For immediate release
November 9, 2022
Contact: Julie Goetz, Director of Communications
Press photos here →
HOLIDAY SEASON IS MAGICAL WITH MUSIC AND THE
PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY AT HEINZ HALL
Family-Friendly Concerts for All Ages
Sensory-Friendly Holiday Pops Returns
Public Viewing Hours of 23-Foot Canaan Fir Christmas Tree, Menorah and
Decorations in Heinz Hall Grand Lobby
PITTSBURGH, PA—A dazzling holiday season of musical joy moves into Heinz Hall next week as the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra begins five weeks of concerts that will delight all ages: ElfÔ in Concert, Highmark Light Up NightÒ, Thanksgiving Tradition – Strauss Family Favorites, Mozart’s Great Mass, Handel’s Messiah, Highmark Holiday Pops, Holiday Brass Spectacular, Sensory Friendly Holiday Pops, Celtic Woman – A Christmas Symphony, and A Marie Osmond Christmas. Seasonal decorations at Heinz Hall, including a 23-foot Canaan Fir Christmas tree in the Grand Lobby, will also be open for viewing to concertgoers and the public, and Santa’s house and the KidsPlay Selfie Garden will take over the Heinz Hall Garden Plaza.
“We invite everyone to wrap themselves in a big cozy blanket of musical magic with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra this holiday season. It’s a joy to help spread the cheer of the season and to celebrate with lively and cherished music,” said Melia Tourangeau, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. “Whether someone comes to make a new memory or returns for a treasured tradition, music is at the heart of the spirit of the season. We are so grateful to be part of the excitement and joy that will make this holiday season one to remember.”
Tickets for Concerts,Subscriptions:
Tickets for most events are on sale 24 hours/day online at pittsburghsymphony.org. The Heinz Hall Box Office is open Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Saturday noon - 4 p.m., and Sunday (when there are concerts) noon – 4 p.m. Phone 412.392.4900, toll-free at 800.743-8560, or visit in person at 600 Penn Ave. in downtown Pittsburgh. Group, student and military discounts are available. Subscriptions for BNY Mellon Grand Classics and PNC Pops are also on sale online at pittsburghsymphony.org and through the Heinz Hall Box Office. Subscriber benefits include dedicated Patron Services Representatives, flexible ticket exchange, priority seating, exclusive pre-sale opportunities, reserved parking and savings.
With Deep Gratitude to our Sponsors:
- BNY Mellon Grand Classics concerts are made possible by title sponsorship support from BNY Mellon. The 2022-2023 season marks BNY Mellon’s 22nd consecutive year as title sponsor of the series.
- Highmark Holiday Pops concerts are made possible by title sponsorship support from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, now in its 15th year as title sponsor of the series.
- The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is grateful for overall support from local and state government entities: Allegheny Regional Asset District, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community and Economic Development, and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.
- Endowment funding for the performance of Handel’s Messiah is provided by the Howard & Nell E. Miller Foundation.
- The Sensory Friendly Holiday Pops concert is made possible by generous grants from FedEx Ground, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield & Allegheny Health Network, and The Edith L. Trees Charitable Trust.
- Fairmont Pittsburgh is the official hotel of the Pittsburgh Symphony.
- Delta Airlines is the official airline of the Pittsburgh Symphony.
- Radio station WQED-FM 89.3/WQEJ-FM 89.7 is the official voice of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
2022 HOLIDAY SEASON WITH THE PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
ALL CONCERTS TAKE PLACE AT HEINZ HALL
Special: ELFÔ IN CONCERT
Friday, November 18, 2022 7:00 p.m.
John Debney, conductor
Buddy was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised among Santa’s elves. This holiday season, Buddy travels to New York—with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra! Experience John Debney’s wonderful score as the full film plays on the big screen. Brought to you by CineConcerts. ELFÔ and all related characters and elements © & ™ New Line Productions, Inc. (s22)
Special: HIGHMARK LIGHT UP NIGHTÒ
Performances for Highmark Light Up NightÒ are free to the public.
Saturday, November 19, 2022
6:30 p.m., 7:15 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Jacob Joyce, conductor
Pittsburgh’s 61st annual Highmark Light Up NightÒ combines long-standing traditions with new holiday experiences, including three opportunities to hear performances of holiday classics by the Pittsburgh Symphony. Each performance will last about 30 minutes.
BNY Mellon Grand Classics 6: THANKSGIVING TRADITION – STRAUSS FAMILY FAVORITES
Friday, November 25, 2022, 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 27, 2022, 2:30 p.m.
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Noah Bendix-Balgley, violin
Anne Martindale Williams, cello
Members of Pittsburgh Youth Chorus, Shawn Funk, director
NOAH BENDIX-BALGLEY: FIDL-FANTAZYE: A Klezmer Concerto
ANTONIO VIVALDI: Concerto for Violin and Cello in B-flat major, R. 547 (Pittsburgh premiere)
Waltzes and polkas by JOHANN STRAUSS JR., JOSEF STRAUSS and RICHARD STRAUSS
Former PSO Concertmaster Noah Bendix-Balgley makes a grand return to the Steel City performing his own Klezmer Concerto, composed in Pittsburgh and inspired by his Jewish roots. Then, PSO principal cello Anne Martindale-Williams joins Bendix-Balgley in the delightful Vivaldi Concerto for Violin and Cello. The night culminates with traditional celebratory waltzes and polkas from Austria’s Strauss family – a country also home to Manfred Honeck.
BNY Mellon Grand Classics 7: MOZART’S GREAT MASS
Friday, December 2, 2022, 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 4, 2022, 2:30 p.m.
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Martin Helmchen, piano (PSO debut)
Ying Fang, soprano
Lauren Snouffer, soprano
Timothy Fallon, tenor
Alexander Birch Elliott, baritone
Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh
ROBERT SCHUMANN: Piano Concerto
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: Mass in C minor
With his Great Mass, Mozart unleashes orchestral power on a grand scale. Under the direction of Manfred Honeck, the Pittsburgh Symphony is joined by outstanding soloists Ying Fang, Lauren Snouffer, Timothy Fallon, and Alexander Birch Elliot, as well as the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, for Mozart’s monumental work, written to fulfill a promise to his future wife—from his “heart of hearts.” Also, enjoy the new Steinway concert piano in this next installment of “Follow the Piano,” with the PSO debut of the “spectacular” (Washington Post) Martin Helmchen who will perform Schumann’s Piano Concerto.
Special: HANDEL’S MESSIAH
Saturday, December 3, 2022, 8:00 p.m.
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Ying Fang, soprano
Reginald Mobley, countertenor (PSO debut)
Timothy Fallon, tenor
Alexander Birch Elliott, baritone
Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, an all-star cast of soloists (including Reginald Mobley, making his Pittsburgh Symphony debut) and the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh join together for the return of one of the most majestic musical events of the year.
HIGHMARK HOLIDAY POPS
Friday, December 9 – Sunday, December 18, 2022
Concert times vary according to date. Both matinees and evening concerts are available.
Daniel Meyer, conductor
Blaine Alden Krauss, vocalist
Christopher Sanders, special guest
Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Marjorie Grundvig, School Director
Deck the halls with boughs of holly—and all of your favorite holiday music! Bring the whole family to experience Pittsburgh's beloved holiday tradition with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, conductor Daniel Meyer, the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, Broadway star Blaine Alden Krauss, and Santa Claus, too!
Special: HOLIDAY BRASS SPECTACULAR
Tuesday, December 13, 2022, 8:00 p.m.
Members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra brass
The virtuosic brass section of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is renowned for its brilliance, refinement and incredible power. From traditional Baroque favorites to new arrangements of your most-loved holiday tunes, this evening is perfect for the whole family and sure to usher in a merry season!
Special: Celtic Woman – A Christmas Symphony
Wednesday, December 14, 2022, 8:00 p.m.
Lloyd Butler, conductor
Celtic Woman
Experience the magical sound of Celtic Woman this holiday season. From delicate traditional Irish carols to magnificent uplifting anthems, Celtic Woman has a wealth of seasonal music to gladden your heart. Hear stunning new arrangements of the classic “Silent Night” and the ancient Gaelic carol “Dia do Bheatha” from their holiday album, The Magic of Christmas. Listen for the jingle of bells as you glide through the snowy landscape of “Sleigh Ride” and get ready to sing along when it’s time to “Deck the Halls”! When Celtic Woman sings and plays for you, you have a performance you will never forget.
Learning & Community Engagement: SENSORY FRIENDLY CONCERT - HOLIDAY POPS
Saturday, December 17, 2022, 2:30pm
Pre-concert activities start at 1:15 p.m.
Daniel Meyer, conductor
Blaine Alden Krauss, vocalist
Christopher Sanders, special guest
Katy Williams, vocalist
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Marjorie Grundvig, School Director
Pittsburgh Youth Chorus; Shawn Funk, director
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra welcomes all to a sensory friendly performance of our traditional Holiday Pops concert! Get in the holiday spirit with the entire family, created especially for those with sensory sensitivities and those on the autism spectrum. All tickets for this performance are $15.
A Marie Osmond Symphonic Christmas
Tuesday, December 20, 2022, 7:30 p.m
Brent Havens, conductor
Marie Osmond, vocals
Entertainment icon Marie Osmond joins the Pittsburgh Symphony to spread the holiday spirit! The Marie Osmond Symphonic Christmas will enchant audiences with songs from her album Unexpected, which covers a multitude of styles, from opera to Broadway to timeless classics.
ADDITIONAL HEINZ HALL HOLIDAY SEASON EXPERIENCES
Heinz Hall Christmas Tree, Menorah and Decorations
Heinz Hall Grand Lobby
The Heinz Hall Christmas tree is available for public viewing during limited weekday lunchtime hours, as well as for concert ticketholders, before and after performances. The Heinz Hall 2022 Christmas tree is a 23-foot Canaan Fir grown at Fleming’s Landscaping and Christmas Trees, of Elderton, Pennsylvania. The tree will be cut and delivered by Eichenlaub Nursery of Butler, Pennsylvania, and will be decorated by Plantscape. For weekday hours, enter Heinz Hall through the Box Office doors, located at 600 Penn Avenue.
Public viewing is open to the public from 11a.m.–1:30p.m. during the following dates:
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November: Monday, November 28 and Wednesday, November 30
December: Mondays (5th, 12th and 19th), Tuesdays (6th and 13th), Wednesdays (7th, 14th and 21st), Thursdays (1st, 8th and15th), and Fridays (2nd, 9th and 16th).
Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership:
Santa’s House presented by BNY Mellon
Holiday KidsPlay Selfie Garden with Fred Rogers Productions
Heinz Hall Garden Plaza (outdoors)
These activities are free to the public.
Grand Opening: November 18, 2022, noon - 3 p.m. and 4 - 7 p.m.
Light Up Night Hours: Saturday, November 19, 2022, noon – 4 p.m.
Black Friday Hours: Friday, November 25, 2022, noon – 8 p.m.
Regular Season Hours:
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November 20 – December 23, 2022
Wednesdays – Fridays: noon – 3 p.m. and 4 – 7 p.m.
Saturdays: noon – 8 p.m.
Sundays: noon – 6 p.m.
The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership invites Pittsburgh to bring the kids and visit with Santa in person at his brand-new house in Heinz Hall’s beautiful outdoor Garden Plaza, presented by BNY Mellon. After one-on-one time with Santa, you will receive a printed photo of the visit for a suggested $10 donation to the Pittsburgh Community Food Bank to help our neighbors in need this holiday season.
The beautiful outdoor Heinz Hall Courtyard will also be transformed into a child’s television dreamland with colorful backdrops and life-sized standees of popular characters from Fred Rogers Productions’ beloved children’s shows and other PBS favorites, including Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, Donkey Hodie and Odd Squad. Welcome to the Holiday KidsPlay Selfie Garden! Families can capture fun photos and, at night, enjoy a stroll through the plaza that has been magically transformed with twinkling lights and rainbows of reflection.
DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD ©️ 2012 The Fred Rogers Company. All rights reserved. DONKEY HODIE ©️ 2021, The Fred Rogers Company. All rights reserved.
For more information: https://downtownpittsburghholidays.com