casado returns to direct the program, which also includes composer Louise Farrenc's rarely heard Overture No. 1 and Grieg's Piano Concerto with another favorite returning artist, pianist Jan Lisieki; pittsburghsymphony.org
Augustin Hadelich and Orion Weiss, Chamber Music Pittsburgh (Nov. 1, Carnegie Music Hall)
Violinist Augustin Hadelich has appeared in Pittsburgh with the symphony multiple times to huge acclaim, and now he returns to perform a duo recital with inimitable pianist Orion Weiss on the Chamber Music Pittsburgh subscription series. Hadelich and Weiss are set to perform music by Ravel and Beethoven as well as by GRAMMY Award-winning American composer Stephen Hartke; chambermusicpittsburgh.org
40th Birthday Bash, River City Brass (Nov. 4-23, Linton Middle School, Carson Middle School, The Palace Theatre, Carnegie Music Hall, Oakland and Bethel Park High School)
The Steel City is home to one of America's oldest professional brass ensembles. Celebrate 40 years of music with River City Brass as the band explores its history with music by Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn and more. Artistic and general director James Gourlay will put Pittsburgh's own big band through its paces in a variety of dance tunes for this multiweek commemoration; rivercitybrass.org
The Magic Flute, Pittsburgh Opera (Nov. 6-14, Benedum Center)
Pittsburgh Opera returns to the Benedum Center with an opera about music's power to transcend fear and hatred: Mozart's "The Magic Flute." This familiar tale of a hero's quest for truth and enlightenment endeared some of opera's most colorful characters and arias for generations to come, including the dreaded Queen of the Night and the plucky bird catcher Papageno; pittsburghopera.org
Georgia on my Mind: Celebrating the music of Ray Charles, Manchester Craftsman's Guild (Nov. 6, Manchester Craftsman's Guild)
Manchester Craftsman's Guild regularly presents many of the top jazz ensembles performing today. For this special performance, Take 6, Nnenna Freelon and Tom Scott will combine forces to deliver a tribute to none other than Ray Charles, Georgia native and musical icon, in a one-night-only performance; mcgjazz.org
Jeremy Reynolds: jreynolds@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1634; twitter: @Reynolds_PG. Mr. Reynolds' work at the Post-Gazette is supported by a grant from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Getty Foundation and Rubin Institute.
First Published: September 16, 2021, 10:30 a.m.
Updated: September 16, 2021, 10:31 a.m.