The leaves are turning, the air is crisp, and Pittsburgh’s classical music scene is ready to sweep you off your feet. This fall, get ready to trade the quiet of the season’s leaves for the powerful sounds of the city’s concert halls. We asked composer, conductor and concert producer Christian Kriegeskotte to lend us the inside scoop on the best classical concerts for the fall. Head out to see famous faces and hometown legends while listening to music from all ages right here in Pittsburgh.
Fall’s Best Classical Concerts in Pittsburgh
Joe Hisaishi conducts the Pittsburgh Symphony
September 13 & 14, Heinz Hall
Joe Hisaishi is perhaps best known to American ears for the sweeping, elegant music he has composed for the films of Hayao Miyazaki since the 1980s. Like most great composers, he has also conquered the concert hall and the recording studio as a composer of standalone works and solo albums. This September marks not only his debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony but the US premiere of his piece The End of the World. I’m eager to hear the contrast between Hisaishi’s beloved film scores and his more personal works with the man himself conducting the orchestra!
Brooklyn Rider
September 16, Carnegie Music Hall, Oakland
I for one am super excited for Brooklyn Rider to open Chamber Music Pittsburgh’s coming season as the series returns to Oakland’s Carnegie Music Hall. Renowned for their refreshing and accessible take on the string quartet idiom, in this coming program Brooklyn Rider will present new works by living composers alongside an arrangement of Bob Dylan’s The Times They Are A-Changin’ all bookended by landmark compositions of Beethoven and Haydn.
An Evening with David Byrne
September 16, Benedum Center
Pitting Byrne against Beethoven on the same night may leave many concertgoers in serious conflict. Needless to say, for fans of the Talking Heads and/or gigantic shoulder pads, the chance to hear Oscar, Grammy, Tony and Golden Globe winner David Byrne live may generate inescapable gravity (though there is no guarantee the shoulder pads will make an appearance). Tickets are premium priced, and while Byrne shows no signs of slowing after over 50 years of making music, this may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for some to see this master at work.
Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda, & Antonio Sánchez
October 4, Manchester Craftsmans Guild
Ever since my high school days in the 1990s Béla Fleck has always been a fun one to dig into. Recipient of a staggering 18 Grammy Awards, Fleck’s flex is as a master virtuoso of, that’s right, the banjo. Tickets may be scarce, but if you haven’t visited MCG Jazz’s intimate auditorium on the North Shore this would be a great reason to go. Fleck will be joined by harpist Edmar Castañeda and drummer Antonio Sánchez for what promises to be a fun and intriguing mix of sounds and musical cultures.
Isaac Mizrahi
October 6, Greer Cabaret Theater
I’ll be the first to admit that Isaac Mizrahi isn’t the first name that comes to mind when I think of cabaret and nightclub acts. Nonetheless, it’s not such a tremendous leap for an iconic fashion designer who has also appeared persistently on TV and in film as a presenter, competition judge and actor (often playing himself or someone like him). Billed to appear with a six-piece jazz band performing everything from Sondheim to Madonna I’m more than a little intrigued to check this one out!
Canadian Brass
October 18, Byham Theater
When I was a kid one of my favorite CDs was Toccata, Fugues and Other Diversions by the Canadian Brass. In particular, their rendering of J.S. Bach’s famous Toccata and Fugue in D Minor is a mainstay of beautiful arranging and remarkable playing, though perhaps no great feat for one of the world’s most popular and long-lived brass quintets (now in its 55th year). In addition to the group’s well-known virtuosity, what sets them apart is the sense of engagement and fun they bring to the stage in performance. If brass music is your thing and you haven’t heard Canadian Brass live, definitely check this one out!
Sphinx Virtuosi with Cellist Sterling Elliott
October 21, Carnegie Music Hall, Oakland
As the flagship ensemble of the Sphinx Organization, Sphinx Virtuosi is a critical ensemble for our time. A self-conducted chamber orchestra, this dynamic ensemble has performed with everyone from the New York Philharmonic and the Pittsburgh Symphony to Jay-Z and Beyoncé. Per the website, the program entitled, Visions of Peace “celebrates the resilience of the human spirit through works that meditate on conflicts of the past and present.” On the modern side and with a global perspective I’m very intrigued not only to hear greats such as Prokofiev and William Grant Still but the premieres of newly commissioned works by Jessie Montgomery and Quenton Blanche.
Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
October 25, Manchester Craftsmans Guild
I first heard John Clayton and Jeff Hamilton perform live as guest artists with Byron Stripling and The Columbus Jazz Orchestra in 2024. If you can’t make it to Béla Fleck and you’re a fan of the big-band oeuvre, this concert is a must, and the talent behind the group extends far beyond its niche. Clayton, for example, won a Grammy in 2007 for his collaboration with Queen Latifah, and Hamilton has worked with everyone from Ella Fitzgerald and Rosemary Clooney to Diana Krall. Both gentlemen are great storytellers and fantastic musicians.
The Complete Brandenburg Concertos
November 24, Carnegie Music Hall, Oakland
Bach? Say no more… when you have a chance to hear the complete Brandenburg Concertos performed in a single night, be sure you go! Organized of area musicians including members of the Pittsburgh Symphony, this is sure to be a spectacular event.
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas
December 11, Benedum Center
As a kid of the 80s who started collecting records in the 90s, Mannheim Steamroller was never far from the turntable. For me, it started with the group’s iconic Fresh Aire series of albums, which is a mainstay of any audiophile’s collection. Right around Christmastime, however, the stereo in my parents’ house would start pumping out the New Age sounds of George Winston and Mannheim Steamroller’s Christmas. Ever creative in the group’s blending of traditional carols and futuristic electronics and rock-band aesthetics, this should be a great way to vibe-out in the spirit of the holidays.
Story by Christian Kriegeskotte
Photo Courtesy of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
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