♦ PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
♦ Bernstein and Sibelius
Heinz Hall
March 15, 8:00PM
March 17, 2:30PM
Rautavaara: Cantus Arcticus, “Concerto for Birds and Orchestra”
Bernstein: Serenade (after Plato’s ‘Symposium’) for Violin and Orchestra
Sibelius: Symphony No. 5
The cool of the Arctic Circle meets the warmth of Ancient Greece in this colorful program led by the debut of Dalia Stasevska. This trailblazing conductor and unwavering activist will take the listener on a profound musical journey.
Hear the chirping of artic birds in Rautavaara’s concerto featuring recordings of nature’s vocalists alongside one of Sibelius’ best-known symphonies, showcasing his Scandanavian roots. Bernstein also takes the wisdom of Plato and translates his ancient dialogue into a conversation between violin and orchestra, featuring violinist James Ehnes.
♦ Hilary Hahn Plays Carmen Fantasy
Heinz Hall
March 22, 8:00PM
March 23, 7:30PM
March 24, 2:30PM
Experience the violinist that “sits atop the pantheon of stellar violinists” (NUVO), as Hilary Hahn brings the spice of Ginastera’s Violin Concerto and Sarsate’s Carmen Fantasy to life. Feel the melodies that emanate sultriness in this adaptation of Bizet’s famous opera.
Crack the code of Elgar’s Enigma Variations on the latter half of the program, where the composer playfully depicts the personality of his various friends throughout each movement along with a deeper puzzle that has yet to be solved.
♦ MENDELSSOHN CHOIR OF PITTSBURGH
♦ Coming Home
Westminster Presbyterian Church
March 9, 7:00PM
East Liberty Presbyterian Church
March 10, 3:00PM
Home. It’s a state of mind, a physical place, a yearning inside each of us to find a place we can call home. This musical journey will explore this shared human condition—from our physical home on earth to a spiritual home beyond the stars and everywhere in between. It’s about the places we seek safety and shelter, and the spaces we inhabit—earth, love, country, the world beyond, and the journey among those spaces.
♦ PITTSBURGH OPERA
♦ La Traviata
Benedum Theater
March 16, 8:00PM
March 19, 7:00PM
March 22, 7:30PM
March 24, 2:00PM
Hedonism, hypocrisy, and high society
A courtesan among the decadent elite, Violetta Valéry knows that she will die soon so she lives life to the fullest. Only the love of the doting Alfredo can sweep her away from these sensual delights. But while she is a trophy to be won amongst the balls and frivolities of Paris, she is nothing but a scandalous “fallen woman” to genteel society. Violetta and Alfredo’s love threatens to bring shame to his family and ruin his sister’s marriage prospects. In secret, Alfredo’s father presses Violetta to shun Alfredo and save the family’s reputation. Heartbroken and health failing, Violetta retreats to her old life of empty pleasures. As her illness worsens, will love slip away as well?
Verdi’s exquisite tragedy juxtaposes rousing numbers like the joyous Brindisi with heart-wrenching arias to create a shattering emotional portrait like no other.
♦ PITTSBURGH CONCERT CHORALE
♦ Faure Requiem – Bernstein Chichester Psalms
Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church
March 2, 7:30PM
Ingomar United Methodist Church
March 3, 4:00PM
The Classics concert encompasses great music, from masterworks with orchestra to small a cappella choral music gems. Recent performances include Orff’s Carmina burana, Haydn Mass in Time of War, and Brahms’ Requiem. This year’s concert will feature two great masterworks in the choral repertoire: Faure Requiem and Bernstein Chichester Psalms, both with instrumental accompaniment. The Faure Requiem in D Minor, Op. 48 was completed in 1900. Faure described his Requiem as a “lullaby of death.” It is characterized by a gentle approach to parts of the traditional Requiem mass text paired with beautiful lyrical melodies. The Chichester Psalms is a three-movement work. Each movement contains one complete Psalm plus excerpts from another paired Psalm. The composition juxtaposes vocal part writing most commonly associated with Church music with the Judaic liturgical tradition. The music reflects Bernstein’s joyful, rhythmic, energetic writing.
♦ CITY THEATRE
♦ Fat Ham
1800 Bingham Street
Pittsburgh, PA
March 2 – March 24, 2024
This uproariously funny, Pulitzer Prize-winning new play comes to City Theatre straight from Broadway! A modern revamp of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Fat Ham follows Juicy, a queer, pensive, young Black man finding his way in the world, when the ghost of his father demands Juicy avenge his murder. Set at the family cookout, this “hilarious yet profound tragedy smothered in comedy” (The New York Times) examines love, loss, and a particular set of daddy issues.