Wednesday, September 8, 2010

“A wealth of talent: Classical music”

“A wealth of talent: Classical music”

A wealth of talent: Classical music

Posted: 08 Sep 2010 09:19 PM PDT

It's hard to believe, but we are entering Manfred Honeck's third year as music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. But even as he increases the number of his concert weeks this season, to 10 out of the 21, he intriguingly will take a more background role in the autumn, letting a parade of top soloists do the impressing.

Headlining the fall's fare will be: pianists Yuja Wang (Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini"), Olga Kern (Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 1) and Yefim Bronfman (Bartok's Piano Concerto No. 3); violinists Leila Josefowicz (Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 1) and Sarah Chang (Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1); cellist Johannes Moser (Dvorak's Cello Concerto); and the PSO's own standout clarinetist Michael Rusinek (Joan Tower's Concerto for Clarinet). A pair of big works bookend the fall with Mr. Honeck: He opens the season with Beethoven's iconic Symphony No. 5 and ends with Verdi's dramatic "Requiem." If you need a lighter side, just pick an alternate week at Heinz Hall and see Marvin Hamlisch lead the PSO Pops.

The Pittsburgh Opera opens at the Benedum Center with Rossini's "The Barber of Seville" starring Brazilian mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack as Rosina and baritone Matthew Worth as Figaro, but the audience will have to get its guts ready to split with funny guys Kevin Glavin as Dr. Bartolo and Paolo Pecchioli as Basilio. "Lucia di Lammermoor" follows with singers Laura Claycomb, David Lomeli and Bruno Caproni,

The strength of the classical music scene of Pittsburgh lies just as much in its wealth of smaller ensembles, supported by foundations such as Heinz.

The list below is just a tantalizing peek at what these groups are up to, but be sure to consider the ancient artistry of Chatham Baroque, the potency and fun of the River City Brass (with a new name and a new leader James Gourlay), the world-class ensembles presented by the Pittsburgh Chamber Music Society, Renaissance & Baroque Society, etc.

Yes, it is a wealth, but what good is wealth if you don't use it? Here's hoping you do this fall.

-- Andrew Druckenbrod: adruckenbrod@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1750.

ALIA MUSICA East Liberty Presbyterian Church: Featuring music of Burkhardt Reiter (Sept. 10). 412-361-0194.

ALLEGHENY BRASS BAND Westminster Presbyterian Church, Upper St. Clair (Nov. 7); Masonic Village, Aleppo (Nov. 17); St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Moon (Nov. 21); Memorial Park Presbyterian Church, North Hills (Dec. 6). 412-486-1888.

BACH CHOIR OF PITTSBURGH Regent Square Theater: "The Phantom of the Opera," premiere soundtrack to the 1925 silent film classic (Oct. 31, Nov. 6-7). 412-394-3353.

BICENTENNIALS ON THE BLUFF PNC Recital Hall, Duquesne University School of Music. "Group Dynamics" (Sept. 19); "Fantasy" (Oct. 24); "Hidden Treasures" (Nov. 7). 412-396-6083.

BUTLER COUNTY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Butler Intermediate High School Auditorium. "Water" (Oct. 9); "Earth" (Nov. 6); "Visions of Sugar Plums" (Dec. 4). 724-283-1402.

CARNEGIE CARNEGIE Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, Carnegie. Mezzo-soprano Marianne Cornetti (Oct. 2); The Pittsburgh Savoyards perform Puccini's "Gianni Schicchi" and Gilbert & Sullivan's "Trial by Jury" (October 15-17 and 21-24); "The Nutcracker" (Dec. 3-5, 10-12); Duquesne University Opera Workshop (Dec. 8). www.carnegiecarnegie.org or 412-276-3456, ext. 6.

CHATHAM BAROQUE Various venues. "Mediterranean Odyssey" (Sept. 25-26); "Cantadas de Navidad: a Latin American Christmas" (Dec. 17-19). 412-394-3353 or 412-687-1788.

COMMUNITY BAND SOUTH Friendship Village, Upper St. Clair (Sept. 15); Bethel Park Community Center. Holiday Concert (Dec. 12). 412-833-6110.

EDGEWOOD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Jewish Community Center, Squirrel Hill: "An ESO Extravaganza" (Oct. 9); First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood: "Holiday Confections" (Dec. 4). ?412-473-8880.

GUITAR SOCIETY OF FINE ART Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Shadyside: Puerto Flamenco (Oct. 8); PNC Recital Hall, Duquesne University: Manuel Barrueco (Nov. 6); PCA: Grisha Goryachev (Dec. 4). 412-281-1910.

HEINZ CHAPEL CHOIR Heinz Memorial Chapel, Oakland. Fall Concert (Oct. 10); Holiday Concert (Dec. 4-5, 10, 12). 412-624-4125 or 412-394-3353.

HEINZ CHAPEL ARTISTS SERIES Heinz Memorial Chapel, Oakland. Organ recitals: Richard A. Konzen (Sept. 19); Jeffrey Abbott (Oct. 31); J.R. Daniels (Nov. 28); Bill Larson (Dec. 19). 412-624-4157.

HUELLAS LATINAS CONCERT SERIES Smithfield United Church of Christ, Downtown. "Zarzuela Anthology" (Sept. 18); Christopher Columbus' Second Voyage: Music of Puerto Rico (Nov. 21). 917-455-8069.

IONSOUND PROJECT Bellefield Hall Auditorium, Oakland: "Music of Joan Tower" (Nov. 14). 412-624-4125 or 412-394-3353.

MCKEESPORT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA McKeesport High School. ?Concerts: Oct. 31 and Dec. 19. 412-664-2854.

MICROSCOPIC OPERA Eastside Shopping Center, 5996 Penn Circle, East Liberty: "Monkey's Paw and Happy Garden of Life" (Sept. 10-12 and 17-19). microscopicopera@gmail.com.

MUSIC AT CALVARY Calvary Episcopal Church, Shadyside. Choral Evensong & Organ Recital (Sept. 26); Stile Antico (Oct. 9); Charpentier's "Messe des Morts" with Chatham Baroque and Calvary Choir (Nov. 5); organist Todd Wilson (Nov. 21); "Messiah" with Chatham Baroque and Calvary Choir (Dec. 10). 412-661-0120, ext. 20.

MUSIC AT RODEF SHALOM Rodef Shalom Congregation, Shadyside. Ken Karsh and Friends (Oct. 4); pianist Inna Faleks (Nov. 1); violinist Hahn-Bin (Dec. 6). 412-621-6566.

MUSIC IN A GREAT SPACE Shadyside Presbyterian Church. Guitarist Peter Fletcher (Sept. 19); IonSound (Oct. 10); mezzo-soprano Olga Perez (Jan. 30). 412-682-4300.

MUSIC ON THE EDGE Bellefield Hall Auditorium, Oakland. Cikada Ensemble (Oct. 23). 412-624-4125.

NORTH SUBURBAN SYMPHONIC BAND Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center, Ross. "Images -- Europe" (Oct. 24); "Images: Winter/Holiday" (Dec. 12). 412-366-1983.

OPERA THEATER William Penn Snyder mansion, North Side: Gluck's "Orfeo ed Euridice" (Nov. 5-7). 412-456-6666.

ORGAN ARTISTS SERIES Saint Paul Cathedral, Oakland: Renee Anne Louprette (Oct. 24); Calvary Episcopal Church, Shadyside: Todd Wilson (Nov. 21). 412-242-2787.

PITTSBURGH AREA THEATER ORGAN SOCIETY Keystone Oaks High School, Dormont. Recitals on the Wurlitzer pipe organ: Hector Olivera (Sept. 4); John Lauter (Oct. 2); Paul Roberts (Nov. 13). 724-446-9744 or 412-241-8108.

PITTSBURGH CAMERATA Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church, Sixth Presbyterian Church, Squirrel Hill, and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Highland Park. "Tales From the Otherworld" (Oct. 29-30); "Christmas With the Camerata" (Dec. 10-11, 18). 412-421-5884.

PITTSBURGH CIVIC ORCHESTRA Upper St. Clair High School. Beethoven's "Choral Fantasy" with the South Hills Chorale (Oct. 16); ?Holiday Concert with singer-songwriter Frank Capelli (Dec. 18). 412-279-4030.

PITTSBURGH CONCERT CHORALE Ingomar United Methodist Church, Franklin Park (Dec. 3, 5), and Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church (Dec. 4). "The Spirit of Christmas." 412-635-7654.

PITTSBURGH CONCERT SOCIETY Kresge Recital Hall, Carnegie Mellon University, Oakland: Major audition winner recitals: pianist Becky Billock and flutist Thomas J. Wible (Sept. 26); violinist Eunice Keem, flutist Catherine Gregory (Oct. 24); mezzo-soprano Raquel Winnica Young and violinist/violist Linda Fischer (Nov. 14). 412-279-2970.

PITTSBURGH CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY Carnegie Music Hall series (Oakland): Miro Quartet (Sept. 27); Pacifica Quartet (Nov. 29); Empire Brass with Elisabeth von Trapp (Dec. 13). Bellefield Hall series (Oakland): Manasse/Nakamatsu Duo (Nov. 8). 412-624-4129.

PITTSBURGH OPERA Benedum Center, Downtown:?"The Barber of Seville" (Oct. 9 with Diamond Horseshoe Ball, 12, 15 and 17); "Lucia di Lammermoor" (Nov. 13, 16, 19 and 21). Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters, Strip District: "Pittsburgh Opera Center Rising Stars Concert" (Sept. 25). Carnegie Music Hall, Oakland, "Auld Lang Syne, New Year's Eve with Pittsburgh Opera" (Dec. 31). 412-456-6666.

PITTSBURGH PHILHARMONIC Butler County Community College and North Hills Jr. High, Ross: "Secret Seconds" (Nov. 12-13); "Snowflakes & Sleighbells" (Dec. 10-11). 412-394-3353 and 724-284-8505.

PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Heinz Hall, Downtown. Opening gala with conductor Manfred Honeck and soprano Renee Fleming (Sept. 16); Mr. Honeck and Yuja Wang, piano (Sept. 24-26); Mr. Honeck and Yefim Bronfman, piano (Oct. 1-3); Leonard Slatkin, conductor, and Olga Kern, piano (Oct. 21-23); cellist Yo-Yo Ma in recital (Oct. 16); Ludovic Morlot, conductor; Sarah Chang, violin; and Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh (Oct. 29, 31); Susanna Malkki, conductor, and Leila Josefowicz, violin (Nov. 5-6); Mr. Slatkin and Michael Rusinek, clarinet (Nov. 19, 21); Mr. Honeck and Johannes Moser, cello (Nov. 26, 28); Mr. Honeck, soloists and Mendelssohn Choir, Verdi's "Requiem" (Dec. 3-5). 412-392-4900.

PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY POPS Heinz Hall. "The Fabulous '50s with Sha Na Na," Marvin Hamlisch, conductor (Oct. 7-10); "Rags to Ritzes: The Music of Irving Berlin," Jack Everly, conductor, vocalists Ashley Brown, Hugh Panaro, NaTasha Yvette Williams, James T. Lane and Tony DeSare (Nov. 11-14); Highmark Holiday Pops. Daniel Meyer, conductor, Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh (Dec. 16-19). 412-392-4900.

PSO FIDDLESTICKS FAMILY CONCERT Heinz Hall; Lawrence Loh, conductor, Katy Shackleton Williams, vocalist. "What Makes Music?" (Oct. 30). 412-392-4900.

RENAISSANCE & BAROQUE SOCIETY Bellefield Auditorium, Oakland: Newberry Consort and soprano Ellen Hargis perform music to 1912 silent film "The Loves of Queen Elizabeth." (Sept. 18); Calvary Episcopal Church, Shadyside: Stile Antico (Oct. 9); Synod Hall, Oakland: Plaine and Easie (Nov. 13) and Baltimore Consort (Dec. 11). 412-361-2048.

RENAISSANCE CITY CHOIRS Carnegie Music Hall, Oakland: "Joy," with the Edgewood Symphony? (Dec. 11). 412-394-3353.

RIVER CITY BRASS Various venues.?"Curtain Up!" (Sept. 9-19); "Spotlight Tonight!" Gala (Sept. 17); "Have Brass, Will Travel" (Oct. 1-14); "American Heroes" (Nov. 4-14); "Christmas Brasstacular" (Dec. 2-12). 1-800-292-7222.

SOUTH HILLS CHORALE Upper St. Clair High School: Concert with the Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra (Oct. 16). Westminster Presbyterian Church: "A Holiday Celebration" (Dec. 17-18). 412-220-4227.

STEINWAY SOCIETY CONCERT SERIES CAPA, Downtown. Pianists Joseph Kalichstein (Sept. 12); Peter Takacs (Oct. 17); Ann Kefferstan and the Sarasvati Trio (Nov. 21). 412-394-3353 or 412-391-2060.

TUESDAY MUSICAL CLUB St. Andrews Church: Chamber Works of the 19th and 20th Century (Sept. 14); Fund-raiser (Oct. 16); Jewish Composers of the 20th Century (Oct. 23); American Music Composers Forum (Nov. 9); String and Choral Ensemble Holiday Concert (Dec. 7). 412-682-0439.

WASHINGTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Trinity High School, Washington, Pa. Yugo Ikach, conductor. "Bedtime Stories" (Oct. 9); ?"Ho, Ho, Ho With the WSO"? (Dec. 4). 724-223-9796.

WESTMORELAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Palace Theatre, Greensburg. Opening Night (Oct. 30); Home for the Holidays (Dec. 18). 724-837-1850.

First published on September 9, 2010 at 12:00 am

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article: "Peace Envoy" Blair Gets an Easy Ride in the Independent.
Posted by at

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)