September 26, 27 & 28, 2008

Manfred Honeck, conductor
Joshua Bell, violin

Adams: Short Ride in a Fast Machine
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto
Mahler: Symphony No. 1, “Titan”

A star-studded season opener with new Music Director Manfred Honeck! Enjoy Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell. Adams’ Short Ride in a Fast Machine is a pounding thriller. Mahler’s moving Symphony No. 1 depicts the awakening of nature.

October 10 & 11, 2008

Andris Nelsons, conductor
Sarah Chang, violin

Adams: The Chairman Dances
Theofanidis: Violin Concerto (premiere)
Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2

Superstar violinist Sarah Chang gives the world premiere of Theofanidis’ soaring Violin Concerto. Adams’ The Chairman Dances is from his acclaimed opera Nixon in China. Rachmaninoff’s lush Symphony No. 2 brings the concert to a stirring finale.

October 17 & 19, 2008

Leonard Slatkin, conductor
Hila Plitmann, soprano
Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh

Adams: Slonimsky's Earbox
Bermel: “Pittsburgh 250” co-commission
Dvorák: Symphony No. 9, “ From the New World”

Celebrating Pittsburgh’s 250th Anniversary, the PSO co-commissions a work from Bermel, along with the Andy Warhol Museum and the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, to celebrate the city’s illustrious history. PSO Composer of the Year John Adams’ Slonimsky’s Earbox is influenced by Stravinsky’s driving rhythms. The popular “New World” Symphony was inspired by Dvorák’s visit to America.

October 24, 25, & 26, 2008

Marek Janowski, conductor
Arabella Steinbacher, violin

Bruch: Scottish Fantasy
Berlioz: King Lear Overture
Strauss: Macbeth

European star Arabella Steinbacher debuts with Bruch’s beautiful Scottish Fantasy, a four-movement concerto based on Scottish folk melodies originally composed for violin virtuoso Pablo de Sarasate. Two important works by Shakespeare are brought to musical life by Berlioz and Strauss.

October 31, November 1 & 2, 2008

Marek Janowski, conductor
Jonathan Biss, piano

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 22, K. 482
Strauss: Alpine Symphony

Piano sensation Jonathan Biss performs Mozart’s charming Piano Concerto in E-flat Major. Strauss’ Alpine Symphony depicts the experiences of the composer’s own hikes in the Bavarian Alps.

November 20, 21 & 23, 2008

Manfred Honeck, conductor
Garrick Ohlsson, piano

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4
Bruckner: Symphony No. 4

Famed pianist Garrick Ohlsson performs Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4, perhaps the most transcendent of the composer’s five piano concertos. The Symphony No. 4 is one of the most popular and moving of Bruckner’s nine monumental symphonies.

November 28 & 30, 2008

Manfred Honeck, conductor
Lars Vogt, piano

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 21, K. 467
Music of the Strauss Family

German pianist Lars Vogt performs Mozart’s Piano Concerto in C Major, and the concert features delightful and beloved waltzes, polkas and mazurkas by Johann Strauss, Jr., and his brothers.

December 5 & 6, 2008

Leonard Slatkin, conductor
Time for Three, string trio

Bernstein: West Side Story Symphonic Dances
Higdon: Concerto 4-3 (co-commission)
Copland: Symphony No. 3

Enjoy Bernstein’s famous orchestral version of his musical West Side Story. The highly energetic and dynamic string trio Time for Three bring their classically trained and blue grass inspired style to the PSO, in a piece co-commissioned with the Philadelphia Orchestra and Wheeling Symphony. Leonard Slatkin performs his signature piece, Copland’s Symphony No. 3, which includes the recognizable theme from the Fanfare for the Common Man.

January 23 & 25, 2008

Andrés Cárdenes, conductor
Gabriela Montero, piano

Barber: Symphony No. 1
Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 5, “Reformation”

Pianist Gabriela Montero joins conductor Andrés Cárdenes in Gershwin’s jazz-inspired and ever popular Rhapsody in Blue. Ms. Montero also performs a few of her own improvisations on the spot, a talent that has made her and her concerts uniquely famous. The concert ends with Mendelssohn’s moving “Reformation” Symphony.

January 30 & 31, 2009

Yan Pascal Tortelier, conductor
Orion Weiss, piano

Sibelius: The Swan of Tuonela
Grieg: Piano Concerto
Ravel: Trio (orch. Tortelier)
Dukas: The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Dukas’ famous The Sorcerer’s Apprentice tells the musical tale of an apprentice who enchants a broomstick to do his chores. However, he soon loses control of his magical broomstick until the sorcerer returns home to save the day. The Swan of Tuonela is a rarely performed gem and Grieg’s only and very popular Piano Concerto flourishes under the expert hands of Orion Weiss.

February 6, 7 & 8, 2009

Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, conductor
Andrés Cárdenes, violin

Beethoven: Symphony No. 8
Lalo: Symphonie espagnole
Ravel: Bolero

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 is lively and joyful. PSO Concertmaster Andrés Cárdenes shines in Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole, a charming violin concerto full of Spanish flavor. Ravel’s mesmerizing Bolero brings you to your feet for a grand finale!

February 20, 21 & 22, 2009

Manfred Honeck, conductor
Mojca Erdmann, soprano
Christopher Pfund, tenor
Hugh Russell, baritone
Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh

Haydn: Sinfonia concertante
Orff: Carmina burana

The vivacious musical masterpiece Carmina burana, one of the most popular works for large chorus, orchestra and soloists, has become so well-loved and iconic that we hear it all around us. In contrast, Haydn’s Sinfonia concertante is lighthearted with its pleasant melody and features PSO musicians.

February 27 & 28, 2009

Manfred Honeck, conductor
Rudolf Buchbinder, piano

Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1
Dvorák: Symphony No. 8

Viennese pianist Rudolf Buchbinder performs Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1 – a dramatic and fiery yet romantic tour de force. Dvorák’s cheerful Symphony No. 8 draws its inspiration from Bohemian folk music.

March 5, 6 & 7, 2009

Charles Dutoit, conductor
Yuja Wang, piano

Debussy: Afternoon of a Faun
Debussy: La Mer
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 2
Stravinsky: Dumbarton Oaks

Legendary conductor Charles Dutoit brings a program of French and Russian music, featuring Debussy’s colorful “The Sea” and peaceful Afternoon of a Faun. At the young age of 20, pianist Yuja Wang has become an international sensation. She performs Prokofiev’s virtuosic Piano Concerto No. 2 with its heart-pounding finale.

March 13 & 15, 2009

John Adams, conductor
Leila Josefowicz, violin

Adams: Dharma at Big Sur
Sibelius: Symphony No. 6
Britten: Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes

Adams’ Dharma at Big Sur is partly inspired by Kerouac’s book Big Sur as well as Buddhist and Hindu meditative traditions. International star Leila Josefowicz performs as soloist on the rarely featured electric violin. Britten’s orchestral suite is based on his own opera Peter Grimes, inspired by George Crabbe’s poem The Borough.

March 27 & 29, 2009

Gianandrea Noseda, conductor
Nikolaj Znaider, violin

Webern: Passacaglia, Opus 1
Korngold: Violin Concerto
Schubert: Symphony in C Major, "Great"

Violinist Nikolaj Znaider performs the sumptuous Violin Concerto by Korngold, a Viennese master who later became renowned for classic film scores of the 1940’s. Italian conductor Gianandrea Noseda brings Schubert’s “Great” Symphony to Heinz Hall for a rousing finale.

April 3, 4 & 5, 2009

Gianandrea Noseda, conductor
Simon Trpceski, piano
Sergey Murzaev, baritone
Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh

Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Rachmaninoff: Spring Cantata
Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 1

The opening concert of a 3-week Rachmaninoff Festival features pianist Trpceski in the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, inspired by Caprice No. 24 composed by violin virtuoso Paganini. Rachmaninoff’s rare jewel Spring Cantata is performed for the first time by the PSO and his Symphony No. 1 pleases with its beautiful melodies.

April 17, 18 & 19, 2009

Leonard Slatkin, conductor
Denis Matsuev, piano

Rachmaninoff: Vocalise
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3

Closing the Rachmaninoff Festival, Leonard Slatkin presents Rachmaninoff’s elegant Vocalise and his last composition, Symphonic Dances. Russian pianist Denis Matsuev performs Rachmaninoff’s magnificent Piano Concerto No. 3, made even more famous recently by the movie Shine.

April 30, May 1 & 2, 2009

Manfred Honeck, conductor
Yefim Bronfman, piano

Strauss: Death and Transfiguration
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 24, K. 491
Beethoven: Symphony No. 7

Manfred Honeck and Grammy Award-winning pianist Yefim Bronfman collaborate in Mozart’s Piano Concerto in c minor. Strauss’ stimulating tone poem shares the story of a young man who is struck by a terrible illness and struggles with his feelings about death. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 brings the concert to a triumphant ending.

June 4, 5 & 6, 2009

Manfred Honeck, conductor
Frank Peter Zimmerman, violin

Beethoven: Egmont Overture
Mozart: Symphony No. 38, “Prague”
Beethoven: Violin Concerto

Beethoven’s powerful and expressive overture is based on the heroic life story of the Count of Egmont. Mozart dedicated his Symphony No. 38 as a gesture of appreciation to the people of Prague. Violin virtuoso Frank Peter Zimmerman performs Beethoven’s poignant and emotionally stirring Violin Concerto.

June 12 & 14, 2009

Manfred Honeck, conductor
Simona Saturová, soprano
Elizabeth DeShong, mezzo-soprano
Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh

Mahler: Symphony No. 2, “The Resurrection”

Manfred Honeck brings the 2008 • 2009 BNY Mellon Grand Classics Season to a close with Mahler’s sublime Symphony No. 2, known as “The Resurrection.” This monumental programmatic work, featuring full orchestra and chorus, proclaims the composer’s belief that there is life after death.