Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra concert

Join the Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra for their 54th season opener at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Upper St. Clair High School Theater, 1820 McLaughlin Run Road in Upper St.Clair. The theater is totally handicapped accessible.

“Play Me a Story” is the PCO’s 2012-2013 season’s theme, and begins with one of the most popular “stories” in music, Bizet’s Carmen Suite #1.  From its suspenseful Prélude to the famous Les Toréadors theme, it is easy to understand why Carmen is one of the world’s most loved operas.   Nicholas Will, organist at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Carnegie, will perform Händel’s Organ Concerto Op. 4, no.1, with the PCO.  Written in 1735, this piece was one of the first written for this combination of instruments.

The second half of the concert again features organist Nicholas Will as the orchestra performs Saint-Saëns’ majestic and moving Symphony #3 in C minor, popularly known as “The Organ Symphony.”  Mr. Will is a graduate of Duquesne University and the Peabody Conservatory of Music, and his mastery of the organ has no better showcase than in Saint-Saens’ brilliant symphony. Saint-Saëns himself said of this work "I gave everything to it I was able to give. What I have here accomplished, I will never achieve again."

Tickets may be purchased at the door and are $15.00 for adults, $10.00 for seniors, $5.00 for students 13 and older, and children 12 and under are free.  Group rates are available.  For more information call 412-279-4030 or visit the PCO’s website  http://www.pittsburghcivicorchestra.net/.