The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has announced eight new concerts for the 2023-2024 season under two of its special concert series. Movies with the PSOwill include Superman, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Muppet Christmas Carol, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and The Princess Bride.
The PSO360 concerts will feature violinist James Ehnes, pianist Benjamin Grosvenor, and a collaboration with the Violins of Hope project.
“Coming to Heinz Hall for ‘Movies with the PSO’ is the perfect way to get swept up in the adventure, romance, wizardry, and nostalgia of the big screen—all with the fantastic musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony playing beloved scores live to the film,” said Melia Tourangeau, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. “For anyone who has wanted to be up close with the musicians, the PSO360 series offers a unique and incredible experience of audience members surrounding the PSO and world-renowned guest artists right on stage.”
MOVIES WITH THE PSO
All concerts will take place at Heinz Hall.
SUPERMAN IN CONCERT
Saturday, October 21, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.
Jacob Joyce, conductor
You’ll believe a man can fly as Superman in Concert arrives in concert at Heinz Hall accompanied by the power of the full Pittsburgh Symphony orchestra performing John Williams’ triumphant original score live to picture.
Directed by Richard Donner and showcasing a young Christopher Reeve in a breakout performance that would make him an international superstar, Superman relays the hero’s inspiring origins, from his narrow escape as an infant from the doomed planet Krypton to his formative years on a farm in Smallville, Kansas, and finally to his arrival in Metropolis, where he leads dual lives as mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent and as the mythic Man of Steel. Don’t miss this exciting chance to experience the film that started it all in a way you’ve never seen before!
TIM BURTON’S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Friday, November 17, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.
Jacob Joyce, conductor
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will present Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, featuring a screening of Disney’s timeless holiday classic with Grammy®-winning composer Danny Elfman‘s musical score performed live to the film. First released in 1993, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas was directed by Henry Selick (James and the Giant Peach) and based on a story and characters by Tim Burton. The film follows the earnest-but-misguided adventures of Jack Skellington, Halloween Town’s beloved Pumpkin King, as he attempts to take over the Christmas holiday. Against the advice of Sally, a lonely rag doll who has feelings for him, Jack enlists three mischievous trick-or-treaters – Lock, Shock, and Barrel – to help him kidnap Santa Claus. The film is rated “PG.”
THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL IN CONCERT LIVE TO FILM
Saturday, December 9, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Moon Doh, conductor
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will present Disney’s The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert, featuring a screening of the complete film with the musical score performed live to the film. The Muppets perform the classic Charles Dickens holiday tale, with Kermit the Frog playing Bob Cratchit, the put-upon clerk of stingy Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine). Gonzo, as Dickens, narrates the story with the help of Rizzo the Rat. The film also features Miss Piggy as Emily Cratchit, Gonzo as the narrator Charles Dickens, Fozzie Bear as Fozziwig, and Robin the Frog as Tiny Tim. Scrooge receives visits from spirits of three Christmases—past, present, and future. They show him the error of his self-serving ways, but the miserable old man seems to be past any hope of redemption and happiness.
The original score was composed by Miles Goodman (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Little Shop of Horrors) with songs by Oscar®, Emmy®, and Grammy®-winning songwriter Paul Williams (“Rainbow Connection,” “Evergreen“).
HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE IN CONCERT
Saturday, January 20, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 21, 2024, at 2:30 p.m.
Conductor to be announced.
The “Harry Potter” Film Concert Series returns to Heinz Hall with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Concert, the fourth film in the “Harry Potter” series. In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter is mysteriously entered into the Triwizard Tournament, a grueling contest among three wizarding schools in which he confronts a dragon, water demons, and an enchanted maze only to find himself in Lord Voldemort’s grasp. All will change when Harry, Ron, and Hermione leave childhood forever and face challenges beyond their imagination.
Winning both the International Film Music Critics AWARD (IFMCA) and ASCAP Film and Television Music Award for the score, the rich tapestry of music composed by Patrick Doyle (Brave, Hamlet, Sense, and Sensibility) brought fresh, emotional gravitas with darker melodic undercurrents as Harry Potter, Ron, and Hermione face these new adventures.
THE PRINCESS BRIDE IN CONCERT
Saturday, March 9, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
Moon Doh, conductor
Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles: experience one of the most beloved films of all time as never before, with the power of the full Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performing the entire musical score live-to-picture. For the first time, composer Mark Knopfler‘s unforgettable score has been specially arranged for the symphony orchestra.
Directed by Rob Reiner, The Princess Bride features an all-star cast including Robin Wright, Cary Elwes, Wallace Shawn, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, Christopher Guest, Fred Savage, and André the Giant. The great Peter Falk narrates this romantic tale of the beautiful maiden, Buttercup, and her one true love, a young farmhand named Westley. After he’s captured by a ruthless pirate and presumed dead, Buttercup’s unhappy marriage to the horrible Prince Humperdinck seems inevitable. But before the wedding, she’s kidnapped by three outlaws, and it’s up to a mysterious Man in Black to come to her rescue.
2023-2024 PSO360 CONCERTS
All concerts will take place at Heinz Hall
PSO360: VIOLINS OF HOPE
Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra musicians
For more than 30 years, Israeli violin maker and luthier Amnon Weinstein, the son of a Holocaust survivor, has devoted his life to finding and restoring a collection of instruments played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust. A once-in-a-lifetime experience, members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will take center stage for an intimate evening of music in collaboration with the landmark Pittsburgh Violins of Hope community project. Across the performance, the treasured collection of instruments and their stories, previously silenced, will be given voice in a program inspired by resilience, perseverance, and hope.
PSO360: RADIANT BEAUTY WITH VIOLINIST JAMES EHNES
Saturday, March 16, 2024, at 7:30 p.m.
James Ehnes, violin
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra musicians
James Ehnes has established himself as one of the most sought-after violinists on the international stage. Gifted with a rare combination of stunning virtuosity, serene lyricism, and an unfaltering musicality, Ehnes is a favorite collaborator of artists around the world, including the musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, who will join him on stage for this special concert.
PSO360: THE ART OF THE PIANO WITH BENJAMIN GROSVENOR
Saturday, June 1, 2024
Benjamin Grosvenor, piano
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra musicians
British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor heralded as one of the most important pianists to emerge from the United Kingdom in decades, is internationally recognized for his sonorous lyricism and understated brilliance at the keyboard. Benjamin Grosvenor and musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony will join forces for a mesmerizing evening.
Ticket Information
Tickets are on sale now for BNY Mellon Grand Classics and PNC Pops subscribers and will be on sale to the general public on Friday, June 2, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern.
For tickets, visit. pittsburghsymphony.org, or call 412.392.4900, or in person at Heinz Hall.
Categories: Feature Stories
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