We are so blessed to have such a talented symphony, multiple world renowned conductors and amazing guest performers. We have been fortunate enough to have seen all kinds of wonderful performances with the symphony. We have seen everything from movie nights, classical performances, holiday concerts (The Holiday Pops Show, especially when conducted by Byron Strickland is the conductor.) and well known artists singing their greatest hits. They even do fun nights like Tropical Rock. We had a ball at that show. Tonight, we saw our favorite classical performance, Scheherazade. There was a guest conductor from New Zealand who was one of the best we have ever seen. She was so expressive and then highlighted all sections of the symphony and the guest violinist. The guest violinist and the first violinist of our Symphony were phenomenal. It was so well done especially the first song where they used the instruments to mimic rain and bird sounds. It was unbelievable. We were transfixed. If you have the opportunity go see a symphony performance. They are absolutely phenomenal and perform globally. read more

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I've been fortunate enough to catch a few performances by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra now, and they never fail to blow me away. The musicianship is absolutely world-class; the sheer talent and precision across every section is incredible to witness live. Heinz Hall has a fantastic energy, and whether they are tackling massive classical staples or modern pieces, the quality is always top-tier. Every performance feels like a masterclass. read more

Love the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra!!! On my recent experience, I was fortunate to receive a complimentary pass to the encore lounge. This exclusive area for donors is only open during intermission and has complimentary beverages including wine, spirits, coffee, tea, water and charcuterie. I felt very fancy!!! read more

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra - Performing Arts Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Garden Tour: Fox Chapel First, getting tickets for the shuttle made the entire experience more enjoyable. A larger bus could have handled bathroom needs but probably couldn't maneuver the roads. Hot humid day. The shuttle's air conditioning was inconsistent but a lot cooler than outside. Perhaps a test run would have made the driver more comfortable on the windy narrow roads. Homeowners took great pride in their gardens. Each of the eight gardens had their own personality. If the homeowners were onsite, they kindly spoke to the Tour members. Eash stop had symphony members performing. We didn't expect how long the tour would be and didn't bring snacks. We were prepared with cold water. Thank you to all the volunteers who welcomed and educated us on the sites. Heard mention of possibly a Christmas tour. Will be looking forward to it. read more

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Pittsburgh has always had a brilliant symphony. I am very proud of this. My love for classical music began when our music teacher Miss Radke took a bus load of us to see the symphony when I was very young, probably in the third or fourth grade. I have been a classical music fan ever since! The Pittsburgh Symphony not only has astounding musicians in the Orchestra, but they always have great directors. I don't drive anymore, otherwise I would go much more often. I am as proud of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, as I am of the Steelers or the Pirates. read more

I went to see the PSO for the first time and I can't wait to go back! We saw Beethoven's Pastoral and it was beautiful. The musicians are so talented and I loved watching how passionate they were while playing their instruments. I definitely recommend going and see them! read more

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Gorgeous lighting, absolutely amazing Christmas show - the conductor was great and the players incredible, as were the dancers. read more

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra - Performing Arts Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

A long overdue review as I have enjoyed the PSO in various multiple occasions, and all quite unique. PSO performs in Heinz Hall, which is one of the most beautiful and charming theaters. I first attended many years ago when PSO performed with Sha Na Na. We happened to be walking past the theater and it was intermission and someone exiting the theater gifted us their tickets for the second half. It could have not been more magical of a show or experience. The magic continued when we heard in January that PSO was performing a free show as they had planned to perform with pianist Benjamin Grosvenor. Unfortunately the ticketed performance was cancelled due to the majority of the orchestra having COVID. The day of the performance in a matter of hours, members of the orchestra without COVID put together a free performance with Benjamin Grosvenor that left us absolutely speechless. Finally the most recent performance was when PSO played during a screening of Hocus Pocus. From start to finish, the performance was fun and flawless. Upcoming movies scheduled with PSO are Elf and The Little Mermaid. I absolutely love the variety the PSO offers and am grateful our city has such a great form of entertainment. read more

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Every time I see the PSO, I'm very impressed. We recently saw Ben Folds perform with the orchestra. The crowd turned a bit Yinzer for a bit (heckling at the symphony?), but the show was pretty interactive. The most impressive part of the performance was when Ben Folds composed a song on the spot with the orchestra. You could tell that the musicians were having fun with it -- especially the guy back in the percussion section who rocked out a wind chime solo. Very cool show. Can't wait to go back for more of their PSO Pops as well as their more traditional performances. They're playing a live score to accompany a showing of Jurassic Park this weekend. I've heard of a few other orchestras doing similar things -- I believe the London Philharmonic played a live score along with Lord of The Rings at one point. The tickets are pretty affordable, starting at $25, about twice a normal movie ticket. Not bad for a movie and live music. I really hope they do more shows like this. How could would Jaws be?? read more

The PSO is something that I have never been able to see, so this event was super special for me! Moving to Pittsburgh has given me an opportunity to get out and do things outside of my comfort zone - this was one of them! Heinz Hall is one of the most beautiful places that I've ever seen. No matter what show you are here to see, the architecture of the space is something to see in itself. The staff here are always extremely kind as well. The Beatles Tribute was AMAZING, and the band did an awesome job. I must say, I thought there would be more solo PSO - but that's OK because based on the performance I saw this evening, I would be back no matter what! The PSO blew my socks off with their performance and I can't wait to come back for another show! read more

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Sunday was my first-ever visit to the former Loew's Penn Theatre. During the glory days of the movie industry, the Loew's Penn Theatre on Sixth Street in downtown Pittsburgh was one of the most elaborate movie palaces in the United States, the site of premieres and long runs. I touched the door handle, and for just a moment, I was transported back in time. WOW! The hustle and bustle of A Christmas Holiday Show reminded me of the old days when downtowns were alive during the holiday season. Standing in line to purchase a soda brought back memories of days gone by rushing from 5&10 to the next Dime Store. It was a teachable moment as the audience stood for the Handel Hallelujah Chorus sung by the Mendelson Choir. I was still very much a poor kid trapped in this older body. I did not realize it was a tradition that dates back to King Goerge to stand because if the King Stood, which he did, the subjects must. I wasn't the last to stand, but I will be among the first next time. Several young men in bow ties stood so I caught on it. The Christmas Music was wonderful, and the stage was decorated with Trees Santa even made an appearance Mamie Parris sang on Broadway her voice will remain in my head for the rest of the Christmas season. The symphony made everyone laugh with his food jokes orchestra was just grand some of the musicians wore little Santa hats. The piano player was right on with every key. The Little Young Ballet performer was just beautiful. I know this Christmas Eve I will dream of the vision of sugar plums that dance in my head. I wish I could stay I thought to myself as the show came to a closure I am coming back next year for sure if the fates allow. Merry Christmas Marcus Loew your built grand building! read more

Had a fabulous time at Revolution: The Music of the Beatles-a symphonic experience. Enjoyed all the selections, 50th anniversary of Abbey Road. The additional 6 musicians who sang, played guitars, bass, drums & keyboards were excellent as well. I loved how they showed old Beatles pics on the screen behind the orchestra. Although each number was extremely well done, Eleanor Rigby, was the stand out showcase piece for our PSO. Standing ovation worthy! Heinz Hall is so beautiful & you can't go wrong seeing the Grammy winning PSO for any performances there. Highly recommend that you experience the PSO at Heinz Hall-their upcoming Holiday Pops is always a favorite. read more

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Moved to PGH recently and been itching to go to the opera as I used to go semi-regularly as a kid. Winter makes me all nostalgic for Handel's Messiah, and so when I found a good deal for the PSO's rendition, I was all in! As I understand it, the choir and orchestra are larger that what I saw, but for the Messiah there were 60 members of the choir, 4 soloists and 28 members of the orchestra. The sound was rich and wonderful and I was so pleased to be a part of the Hallelujah Chorus and rubbing shoulders with so many other enthusiastic patrons. There is clearly a great appreciation for the arts in Pittsburgh and the PSO are in every way deserving of the praise they are given. I'd love to come back soon for another performance! read more

I love the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra; I do. I love their home venue of Heinz Hall. However, I was disappointed with the setup on stage this last visit for the performance of the music for the Oscars. Maybe I just didn't notice before or maybe I hadn't felt it was as critical before but the stage setup was awful. On stage were both the orchestra and multiple rows of choir members. Now, mind you they got the setup right for the choir -- they were elevated and tiered such that you could see each individual member of the choir. The orchestra, however? They were all flat-lined level with one another and stacked several rows deep. I imagine sitting in cheaper balcony seats would be the better option. We were sitting in the center of the orchestra section and had a grand view of the stage, that is to say we had a grand view of the conductor, the first row of violins and the entire choir. Maybe that would have been ok except there were many times the integral instrument being played and the focus of our attention was on some other instrument besides the front row violinists. I could see part of a flute when the flutist had a major role; I could see part of the piano when the pianist was playing. No amount of straining could elevate me to a position of seeing who and what was being played. The sound was wonderful; the conductor super; the venue awesome; the staff polite, courteous, and helpful. But, I cannot help feeling I might as well listened to the performance on the radio; being there in person did nothing to enhance the experience without being able to see the performers perform. Will I go again? Yes. But if I experience the same setup, probably not after that. read more

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra - Performing Arts Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

World class orchestra, and always a pleasure to attend. I typically attend with my 10 year old son, and he loves it! I remember our first concert a couple years ago - him not really fully understanding what to expect, then seeing him sitting there, rapt in attention. Afterwards, from the mouth of babes..."Gee...dad...that was like...magic!". Yes it is...even for an older guy like me. To sit and take in the excellence that is our orchestra...well, it hardly can get better. I've always favored the Sunday afternoon performances. I've...we've...never been disappointed. A Pittsburgh treasure! read more

I am a complete fan of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and I attend many of their concerts. I was lucky to take a tour of their building, and on one of the walls backstage I saw a picture of Richard Strauss with the PSO from when he appeared with them as a guest conductor. That's just one example of the rich history and tradition of the Orchestra. But the Symphony continues to make history and remains one of the top 10 orchestras in the United States. If you are attending a concert, the sound is excellent particularly up in the balcony. If you are sitting underneath the balcony, I don't feel you are getting the complete richness of sound that you get elsewhere in the hall. So you best bet is about row N and forward downstairs or anywhere up top. read more

We attended the Night at the Oscars concert and it was beautiful! I was looking forward to hearing a few particular scores, but I enjoyed the whole concert, even the pieces that I didn't recognize. It's amazing to have heard these orchestrations countless times before while watching a film, and then to hear them performed live. If you've never been to Heinz Hall before, I recommend getting there before the house opens so you have plenty of time to look around. The sitting areas are the definition of grandeur. We sat in the balcony gallery section, admittedly "cheap seats" but we could see every single member of the orchestra and choir. There are numerous parking garages in the area, but as Heinz Hall is in the cultural district, the garages will fill up fast if there are other events going on at the Benedum Center, the PPT (O'Rilley Theater), or the Byham theater. I recommend the Ft. Duquesne & 6th street garage. The 3rd Ave garage at PPG place is also a good option, a few blocks away, but it's cheaper and easier to get out of that one during the after concert rush. If you wish to read more of my thoughts on Heinz Hall, please see my review on that separate Yelp listing. I loved how the conductor introduced each piece. He seemed to be a natural public speaker, the way he addressed the audience was professional, yet friendly; and even comical at times. At one point someone in the audience sneezed and he pointed in their direction and said "bless you". I definitely recommend this world class orchestra and the ticket prices are so reasonable, it would be a missed opportunity to not attend. read more

So proud to be from Pittsburgh. The PSO makes our city proud constantly. Have been to many performances, whether it be something classical to something more mainstream. They do a FANTASTIC job. Truly, one of the greatest orchestras around. read more

Tonight seeing Revolution, Music of the Beatles with the incomparable PSO. Just stopped for intermission and had to yelp. The symphony is perfection. Bet the musicians are enjoying themselves. They play so effortlessly. The band/vocalists thoroughly channeled the masters themselves. The drummer singing Here Comes the Sun made me tear up. Can't wait for the second half, don't want it to end. Second half over, may have been better than the first. "I am the walrus" with the PSO may have been my favorite. After the program, the band stuck around to finish a few classics with the audience on our feet, singing along. Recommend for all ages, and all represented. #Beatles4ever. #PSO outstanding. Bravo! read more

Cheers! The PSO Pops can be fun and they do different themes and have different artists that make it more interesting. You can pick a theme and artist that is of your interest. Dave Koz performance was wonderful. Gregg Karukas was assisting. Get night, lots of foot tapping. For those that like jazz, this was a fun night. Also had a choir made up of some of the better voices from about 8 local colleges and universities. They were great. read more

I've been to see the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra several times, and it is always a wonderful experience! I most recently saw "Revolution: The Music of the Beatles". I was expecting the performance to consist of instrumental covers, but they actually had several musicians from New York who did full covers with vocals, guitars, drums etc, ! It was a great show, and I love how the performers got the audience on their feet dancing in the aisles, though I do wish they orchestra had been featured a little more I'll have to keep an eye out for future shows! read more

Went here for Revolution: Music of the Beatles with a friend and was not quite sure what to expect and I was blown away! I expected it to just be a bunch of instrumental music and a relaxing experience. It was truly a show I would recommend to all kinds of people. They brought in amazing vocalists and it was truly an experience I would repeat over and over again! read more

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra - Revolution: Music of the Beatles - Performing Arts Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Amazing and so much fun! We went to see the Christmas show and the Santa character stole the show - he was so amazing and the kids loved him. I can see how families make this an annual tradition. Really a nice time, in an amazing old theater read more

What's not to love about having one of the top orchestras in the U.S. located in Pittsburgh? I probably attend the Pittsburgh Symphony performances 10+ times per year. In the last year, I have seen the BNY Grand Mellon Classics concert, POPs, and a few performances that I cannot categorize. The Symphony always sounds great, though some of their programming I enjoy more than others. My favorite concerts are the Grand Classics. They are usually pretty empty, which is disappointing, but the Symphony always does a great job. Any concerts with Concertmaster Noah Bendix-Bagley are always amazing, but he is sadly moving on in his career. Also, I really enjoyed the West Side Story movie with live music a few weeks ago as well. And kudos to the conductor for using that crazy system to keep the orchestra with the movie. While I am in the right demographic for POPs, I have despised these concerts since childhood. I don't enjoy them. The last one I saw was Sci-Fi themed. The orchestra was great, but the tacky lighting and bringing in George Takei (while cool) was too gimmicky for my tastes. Overall, a great way to spend an afternoon or an evening! The tickets aren't as inexpensive as the opera, but it is still much less expensive to go to the Symphony than a Steelers game. read more

Grammy-award winning Pittsburgh Symphony did not disappoint! We attended Revolution: The Music of the Beatles and were impressed by the beauty of Heinz Hall and the sheer talent of the Symphony. A group of singers and a band accompanied the Symphony and they all played in unison to bring The Beatles' hits to life. The Symphony finds unique ways to display their talent through renditions of great artists, performing live scores of movies and playing our favorite Holiday Hits. Regardless of which performance you attend, you will leave Heinz Hall feeling inspired. read more

I'm more of an enthusiast than an expert but the PSO was one of my favorite things about Pittsburgh in winter. Despite the fact that they were between music directors and had a series of guest conductors (or maybe because they were in transition) every performance I went to (except maybe one) was very exciting. The whole hall vibrates with a cozy intensity and the seasons have been very varied - classics, modern stuff, interesting guests - so we always found one or two performances that we really wanted to hear. The cheap last minute tickets are a great deal, and if you look presentable, they'll put you in the dress-circle. read more

Came for the holiday pops and had an amazing afternoon! The venue is always just breathtaking and the show was jsut the right length with a great mix of music, singing and some special extras like dancing and a bell chorus! Will definitely return for a traditional symphony to be able to experience the full power of the symphony alone read more

Outstanding! We attended the PSO's event entitled "Revolution: The Music of the Beatles" last week. Heinz Hall is a beautiful facility and such a core prerequisite of living in or visiting Pittsburgh. The staff is very friendly and the processes of will call and entrance are extremely simple. However, the most outstanding aspect is the incredible talent, professionalism, and grace of the PSO. We are so blessed to have such amazing musicians in our city. They are always even better than expected. The sound is perfectly balanced and the PSO delivers the best night out. I highly recommend any of their shows! read more

When I was kid, we would go to the symphony on almost a monthly basis. They have really great guests that rotate through fairly regularly. The hall itself is simply beautiful and very comfortable, its certainly a great aspect of the city and worthwhile thing to make a point to experience. read more

So I may not be 100% in love with their main venue, but I can promise that I'll never speak a bad word against the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, or PSO as I'll be calling them for this review. This orchestra was founded in 1895 and it's one of our city's greatest sources of pride and joy. It's also a world-renowned performance group, meaning that any show of theirs you see will be excellent. And boy, does the PSO offer show options! Whether you want to enjoy a classical music performance or see the music from your favorite video game performed live, chances are that you can buy tickets for that show thanks to the PSO. Just a few of their performance options include their regular holiday pops show, a variety of live musical movies (where the orchestra accompanies the movie playing on a screen above them), and a range of special concerts that include a lot of non-classical period cultural items (including Pokemon, video games, Disney, etc.). The PSO also does educational and community engagement shows throughout the year, both at Heinz Hall and in the community; I've seen some of the artists at the Carnegie Science Center during 21+ Nights, for example. But really, you need to see at least one show at Heinz Hall; even I go back to this venue despite the fact that it's not my favorite, all for the PSO. There are really no words to describe how excellent the PSO is - they just have to be experienced. So seriously: go check out their calendar and grab a ticket, and don't forget to enjoy a concert prelude workshop if you can (which begins one hour prior to certain concerts). And if you don't love them, the citizens of Pittsburgh reserve the right to ask you to move elsewhere. ;) read more

I had a really unique experience seeing the PSO with Ben Folds back in June. he did many of his regular hits and his new piano concerto. he was able to have the PSO do a rendition of his concert classic "Rock this b*tch"-which was just so awesome to see a classical orchestra playing along with him. I'd recommend looking for what other unique shows the PSO has throughout the year like this one. It provides for a different experience than a typical performance. read more

I saw the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra perform in concert as apart of Dollar Bank's Three Rivers Arts Festival. I received a free general admission ticket as part of a class I was enrolled in at Carnegie Mellon University. I attended the concert on 10 JUN of 2013 at 7pm read more

On Valentine's Day my husband and I attended the TREY ANASTASIO show at Heniz Hall. The PSO accompanied him, as he sang and played the electric and acoustic guitar. It was amazing. Aside from the fact that it is not every day you get to hear your favorite songs set to classical music, the symphony was fantastic. From the first note, my husband and I were speechless! Clearly the music was arranged to feature the symphony...and we loved every second. Very modern feel to the entire experience at Heinz Hall. read more

We absolutely love the Pittsburgh Symphony, and feel so lucky to have such a wonderful, world-renowned symphony in our city! We try to go as often as we can, though sometimes the ticket prices do hinder us from attending. We saw the symphony with host Alec Baldwin in April, and it was great. Last night, we had the chance to attend the PSO Mixer, which previewed a few of the upcoming concerts in the coming year. It was a lovely evening from start to finish! Though it was a bit hot out, we enjoyed having a drink and chatting with friends prior to the concert. We were a bit late getting seats (it was general admission) so we ended up in the back of the first level. I loved the format of this concert- the musicians themselves came out and introduced the pieces, and they were so fun and engaging! I wish that the symphony did this more often. It allows for a deeper connection between the audience and those on the stage, and made me feel as though I could be friends with these wonderfully talented individuals as they made me laugh and stand in awe of their talent. I know that the symphony does struggle sometimes with attendance, so these types of events are perfect to increase interest and encourage new symphony attendees. I have heard small groups of members play at local restaurants, and that is a great promotional event as well. I hope that we continue to appreciate the arts in Pittsburgh, and cannot wait until my next symphony experience. read more

Truly awesome orchestra. Fantastic experience.

We are very fortunate in Pittsburgh to have one of the best symphonies in the country here in our hometown! My wife and I subscribe to the Pops series and enjoy the talented musicians and performers they bring in. Subscribing has been a great benefit, as they are very flexible allowing us to change concert dates either to another night in a concert weekend, or changing to another show altogether. We enjoyed the support Marvin Hamlisch gave the symphony and look forward to what his legacy holds in the future! read more