Favorites to perform with symphony; Opera expands its season

The fine arts find themselves in an increasingly competitive environment, not so much with each other as from other forms of entertainment. Accordingly, both the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Opera have enriched their programs for the coming season to attract new music lovers and retain their loyal supporters.

The symphony will present two superstars - soprano Jessye Norman (Dec. 8) and violinist Itzhak Perlman (May 7) - at special concerts, and will introduce a new series called 'Sunday Afternoons in Vienna.'

And the opera has restructured its season and its Opera Center to present seven operas this year.

In addition to the subscription series, renamed 'The Mellon Grand Classics,' the symphony presents the Nuance series of the Pittsburgh Symphony Chamber Orchestra and the Y Music Series, the Pittsburgh Chamber Music Project, Marvin Hamlisch and the Pops, and Fiddlesticks concerts for children. This season, the Soundbytes series is renamed 'Meet the Classics' and will focus on the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Yet, for all its diversified offerings, the subscription series is the symphony's raison d'etre. Music director Mariss Jansons says presenting a varied repertoire 'is important for everyone, the public, the orchestra and conductors.' He says he likes to wait five years before repeating a piece, no matter how wonderful it may be.

Jansons and the orchestra have plenty of choices, with three centuries of symphonic music from which to choose. Heinz Hall will be the site of four world premieres and 21 local premieres, featuring 14 living composers.

Some concerts will be smorgasbords, with baroque, romantic and modern scores on a single evening. Other events will be more homogeneous.

For all the emphasis on programming, audiences turn out for favorite performers. Highlights will be the return of violinists Pinchas Zukerman (Nov. 2 through 4), Gil Shaham (Feb. 15 and 16), and Frank Peter Zimmermann (May 3 and 4); pianists Emanuel Ax (Dec. 7 and 9), Yefim Bronfman (May 10 and 11) and Peter Serkin (Nov. 9 and 11); and cellist Truls Mork (Dec. 14 and 15).

The transformation of Pittsburgh Opera under general director Mark Weinstein's leadership is one of the most exciting developments in Pittsburgh's musical life.

The company will increase its offerings to seven operas, one a month from October through April. The range of repertoire has been expanded, too, from a baroque work by the first great opera composer, Claudio Monteverdi, to a 20th-century opera in English by Kurt Weill.

Pittsburgh Opera opens with a new production of a supreme masterpiece, Mozart's 'Don Giovanni' (Oct. 13 through 21). The production is being created in Pittsburgh and will travel to two other American opera companies, another significant step up for the local organization.

Improving the quality of opera singers appearing at the Benedum Center is another priority for Pittsburgh Opera. Metropolitan Opera soprano Carol Vaness will sing the title role in Richard Strauss' 'Salome' (Nov. 10 through 18) for the first time in Pittsburgh, just as rising soprano Patricia Racette will sing her first 'Lucia di Lammermoor' (April 20 through 28).

Mark Kanny can be reached at (412) 320-7877 or mkanny@tribweb.com .