The 129th Season explores the evolving role of an American orchestra in the nation’s 250th year.
Artistic highlights include two world premieres, 21 pieces by American composers, 13 debut artists.
The Orchestra returns to Carnegie Hall in December 2025
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) announced its 2025/2026
Season at Heinz Hall, marking the 250th anniversary of the United States with a season that explores how orchestral music expresses our nation’s cultural identity. In the 18th year of its acclaimed partnership with Music Director Manfred Honeck, the PSO explores how a symphony orchestra can connect past and future, honor tradition while expanding artistic possibilities, and reflect the broad tapestry of voices and artists of the nation it serves.
Whether longtime supporters or first-time attendees, audiences are invited to experience orchestral music as it responds to the present and shapes the future.
With performances running from September 20, 2025, to June 21, 2026, the season opens with a Gala performance featuring piano superstar Yuja Wang. It culminates with a two-week festival, America250, celebrating the contributions of American composers and musicians.
The 2025/2026 season features 20 BNY Classics weekends alongside the return of PSO360, the Disrupt concert series, and holiday traditions, including Holiday Brass and Handel’s Messiah: “This season, we invite audiences to join us in exploring the rich tapestry of American music while redefining what an orchestra can achieve. Through bold performances, innovative collaborations, and a rich array of dynamic voices, we honor the past while embracing the possibilities of the future. Together, we will create an unforgettable journey of artistry and inspiration,” said Manfred Honeck, Music Director.
“We’re proud to embody the spirit of Pittsburgh—bold, fearless, and passionate— as we embark on the journey of defining what an American orchestra will be. This seasonis a vibrant celebration of music’s power to transcend boundaries and unite communities. We invite everyone to experience this extraordinary journey and discover how the PSO is shaping the future of orchestral music,” said Melia Tourangeau, President & CEO.
With five thematic pillars guiding the season, the PSO showcases the full spectrum of orchestral artistry:
Art in Action showcases bold performances by world-class artists in their PSO debuts, including superstar cellist Gautier Capuçon and conductor dynamos Dalia Stasevska, Domingo Hindoyan, and Gemma New. These boundary-pushing performances of compositions prove art knows no limits.
Piano Phenoms presents ten extraordinary pianists—from next-generation superstars Yulianna Avdeeva and Seong-Jin Cho to iconic masters such as Emanuel Ax, Hélène Grimaud, and Yefim Bronfman—performing beloved concertos.
412—Made in Pittsburgh celebrates renowned talent that calls Pittsburgh home, including Concertmaster David McCarroll, who will be featured in Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, as well as several of the most famous Concertmaster solos in the repertoire in masterpieces by Strauss and Rimsky-Korsakov. The Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre join forces with the PSO in thrilling performances, culminating in a season finale featuring Mark Goddens’ stunning choreography to Angels in the Architecture together with Copland’s Appalachian Spring.
American Mosaic explores a wide range of American music with 21 featured pieces across the season, including works by Bernstein, Barber, Copland, George Walker, Julia Wolfe, Jessie Montgomery, and Carlos Simon.
America250 Festival—a two-week June 2026 festival that honors American composers past and present. Highlights include a world premiere and PSO commission by Michael Daugherty, a reprise performance of Joan Tower’s Tambor commissioned by the PSO, a reimagined Lincoln Portrait and collaborations with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh.
From a return to Carnegie Hall in December 2025 to the unveiling of new commissions and local partnerships, the 2025/2026 season reflects Pittsburgh’s spirit of innovation and artistry. Writing in The New York Times about the announcement of the PSO’s return to Carnegie Hall, Zachary Woolfe said, “Manfred Honeck’s directorship of the Pittsburgh
Symphony Orchestra must be counted as one of the country’s most successful conductor-ensemble collaborations, his thoughtful interpretations of the standard repertory inflaming the players’ super-committed virtuosity.” Each performance this season invites audiences
to witness the Orchestra’s evolution as it honors tradition while shaping the future of classical music.
TICKETS AND DETAILS
BNY Classics subscriptions are now on sale, with individual tickets available
July 22. Tickets to individual performances will be available July 22, 2025. For more information about the variety of subscription packages offered, including convenient Choose Your Own offerings, or for other questions, call the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Box Office at 412-392-4900, email customerservice@pittsburghsymphony.org, or visit pittsburghsymphony.org
CONCERTS
Opening Night Gala: Sparkle in the Steel City
Saturday, September 20, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Yuja Wang, piano
TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto No.15
Dvořák’s Eighth (BNY Classics)
Friday, September 26, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 28, 2025 at 2:30 p.m.
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Alexi Kenney, violin
CHRISTOPHER THEOFANIDIS: Rainbow Body
SIBELIUS: Violin Concerto
DVOŘÁK: Symphony No. 8
Symphonie Fantastique (BNY Classics)
Friday, October 10, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 11, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 12, 2025, at 2:30 p.m.
Robin Ticciati, conductor (debut)
Francesco Piemontesi, piano
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 4
BERLIOZ: Symphonie fantastique
Sibelius’ Finlandia (BNY Classics)
Friday, October 17, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 19, 2025, at 2:30 p.m.
Dalia Stasevska, conductor (debut)
Leila Josefowicz, violin
CAROLINE SHAW: The Observatory (PSO Premiere)
STRAVINSKY: Violin Concerto
SIBELIUS: Symphony No. 6
SIBELIUS: Finlandia 6
Grimaud Plays Gershwin (BNY Classics)
Friday, November 7, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 9, 2025, at 2:30 p.m.
Domingo Hindoyan, conductor (debut)
Hélène Grimaud, piano
ROBERTO SIERRA: Alegría (PSO Premiere)
GERSHWIN: Piano Concerto in F major
FRANCK: Symphony in D minor
Ferrández Plays Saint-Saëns (BNY Classics)
Friday, November 14, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 16, 2025, at 2:30 p.m.
Juraj Valčuha, conductor
Pablo Ferrández, cello
JULIA WOLFE: Liberty Bell (PSO Co-Commission & East Coast Premiere)
SAINT-SAËNS: Cello Concerto No. 1
STRAUSS: Ein Heldenleben
Himari Plays Bruch (BNY Classics)
Friday, November 28, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 30, 2025, at 2:30 p.m.
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Himari, violin (debut)
HAYDN: Symphony No. 100, “Military”
BRUCH: Violin Concerto No. 1
CARLOS SIMON: Festive Fanfare and Overture (PSO Premiere)
STRAUSS: Viennese Favorites 7
Carnegie Hall Preview
Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Seong-Jin Cho, piano
LERA AUERBACH: Frozen Dreams
RACHMANINOFF: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 5
Shostakovich’s Fifth (BNY Classics)
Friday, December 5, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 7, 2025, at 2:30 p.m.
Manfred Honeck, conductor
David McCarroll, violin
COPLAND: “Fanfare for the Common Man”
BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 5
Handel’s Messiah
Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Emily Pogorelc, soprano (debut)
Reginald Mobley, countertenor
John Matthew Myers, tenor
Troy Cook, baritone (debut)
Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh
Daniel Singer, Director
HANDEL: Messiah 8
Sibelius’ Second (BNY Classics)
Friday, January 16, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, January 18, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.
Dima Slobodeniouk, conductor
Lucas & Arthur Jussen, piano (debuts)
LOTTA WENNÄKOSKI: Flounce (PSO Premiere)
POULENC: Double Piano Concerto
SIBELIUS: Symphony No. 2
Špaček Plays Dvořák (BNY Classics)
Friday, January 23, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, January 25, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.
Petr Popelka, conductor
Josef Špaček, violin (debut)
BRAHMS: Academic Festival Overture
DVOŘÁK: Violin Concerto
BARTÓK: Concerto for Orchestra
Brahms’ Third (BNY Classics)
Friday, February 6, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 8, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Gautier Capuçon, cello (debut)
WALKER: Lyric for Strings (PSO Subscription Premiere)
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 3
DVOŘÁK: Cello Concerto 9
Symphonic Dances from West Side Story (BNY Classics)
Friday, February 13, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 14, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Randall Goosby, violin
ARTURS MASKATS: Tango
MOZART: Violin Concerto No. 5
BARBER: Adagio for Strings
BERNSTEIN: Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
Bruckner’s Eighth (BNY Classics)
Friday, February 20, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.
Manfred Honeck, conductor
SAMY MOUSSA: Adgilis Deda (PSO Commission)
BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 8
Ax Plays Brahms (BNY Classics)
Friday, March 6, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 8, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Emanuel Ax, piano
JACOB BANCKS: The Greatest Show on Earth (World Premiere & PSO Commission)
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 2
BRAHMS: Piano Concerto No. 110
Mahler’s Resurrection (BNY Classics)
Friday, March 13, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 15, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Ying Fang, soprano
Kate Lindsey, mezzo-soprano (debut)
Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh
Daniel Singer, Director
BORIS PIGOVAT: Yizkor (PSO Commission & Subscription Premiere)
MAHLER: Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection”
Beethoven’s Eroica (BNY Classics)
Friday, March 27, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 29, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.
Daniele Rustioni, conductor
Yefim Bronfman, piano
BARBER: Overture to The School for Scandal
SCHUMANN: Piano Concerto
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3, “Eroica”
The Rite of Spring (BNY Classics)
Friday, April 10, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 12, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.
Rafael Payare, conductor
Yulianna Avdeeva, piano
JIMMY LÓPEZ: Perú Negro (PSO Premiere)
PROKOFIEV: Piano Concerto No. 2
STRAVINSKY: The Rite of Spring 11
Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique (BNY Classics)
Friday, May 15, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.
Edward Gardner, conductor (debut)
Behzod Abduraimov, piano
KNUSSEN: Flourish with Fireworks
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 1
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 6, “Pathétique”
Scheherazade (BNY Classics)
Friday, May 29, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 31, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.
Gemma New, conductor (debut)
Stefan Jackiw, violin
SALINA FISHER: Rainphase (PSO Premiere)
KORNGOLD: Violin Concerto
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Scheherazade
America250 Festival: Lincoln Portrait (BNY Classics)
Friday, June 12, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 14, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Matthias Goerne, baritone
Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh
Daniel Singer, Director
JOAN TOWER: Tambor
JOHN ADAMS: The Wound-Dresser (PSO Premiere)
BERNSTEIN: Chichester Psalms
COPLAND: Lincoln Portrait 12
America250 Festival: Appalachian Spring (BNY Classics)
Friday, June 19, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 21, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Augustin Hadelich, violin
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (Appalachian Spring)
Adam McKinney, Artistic Director
MICHAEL DAUGHERTY: New Work (World Premiere & PSO Commission)
BARBER: Violin Concerto
JESSIE MONTGOMERY: Strum (PSO Subscription Premiere)
COPLAND: Suite from Appalachian Spring
Disrupt
Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
Dalia Stasevska, conductor
Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Petr Popelka, conductor
Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Edward Gardner, conductor
PSO360
Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
Pablo Ferrández, cello
Saturday, February 7, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Gautier Capuçon, cello
Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Stefan Jackiw, violin
Categories: Arts and Ideas, Season Listings
Leave a Reply Cancel reply