The creative duo behind slowdanger, co-founding artistic directors taylor knight and anna thompson, aim “to bring audiences closer to their own bodies” through their multidisciplinary performances.
Under the leadership of choreographer Staycee Pearl and sound designer Herman “Soy Sos” Pearl, this dance company celebrates Black culture through “dynamic dance-centered performance and experiences.”
Texture Contemporary Ballet strives to inspire with its innovative ballet performances, combining classically-trained professionals with resident and guest dancers.
A Concord of Sound: That’s what symphony means in Greek, elegantly calling up the intimate and grand, melodic and percussive, bewitching and precise, collaboration between composer, musicians, and conductor that ignites a fine symphonic performance. Because Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Music Director Manfred Honeck knows when this fire will likely burn bright, we asked him to share with TABLE readers a list of PSO concerts he’s particularly looking forward to this year.
Garrop: “Forging Steel” (WORLD PREMIERE + COMMISSION) Gershwin: Piano Concerto in F major Richard Strauss (arr. Honeck/ Ille): Salome Suite for Orchestra (WORLD PREMIERE + COMMISSION) Ravel: Boléro (Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre)
Meant for our 125th anniversary season, this is a program that is three years in the making, and we can’t wait to present it! Susan Jaffe’s choreography for the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre dancers beautifully complements the classic, rhythmic tale of Ravel’s Boléro — and you will see the interweaving of dancers with the orchestra. We’re thrilled to welcome back the brilliant pianist Igor Levit who will play Gershwin’s jazzy Piano Concerto, a quintessential American piece. And with two world premieres that the PSO commissioned, you will be the first to see and hear two exciting new works.
After the restful month of August, we’ll come back together at Heinz Hall for Opening Weekend with exuberance and flair. We’ll open with Latin Grammy-nominated composer Gabriele Ortiz’s Kauyumari (“blue deer,” among the Huichol people of Mexico) and superstar pianist Hélène Grimaud performing Schumann’s Piano Concerto, a gorgeous piece from the Romantic period. Come see and decide for yourself if Schumann secretly encoded his wife’s name into this stunning work.
Beethoven’s Piano Concertos Nos. 2, 4 & 3 Beethoven Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 5 “Emperor”
I think it’s fair to say that this will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. In a Pittsburgh first, legendary pianist—and dear friend of the Pittsburgh Symphony—Rudolf Buchbinder both performs and conducts from the keyboard the five beloved Beethoven Concerti that have inspired pianists and audiences alike for more than 200 years. Buchbinder is celebrated worldwide for renditions with intellectual depth and musical freedom.
Korngold: Concerto in D major for Violin and Orchestra, Opus 35 Gibson: “to make this mountain taller” (PITTSBURGH PREMIERE) Strauss family waltzes and polkas
American violinist Randall Goosby, the youngest recipient ever to win the Sphinx Concerto Competition, will make his Pittsburgh debut performing Korngold’s cinematic concerto. This is an exciting artist whose Pittsburgh debut you’ll want to see. In addition to enjoying traditions like turkey and pie, I love Thanksgiving weekend for sharing the music of my home country, Austria—with favorite waltzes and polkas of the Strauss family.
I would be utterly remiss if I did not include a concert with our outstanding choral partner, the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, and that is Handel’s Messiah. We will be joined by exceptional international soloists for this beloved masterpiece that sets a beautiful tone for the holiday season.
Benefitting the Mattress Factory
One of the biggest see-and-be-seen events of the year, the Mattress Factory’s annual fundraising event lasts all weekend long. The festivities kick off with a themed party at the installation art museum, featuring live entertainment, food and beverages, and a stellar art auction. A free community day for their North Side neighbors follows, featuring music, hands-on immersive art experiences, and free museum admission for all ages.
Benefitting Kelly Strayhorn Theater
This East Liberty theater reimagined its summer fundraisers in 2022 with the addition of House Party, an event aiming to celebrate the organization’s mission to be a home for Black and queer people. The party was definitely the hottest place in town, with an evening of immersive performances, art installations, Instagrammable outfits, and an epic dance party.
Benefitting Riverlife
This fancy affair combines an environmental cause with a lavish party. Pittsburgh’s most well-known socialites can be found dining and dancing the night away next to spectacular river views.
Benefiting Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and Just Harvest
Soup lovers, rejoice! This yearly tradition is a down-to-earth and humble affair, featuring a simple meal of chef-made soups and bread, to serve as a reminder of our neighbors facing hunger with “empty bowls.” The best part? The soups are served in handcrafted bowls, which guests get to take home with them after the meal.
Benefitting the National Aviary
This summer favorite brings guests to North Side’s bird zoo, where partygoers can get up close and personal with the venue’s feathered wildlife, sample selections from some of the city’s finest restaurants, and enjoy live entertainment. Bid on the silent auction, then spend the evening dancing under the stars in the aviary’s plentiful outdoor space.
Benefitting Animal Friends
Party with notable Pittsburghers at this annual fundraiser for one of the city’s animal rescue organizations. The event includes food, cocktails, live entertainment, auctions, and more. But we know you’ll be most excited about getting the chance to mingle with their resident dogs, cats, and rabbits.
Benefitting the JCC Pittsburgh
Support the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh at this huge annual party in celebration of their community, featuring fun themes, food, dancing, entertainment, and larger-than-life productions.
Benefitting the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
The Pittsburgh Symphony Association supports and promotes the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and its musicians through fundraising, educational programs, and special events like this popular annual holiday home tour of “a glorious Shadyside mansion” adorned for the holiday. Both day and evening candlelight tours are available.
Carnegie Trees in the Architecture Hall of Carnegie Museum of Art. Photo by Women’s Committee, Carnegie Museum of Art.
Benefitting the Women’s Committee of the Carnegie Museum of Art
This annual installation of the Carnegie Museum of Art’s holiday trees, decorated with ornaments handmade by the Women’s Committee, is the official start of the holiday season for art lovers in the Steel City. According to the museum, over 75,000 museum guests visit the trees inside the Hall of Architecture every year.
2034 Murray Avenue
This Squirrel Hill plant-based bakery and sandwich shop makes all its vegan bread and pastries from scratch with organic flour and ingredients free of artificial preservatives, colors, and flavorings.
2549 Penn Avenue
A gluten-free diet doesn’t mean you have to miss out on delicious Italian dishes. DiAnoia’s Eatery allows you to substitute their gluten-free pasta for most pasta offerings.
424 E. Ohio Street
EYV, which stands for “eat your veggies,” is a vegetable-forward restaurant where meats and seafood play a supporting role. They note that all their offerings can be prepared vegetarian, and items that can be made vegan and gluten-free are clearly marked on the menu.
3138 Dobson Street
Vegan and gluten-free dominate the menu at Kaibur Coffee & Cafe. Find vegan donuts made in-house and breakfast sandwiches using vegan cheese and garlic butter, with the option to substitute gluten-free bread.
4606 Penn Avenue
This Bloomfield restaurant’s European-inspired menu is entirely vegan, with nut-free and gluten-free options available for many of their dishes.
Multiple Locations
Found in Pittsburgh restaurants, cafés and markets like The Speckled Egg, KLVN Coffee Lab, Georgie’s Corner Cafe, and more, Wild Rise is an exclusively gluten-free bakery with items ranging from breads to cupcakes, turnovers, and donuts.
The Clemente Museum celebrates former Pittsburgh Pirates champion Roberto Clemente, one of the greatest baseball players to ever live. Photo courtesy of the Clemente Museum.
The Clemente Museum celebrates former Pittsburgh Pirates champion Roberto Clemente, one of the greatest baseball players to ever live.
3339 Penn Avenue
There’s no doubt about it: Pittsburgh is a sports town. People from across the world travel to the city just for a chance to witness one of the city’s professional sports teams in action. Whether at a stadium or in one of the city’s many shot-and-beer sports bars, fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins are typically seen donning black-and-gold attire with a draft beer in hand. But those in the know head to the city’s Lawrenceville neighborhood, where two Pittsburgh institutions, both housed in an old firehouse built in 1897, bring a more elevated fan experience.
Engine House 25, housed in an old firehouse built in 1897, brings a more elevated fan experience. Photo courtesy of Engine House 25.
On the top floors of the building, the Clemente Museum celebrates former Pittsburgh Pirates champion Roberto Clemente, one of the greatest baseball players to ever live, with an exciting exhibit of baseball artifacts, including the cleats and home base from the 1971 World Series. And, in the cellar, Engine House 25 Wines delivers some of the city’s finest wines.
Both are the creation of Executive Director Duane Rieder, who renovated the historic landmark to showcase the world’s largest exhibition of memorabilia focusing on Clemente’s career, personal life, and humanitarian causes. MLB players are known to visit the museum throughout the season, and many donate items for the organization’s annual fundraiser auction.
Book a tour of the museum, then visit the tasting room. When the Pirates are in session, the Clemente Museum hosts open houses during every Saturday home game; and, a new monthly tasting series at Engine House 25 Wines on the third Thursday of each month features five wines, a charcuterie board, and an overview of the wine production facility.
Shoulder to shoulder in a room with dozens and hundreds of fellow Pittsburgh music lovers? Yes, please! TABLE staff suggests some red letter concert dates and music festivals where we can all be in it together.
Heinz Hall, May 28 Hometown favorite Billy Porter is pulling out all the stops for his first pop music tour. He says of the upcoming performances, “You’ll really get a glimpse into who I am even deeper with this music.”
Downtown, June 2-11
Some consider the Three Rivers Arts Festival the official start of Pittsburgh summer. Held annually at the beginning of June, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust provides residents with over a week of live music from local and national acts alongside an artist market, interactive activities for those of all ages, and more.
Three Rivers Arts Festival kicks off the summer season. Photo courtesy of Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.
Schenley Park, June 24
Every year, the last Saturday fills Oakland with music from both Pittsburgh artists and national touring acts. The free, day-long festival serves as a celebration of music from genres across the musical spectrum. WYEP makes it a point to see that the lineup is as diverse as the community to which it broadcasts.
Thunderbird Cafe & Music Hall, July 1 Inspired by Bob Dylan, Grammy Award-nominated Kenyan singer-songwriter Ondara slices into the soul with his chilling vocals.
North Side, July 14-16
Previously titled the Deutschtown Music Festival, this free music festival boasts a lineup of exclusively local acts performing in the North Side community’s indoor and outdoor venues.
Pittsburgh Shrine Center, July 29-30
Two stages, two days of body-shaking entertainment, and a phenomenal lineup of national and local acts alike. Can it get much better than that? Yes, actually — proceeds benefit the Autism Society of Pittsburgh and Band Together Pittsburgh.
Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall, July 29 Travel back in time and experience the glory days of Motown. This tribute show features hits from The Temptations, The Jackson Five, Aretha Franklin, and more.
The Palace Theatre, August 23 It’s been two decades years since the Grammy and Brit award-winning Joss Stone released her smash debut album, The Soul Sessions, at the young age of 16. She celebrates with her 20 Years of Soul anniversary tour.
Highmark Stadium, September 14-17
Now in its 13th year, the goal of the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival is to celebrate the City of Bridge’s rich jazz lineage by bringing together jazz lovers and musicians from around to world. Along with renowned artists in the genre, the festival features new artists to watch and over 140 local musicians.
Benedum Center, September 12 Comprised of Jon Schmidt, Steven Sharp Nelson, Paul Anderson, and Al van der Beek, The Piano Guys blend multiple styles and genres for a twist on classical music that has garnered fans from around the world.
Highmark Stadium, November 3-4
Presented each year by the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, this festival showcasing the blues, rock, reggae, and soul genres is ground zero for a celebration of diversity and music.
Steve Dawson, the man behind Fat Butcher, steps out from behind the counter of his Lawrenceville butcher shop to recommend his favorite meaty treats.
At the Fat Butcher, we love when chefs can make something out of the less popular cuts. While we all appreciate a ribeye here at the shop, preparing beef tongue, lamb neck, pork belly, or, better yet, making bacon out of lamb belly is so much more fun and satisfying. It is great that customers are embracing whole-animal butchering and supporting local farms: local tastes better. If you’re getting meaty at home, modern equipment like sous vides and pellet smokers make it less scary to pick up a giant pork tomahawk or a whole picanha roast to cook for a BBQ.
With the right tools, YouTube, and a five-minute conversation with your local butcher, you can create some really excellent dishes at home these days. We are here for it all.
4744 Liberty Avenue
More than a few of us at the Fat Butcher have worked with Curtis Gamble at Station because he is an amazing chef. He’s super innovative when it comes to preparations and techniques. We love the Pork Shank Tagliatelle (especially since he’s using our pork bones to fortify everything) and his Footprint Farm chicken dish whose secret bird-butchery wizardry I cannot divulge. This chicken dish has black garlic sausage (think mortadella) romanesco, sourdough, and pickled fig panzanella, bread sauce, and chicken demi. So hot right now.
3519 Butler Street
Morcilla, Justin and Hilary Prescott Severino’s Spanish cuisine restaurant in Lawrenceville, has a really nice Half-Roasted Duck on the menu in autumn. Also, you can’t go wrong with their Braised Elysian Fields Lamb Shank. We are a huge fan of their seasonal menus.
Moon Doh, assistant conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, shares with TABLE readers some cultural treasures he’s looking forward to experiencing this year.
Pittsburgh Glass Center, through July 30 If Netflix is your thing, this exhibition at the Pittsburgh Glass Center is a must! Even if you haven’t seen the show, this exhibition will be a defining moment of your summer.
Pittsburgh Public Theater, September 19-October 8 Twice, I attended the production of A Raisin in the Sun at the O’Reilly Theater. Both times, I left with goosebumps, full of emotions. The stellar cast, magical costumes, wonderful storytelling, the highest-caliber directing. Pittsburgh Public Theater’s 2023-2024 “Ever up and onward” season is bound to move you, too. It’s always exciting to be the first to see a new production, so the world premiere of Billy Strayhorn: Something to Live For is on my list for the fall.
MCG Jazz, November 11 I had the chance to listen to the rehearsals and a concert paying homage to Antonio Carlos Jobim at MCG Jazz. The performers, in addition to the venue, space, and atmosphere, were spellbinding. I will certainly be returning to MCG Jazz and can only recommend their lineup!
Your Local Library
Anytime (of course, during hours of operation!) I had the pleasure of sharing Beethoven’s string quartets at four different public libraries as part of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s Beethoven in Your Neighborhood project last summer. I met many kindergarten classes at three other libraries accompanied by PSO musicians and author Brittany Thurman. And I will tell you: every library is a gem! Our local libraries are not only full of books and things to borrow (like CDs and music scores), but also have tons of activities and resources for all ages. Go check them out!
Christopher Hahn, general director of Pittsburgh Opera, is always listening for opportunities to hear excellent vocal performances. He shares with TABLE readers some highlights of his 2023 concert agenda.
I am already looking forward to a multitude of concerts and performances in the second half of 2023. My list includes some Pittsburgh Opera events, of course, as well as other concerts. While some of my favorite local organizations, such as Resonance Works and Chatham Baroque, have not publicly announced their upcoming seasons yet, here is my shortlist based on what’s already been announced.
She’s an icon, as the saying goes. Anyone whose ticket presale caused enough carnage to warrant a Congressional investigation is by definition a must-see.
Our first official concert of the 2023-24 season is a chance for the community to hear and meet our stellar resident artists. As always, it’s free and open to the public, and the audience gets to choose the final encore.
The perfect introduction to opera! Fun, light-hearted, full of physical comedy and enchanting melodies. You’ll recognize the music from Bugs Bunny and countless other appearances in pop culture.
I’m very much looking forward to hearing the talented soprano Elena Villalón perform with the PSO. She was a Grand Finals winner of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition.
No holiday season is complete without the mother of all choral pieces featuring the wonderful musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the stellar Mendelssohn Choir.
A moment captured during a 2018 CMU School of
Music performance of The Marriage of Figaro. Photo by Alisa Innocenti
Jonathan Bailey Holland, the Jack G. Buncher Head of the School of Music at Carnegie Mellon, has already made a list of Pittsburgh performances he’s looking forward to hearing. He shares his anticipation with TABLE readers.
This Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra concert features two of the master orchestrator Resphigi’s works, as well as a new, co-commissioned work by one of today’s most sought-after composers, Jessie Montgomery.
See and hear the Pittsburgh Ballet and the ballet orchestra perform works by Ravel, Gershwin, and a new arrangement of Strauss, created by the Pittsburgh Symphony music director, Manfred Honeck.
Lineup to be announced, but if last year’s lineup is any indication… (It included the likes of Chief Adjuah, formerly Christian Scott, Nate Smith + KINFOLK, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, and so many others.)
Mozart’s Der Schauspieldirektor and Menotti’s The Telephone WQED Studio A, October 11-14
Come and enjoy this double bill of comic Mozart combined with Gian Carlo Menotti’s opera that unknowingly spoofed our current obsession with the “telephone.”
Violins of Hope Posner Center at Carnegie Mellon University, October 7-November 21
This treasured collection of instruments were played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust, offering powerful stories of hope and perseverance.
