♦ PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
♦ WALKER: Lyric for Strings
♦ BRAHMS: Symphony No. 3
♦ DVOŘÁK: Cello Concerto
Heinz Hall
FEB 6 FRI 7:30 PM
FEB 8 SUN 2:30 PM
Notes: This showcase of three captivating, heartfelt masterpieces is highlighted by the PSO debut of acclaimed cellist Gautier Capuçon performing Dvořák’s much-loved Cello Concerto, a wistful, lyrical love letter to his Bohemian homeland. Brahms’ Third is the perfect symphony to experience if you love passionate romantic melodies that bring out the amazing color and depth of the full orchestra. George Walker’s Lyric is a deeply moving work from the first African-American composer to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music.
♦ SAMY MOUSSA: Adgilis Deda [PSO COMMISSION]
♦ BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 8
Heinz Hall
FEB 20 FRI 7:30 PM
FEB 21 SAT 7:30 PM
FEB 22 SUN 2:30 PM
Notes: Often called his “Apocalyptic” Symphony, Bruckner’s music possesses a thrilling, epic quality unlike any other. Filled with towering brass chorales, majestic melodies and moments of profound stillness, his monumental Eighth Symphony is nothing less than a “cathedral of sound.” You won’t want to miss Canadian composer Samy Moussa’s work – his music is cinematic and exciting.
♦ BACH CHOIR OF PITTSBURGH
♦ Never Silenced
Eastminster Presbyterian Church
250 N. Highland Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206
February 14 @ 7:30PM
February 15 @ 4:00PM
Notes: In Never Silenced, we explore the artistic kinship between Johann Sebastian Bach and Chaplin. Though separated by centuries and mediums, both were geniuses of emotional expression — and both were composers who shaped the rhythm and architecture of their art. The music at the heart of Never Silenced showcases the extraordinary emotional and dramatic range of Johann Sebastian Bach — works that speak with clarity, intensity, and deep humanity.
This concert features:
- Jesu, Meine Freude — one of Bach’s most profound motets, weaving comfort, struggle, and faith into an intricate musical tapestry
- Omnes Generationes from the Magnificat — radiant and rhythmically vibrant, bursting with energy and praise
- Selections from the St. John Passion — music of striking dramatic power, capturing tension, sorrow, and reflection
- Selections from the Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio) — joyful, luminous music celebrating hope and renewal
These works reveal Bach not only as a master craftsman, but as a powerful storyteller — using rhythm, contrast, and structure to shape emotion. Paired with the rhythmic timing and expressive influence of Charlie Chaplin’s silent film artistry, this music takes on fresh meaning and immediacy.
♦ PITTSBURGH OPERA
♦ Time to Act
♦ Bitz Opera Factory, Strip District
Saturday, February 28, 2026 * 7:00 PM
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 * 7:00 PM
Friday, March 6, 2026 * 7:00 PM
Sunday, March 8, 2026 * 2:00 PM
Notes: A group of high school students prepares for a production of Sophocles’ Antigone, joined by a new student, Alona, who comes with a formidable secret.
Pittsburgh Opera is proud to present this gripping world premiere. Time to Act demonstrates how the arts can uplift and unify victims of trauma, empowering them to act, while giving voice to the young citizens who have been most impacted by an ongoing cycle of devastating school violence.
Time to Act is composed by Laura Kaminsky, whose acclaimed opera As One has become the most-produced modern opera in America. Emmy Award nominee Crystal Manich, the librettist, is a Pittsburgh Opera mainstay whose works for stage, film, and circus have been seen across the United States, Europe, Argentina, and Australia.
Content warning: this opera contains a simulated safety drill, and discussions related to the topics of school shootings, school violence, and PTSD.
Time to Act is a Co-Commission by Pittsburgh Opera, Opera Montana and Boston Conservatory at Berklee, with additional funding by Opera Santa Barbara.
♦ PITTSBURGH CONCERT CHORALE
♦ Concert
Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church
MM/DD 0:00PM
Ingomar United Methodist Church
MM/DD 0:00PM
Notes:
♦ PITTSBURGH BALLET THEATRE
♦ America 250 with the PBT Orchestra
♦ Benedum Center
Friday, February 20, 2026 – 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 21, 2026 – 2:00 PM
Saturday, February 21, 2026 – 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 22, 2026 – 2:00 PM
Notes:
A Star-Spangled Salute!
Celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary with a vibrant mixed repertory program featuring four classical and contemporary works that honor the American spirit. The works include The Mighty Casey, Lisa de Ribere’s playful take on America’s favorite pastime; George Balanchine’s patriotic and jubilant Stars and Stripes Pas de deux; Company B, Paul Taylor’s bittersweet ode to America that represents the dualities of our nation’s post-Depression excitement and feelings of despair on the eve of WWll with music by The Andrews Sisters; and Ben Stevenson’s romantic Three Preludes about two dancers who fall in love, featuring Rachmaninoff’s beautiful score.
The Mighty Casey
– Choreography: Lisa de Ribere | Music: Michael Moricz, featuring selections from John Philip Sousa and Stephen Foster
Stars & Stripes Pas de deux
– Choreography: George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust | Music: John Philip Sousa
Three Preludes
– Choreography: Ben Stevenson | Music: Sergei Rachmaninoff
Company B
– Choreography: Paul Taylor | Music: The Andrews Sisters
♦ PITTSBURGH SPEAKERS SERIES
♦ Pippa Malmgren
♦ Heinz Hall
Wed February 25, 2026 at 8:00 pm
Notes: An economist, author, and economic advisor to President George W. Bush, Pippa Malmgren is known for her expertise in global financial markets and geopolitics. Credited with coining the term “shrinkflation,” she provides insights on emerging trends, technology, and risks shaping the global economy.
Malmgren is an economist who makes sense of the world economy by writing books, founding tech businesses, advising policymakers, and public speaking and teaching.
She served President George W. Bush in the White House as special assistant to the president and on The National Economic Council. After 9/11, she was also responsible for assessing terrorism risks to the economy and technology as a source of geopolitical competitiveness. Before joining the White House, she held leadership positions at Bankers Trust Asset Management and UBS.
Malmgren is the author of five books, including Geopolitics for Investors and The Leadership Lab. Her most recent bestseller, The Infinite Leader, won the International Press Award for the Best Book on Leadership. She serves as a judge on The Queen’s Enterprise Business Awards and was a member of the Board of Directors for The Department for International Trade in the UK from 2017-2019. She is a Senior Associate Fellow of the Royal United Services Institute, a defense and security think tank in London.
Malmgren holds a BA from Mount Vernon College and an MSc and PhD from the London School of Economics.