October 2023 Concerts

Pittsburgh Area Concerts

♦ PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
♦ The Sounds of NOW: Opening Weekend
Heinz Hall
October 1, 2:30PM

Gabriela OrtizKauyumari [ PITTSBURGH PREMIERE ]
Schumann: Piano Concerto
Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2

Celebrate opening weekend with the sounds of NOW alongside Music Director Manfred Honeck and your Pittsburgh Symphony.

Long-time friend of the PSO, Hélène Grimaud, returns to interpret Schumann’s one and only Piano Concerto, written in a season pain as this pianist had to declare one of his fingers terminally lame. Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 culminates the evening, illustrating how he emerged from adversity and triumphed with another masterpiece.

Composer Gabriela Ortiz also ushers us into this new season with her shimmering piece, Kauyumari, embodying how music can “heal our wounds, binding us to what can only be expressed through sound.”

♦ Beethoven’s 7th
Heinz Hall
October 6, 8:00PM
October 8, 2:30PM

John Adams: Short Ride in a Fast Machine
Schumann: Violin Concerto [ PITTSBURGH PREMIERE ]
Beethoven: Symphony No. 7

New concertmaster, David McCarroll, debuts as soloist with the Pittsburgh Symphony led by Manfred Honeck in a concerto with eerie roots. Buried for almost 80 years, a message to uncover Schumann’s never-before-played Violin Concerto emerged via Ouija board.

“What Honeck provides is a capital-I Interpretation…” The evening ends with the Pittsburgh Symphony’s take on Beethoven 7, which The New York Times praises Pittsburgh with one of the best ever recordings of this joyful work.

♦ Buchbinder & The 5 Beethoven Piano Concertos
Heinz Hall
October 27, 8:00PM
Beethoven’s Piano Concertos Nos. 2, 4 & 3

October 29, 2:30PM
Beethoven’s Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 5 “Emperor”

The conductor takes on a new look at this performance as Rudolf Buchbinder performs a dual role as leader and pianist in this two-day, once-in-a-generation exploration of all five of Beethoven’s Piano Concertos. This performer takes on a rare and impressive feat as he wears many challenging hats over the course of one weekend.

One of the world’s most beloved composers may have had some dark motivations in composing these concerti, once articulating his “desire to embarrass those Viennese pianists, some of whom are my sworn enemies.” Experience the sounds of revenge in this unique concert program.

♦ PNC POPS
♦ Disney: The Sound of Magic
Heinz Hall
October 13, 14 & 15

Your favorite characters and soundtracks from the Walt Disney Animation Studios and Disney Parks come to life on the concert hall stage and big screen in a live-to-film concert like never before. Performed live by a symphony orchestra, this new concert takes you on a magic carpet ride through the most memorable song, score, and movie moments of the first 100 years of The Walt Disney Company, including Peter Pan, Moana, Aladdin, The Jungle Book, Frozen, The Lion King, Fantasia, Encanto, Disney Parks classics, and more.

♦ PITTSBURGH OPERA
♦ The Barber of Seville
Benedum Center
October 14, 8:00PM
October 17, 7:00PM
October 20, 6:30PM
October 22, 1:00PM

Close shaves and cutting comedy.

With scissors as sharp as his wits, the cunning barber Figaro is the go-to neighborhood trickster capable of solving any problem. When Count Almaviva finds himself smitten with the charming and clever Rosina, Almaviva knows exactly who to call to help him out. Through disguises and distractions, schemes and subterfuge, Figaro and Almaviva team up to outwit the dastardly Dr. Bartolo who would have Rosina—and her large fortune—for his own.

From its famous opening overture to its topsy-turvy conclusion, you’ll be cheering for “Figaro! Figaro! Figaro!” to win the day.

♦ PITTSBURGH CAMERATA
♦ Shadyside Presbyterian Church
October 1, 3:00PM

Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms & Tarik O’Regan’s Dorchester Canticles
Nuiko Wadden, harp
Edward Alan Moore, organ

♦ CITY THEATRE
♦ Somewhere Over the Border
1300 Bingham Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203

September 23 – October 15, 2023

A co-production with Pittsburgh CLO and People’s Light (Malvern, PA)

Inspired by the true story of the playwright’s mother’s journey from El Salvador to the US, Somewhere Over the Border brings audiences down a different yellow brick road in a new musical. Infused with Cumbia, Mexican Mariachi Boleros, American Rock, and Hip Hop, it’s an uplifting tale about the power of determination, family, and love.