Season opening concert featuring pianist Alexander Toradze performing Tchaikovsky’s popular Piano Concerto No. 1 and Symphonie fantastique conducted by Principal Guest Conductor, Yan Pascal Tortelier

Yefim Bronfman performs Prokofiev’s powerful Piano Concerto No. 3

Superstar violinist Joshua Bell returns with Corigliano’s The Red Violin Concerto in a concert also featuring Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition

The graceful and lyrical Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 performed by Emanuel Ax

Gil Shaham and Mendelssohn’s virtuosic and melodic Violin Concerto

Horacio Gutiérrez rises to the challenge of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, the “Emperor” of piano concertos

September 28, 2007

Yan Pascal Tortelier, conductor
Alexander Toradze, piano

CORIGLIANO: Promenade Overture
TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto No. 1
BERLIOZ: Symphonie fantastique

Tchaikovsky’s romantic and show-stopping Piano Concerto No. 1 with Russian pianist Toradze and Berlioz’s sensual musical fantasy provide a grand beginning to the season.

October 19, 2007

Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, conductor
Nikolaj Znaider, violin
Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh
Betsy Burleigh, director

SIBELIUS: Violin Concerto
DEBUSSY: Three Nocturnes
RAVEL: Suite No. 2 from Daphnis et Chloë

Sibelius’ soulful and impassioned concerto is followed by the luxurious pastel tones of Debussy’s Three Nocturnes and Ravel’s lush Suite from Daphnis et Chloë.

November 2, 2007

Marek Janowski, conductor
Alisa Weilerstein, cello

BRAHMS: Hungarian Dances Nos. 21, 17, 19, 18 (orch. Dvorák)
HAYDN: Cello Concerto No. 2 in D major
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 4

Endowed Guest Conductor Marek Janowski leads Brahms’ crowning achievement, his Symphony No. 4. Alisa Weilerstein performs one of Haydn’s cello showpieces.

November 23, 2007

Gianandrea Noseda, conductor
Yefim Bronfman, piano

RESPIGHI: Burlesque
PROKOFIEV: Piano Concerto No. 3
STRAVINSKY: The Firebird (complete)

Yefim Bronfman plays Prokofiev’s rhythmically brilliant and driving concerto and the orchestra will shine in Stravinsky’s scintillating ballet score.

November 30, 2007

Gianandrea Noseda, conductor
Dawn Upshaw, soprano

MADERNA: Music of Gaiety
BERIO: Folk Songs
Mystery Piece
RESPIGHI: Feste romane

Soprano superstar Dawn Upshaw performs music from around the world in Berio’s Folk Songs. Don't miss the “mystery piece” and a Respighi festive finale!

January 11, 2008

Leonard Slatkin, conductor
Joshua Bell, violin

BARBER: Essay No. 2
CORIGLIANO: The Red Violin Concerto
MUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition (orch. Ravel)

Leonard Slatkin conducts violin superstar Joshua Bell in music by PSO Composer of the Year John Corigliano, made famous by the movie, The Red Violin. Mussorgsky’s well-loved Pictures brings a triumphant ending to the concert.

February 22, 2008

Marin Alsop, conductor
Dame Evelyn Glennie, percussion

TCHAIKOVSKY: Romeo and Juliet
CORIGLIANO: Percussion Concerto
(co-commission & world premiere)
PROKOFIEV: Romeo and Juliet

Baltimore Symphony Music Director Marin Alsop conducts with percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie performing the World Premiere of Corigliano’s concerto plus Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev’s beautiful musical portrayal of Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers.

March 7, 2008

André Previn, conductor
Gretchen Van Hoesen, harp

COPLAND: Appalachian Spring Suite
PREVIN: Harp Concerto
(PSO commission & world premiere)
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 4

Previn brings his own Harp Concerto written for the PSO’s Gretchen Van Hoesen, and the concert includes beloved music of Copland and Beethoven’s moving Symphony No. 4.

April 4 , 2008

Charles Dutoit, conductor
Emanuel Ax, piano

DEBUSSY: Jeux
CHOPIN: Piano Concerto No. 2
JANÁCEK: Sinfonietta

The PSO’s famous brass section is showcased in Sinfonietta and Emanuel Ax brings us one of the most beautiful and virtuosic piano concertos of all time.

April 11, 2008

Sir Andrew Davis, conductor
Gil Shaham, violin

KNUSSEN: Symphony
(co-commission & world premiere)
MENDELSSOHN: Violin Concerto
STRAUSS: Der Rosenkavalier Suite

Famed violinist Gil Shaham performs Mendelssohn’s lyrical concerto and Sir Andrew Davis leads your PSO in an audience favorite by Richard Strauss.

April 25, 2008

Andrés Cárdenes, conductor
Chee-Yun, violin

HINDEMITH: Concert Music for Strings and Brass
MOZART: Violin Concerto No. 3 “Strassburg”
SCHUMANN: Symphony No. 3, “Rhenish”

PSO Concertmaster Andrés Cárdenes takes the podium to lead music of Hindemith and Schumann. Violinist Chee-Yun plays Mozart’s stirring “Strassburg” concerto.

May 2, 2008

Yan Pascal Tortelier, conductor
Horacio Gutiérrez, piano

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Symphony No. 4
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor”

Horacio Gutiérrez performs the “Emperor” of piano concertos by Beethoven. Principal Guest Conductor Tortelier conducts Vaughan Williams’ passionate and turbulent symphony.

May 30, 2008

Pinchas Zukerman, conductor and violin
Benjamin Hochman, piano

MOZART: Overture to Così fan tutte
MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 17 in G major
MOZART: Serenade No. 7, “Haffner”

In an all-Mozart program Pinchas Zukerman conducts and performs four movements from the celebratory “Haffner” Serenade and Benjamin Hochman plays his exquisite Piano Concerto No. 17.

June 13, 2008

Sir Andrew Davis, conductor
Nicole Cabell, soprano
Lucas Meachem, baritone
Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh
Betsy Burleigh, director

BRAHMS: A German Requiem

Brahms’ choral masterpiece is a Requiem for all humanity. This magnificent work led by Sir Andrew Davis brings a stirring and emotional close to the season.