Pittsburgh orchestra in region

Staff report

NEW CASTLE, Pa.

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s Scottish Rite Cathedral Series will open Dec. 15 with “Holiday Pops!” and will be followed by two more concerts.

Assistant Conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong will lead the PSO and several guest artists in Christmas carols, holiday tunes, seasonal orchestral pieces and a Christmas sing-along.

On Feb. 4, 2017, Music Director Manfred Honeck will return to the Scottish Rite Cathedral, 110 E. Lincoln Ave., with superstar violinist Midori, who will perform Mendelssohn’s poetic and lyrical Violin Concerto. Honeck also will lead Mozart’s “Haffner” Symphony, and Brahms’ triumphant Symphony No. 1.

The season will conclude May 5, 2017, with “A Night at the Movies: The Music of John Williams,” a program that features music from the acclaimed cinematic omposer’s well-known movie scores, including “Superman,” “Harry Potter” and “Indiana Jones.” The evening also will include new music from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”

Three-concert season packages are on sale and range from $33 to $150. Call 800-743-8560 or go to pittsburghsymphony.org/src.

Packages for the 2016-17 season also can be purchased in person prior to the final Scottish Rite Cathedral concert of the current season, titled “The Ultimate Oscars,” at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Tickets for individual concerts in the 2016-17 will go on sale this summer. For pre-concert dinner reservations, call 724-654-6683.