Brahms on the Bluff

Johannes Brahms returns to the Bluff for four concerts of lush musical Romanticism. For the 24th season, faculty members from Duquesne University’s Mary Pappert School of Music share the stage for performances of this beloved composer’s chamber music with members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and international guest artists. Pre-concert conversations before each concert give a look backstage at the performers and the music, and Artistic Director David Allen Wehr offers commentary throughout each program to enhance and deepen the listening experience.

All Music on the Bluff concerts are held in PNC Recital Hall, located on the first floor of the Mary Pappert School of Music.

Admission Information

Admission is $20 (plus fees) per seat for any of this season's concerts and $80 per full season subscription. Renewals for last year's subscribers will begin on Monday, August 17. New season passes and individual seat reservations begin on Monday, August 24.

Upcoming Bluff Series Events

Alt text: Three-panel promotional graphic featuring blue-tinted portraits of Johannes Brahms as a young man on the left and later in life on the right, with a red-tinted photograph of Old Main at Duquesne University in the center. The portraits and campus

Brahms on the Bluff: Concert I - Hungarian Dance Fever

David Allen Wehr, Artistic Director

Pre-concert Discussion with Benjamin Binder at 2:30 p.m.

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  • Mary Pappert School of Music
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Alt text: Three-panel promotional graphic featuring blue-tinted portraits of Johannes Brahms as a young man on the left and later in life on the right, with a red-tinted photograph of Old Main at Duquesne University in the center. The portraits and campus

Brahms on the Bluff: Concert II - Lullaby

David Allen Wehr, Artistic Director

Pre-concert Discussion with Ron Samuels at 2:30 p.m.

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  • Mary Pappert School of Music
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Alt text: Three-panel promotional graphic featuring blue-tinted portraits of Johannes Brahms as a young man on the left and later in life on the right, with a red-tinted photograph of Old Main at Duquesne University in the center. The portraits and campus

Brahms on the Bluff: Concert III - The Three Sonatas for Violin and Piano

David Allen Wehr, Artistic Director

Pre-concert Discussion with Nicole Vilkner at 2:30 p.m.

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  • Mary Pappert School of Music
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Alt text: Three-panel promotional graphic featuring blue-tinted portraits of Johannes Brahms as a young man on the left and later in life on the right, with a red-tinted photograph of Old Main at Duquesne University in the center. The portraits and campus

Brahms on the Bluff: Concert IV - Before the Beard

David Allen Wehr, Artistic Director

Pre-concert Discussion with Barbara Nissman at 2:30 p.m.

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  • Mary Pappert School of Music
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Parking

Parking is available in the Forbes Avenue Parking Garage and the Locust Street Parking Garage (directly adjacent to the Mary Pappert School of Music). Parking in either garage for all concerts is $6, payable by mobile phone or at the ticket kiosks located in the Forbes Avenue Parking Garage (1st & 8th floors) or the Locust Garage (7th floor). 

In the event that PPG Paints Arena or Duquesne University have an event on the same day as a Bluff Series concert, the garage may advertise a higher event parking rate. In this case, QR codes will be made available to concert attendees which may be scanned to reduce the event rate to $6. 

Parking in Duquesne University garages is entirely cashless. Accepted methods of payment include credit/debit cards, Apply Pay, and Google Pay.

Handicap parking is available.

Duquesne University is located at: 600 Forbes Avenue – Pittsburgh, PA 15282

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Bluff Series Email List

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Questions About Attending a Bluff Series Concert?

We're always happy to help. Please call during regular business hours or email us anytime.

Concert Information

Inside the Bluff Series

Prior to each concert this year, David Allen Wehr will talk on stage with one of his colleagues about the music the you will hear. This inside look at the repertoire will provide a deeper understanding of the music, how and why the composer chose to write what they wrote, and even give you a peek inside the preparation our musicians go through prior to the concert.

Livestream Information

This year, we will be using our IEMMA Broadcast Network (Institute of Entertainment, Music, and Media Arts) to livestream each of the Bluff Series concerts and their preceding pre-concert talks. To watch, click the button below 30 minutes prior to each concert in the series.

Tune in to the Livestream

Meet & Greet the Artists

After each performance, you are invited to join us in the PNC Recital Hall Lobby to meet and talk with our amazing musicians. Light refreshments will be served.

David Allen Wehr

Artistic Director

David Allen Wehr serves as the Dean of the Mary Pappert School of Music, where he holds the Jack W. Geltz Distinguished Piano Chair. Noted for his traversal of the complete Beethoven Sonata Cycle, Wehr has toured in over 30 countries, performing in such venues as London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, Barbican Centre (with the London Symphony), Wigmore Hall (with the Sartory Trio), the Salle Gaveau in Paris, the Musikverein in Vienna, the Kennedy Center in Washington, and Carnegie Hall in New York. Wehr’s discography includes over 20 albums released by Connoisseur Society, Chandos, Equilibri, and Gega. For more information, visit davidallenwehr.com.

David Allen Wehr plays a piano.

More about David Allen Wehr

Read Wehr's Full Biography

History of the Music on the Bluff Series

Now in its 24th season, the Music on the Bluff Series has explored chamber and solo works by celebrated composers in grand style. Below is a look back at each season:

2002–2004: Complete Beethoven Piano Sonata Cycle
2004: Beethoven's Dynamic Duos: Complete Works for Cello and Piano, Complete Sonatas for Violin and Piano, Ninth Symphony for Two Pianos
2005–2008: Brahms on the Bluff: Complete Chamber Music
2008–2010: Musique on the Bluff (French music)
2010: Bicentennials on the Bluff (Chopin and Schumann)
2011–2012: Dvořák at Duquesne
2012–2013: Budapest on the Bluff (Hungarian music)
2013–2015: Beethoven on the Bluff
2015–2016: Schubert/David Stock on the Bluff
2016–2017: Schubert/Copland on the Bluff
2017–2018: Schubert/Debussy on the Bluff
2018–2019: Moscow on the Bluff (Russian music)
2019–2020: Best of the Bluff, Season One
2020–2021: Virtual Best of the Bluff
2021–2022: Best of the Bluff, Season Two
2022–2024: Chopin & Schumann on the Bluff
2024–2026: Dean's List

Virtual Music on the Bluff

Graphic that reads Virtual Music on the Bluff, David Allen Wehr, Artistic Director. Features a photo of the inside of a piano and a futuristic-looking pattern.

Beethoven - Piano Sonata #14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2 "Moonlight"

David Allen Wehr performs Beethoven's "Moonlight" sonata. Piano Sonata #14 in C-Sharp Minor, Quasi una fantasia, Op. 27, No. 2 "Moonlight"

Graphic that reads Virtual Music on the Bluff, David Allen Wehr, Artistic Director. Features a photo of the inside of a piano and a futuristic-looking pattern.

Beethoven - Piano Sonata #31 in A-Flat Major, Op. 110

David Allen Wehr performs Beethoven's Piano Sonata, Op. 110. Piano Sonata #31 in A-Flat Major, Op. 110

Graphic that reads Virtual Music on the Bluff, David Allen Wehr, Artistic Director. Features a photo of the inside of a piano and a futuristic-looking pattern.

Beethoven - Piano Sonata #23 in F Minor, Op. 57 "Appassionata"

David Allen Wehr performs Beethoven's "Appassionata." Piano Sonata #23 in F Minor, Op. 57 "Appassionata"

Graphic that reads Virtual Music on the Bluff, David Allen Wehr, Artistic Director. Features a photo of the inside of a piano and a futuristic-looking pattern.

Debussy - Sonata for Cello and Piano

Performed by: Adam Liu, cello David Allen Wehr, piano

Graphic that reads Virtual Music on the Bluff, David Allen Wehr, Artistic Director. Features a photo of the inside of a piano and a futuristic-looking pattern.

Debussy - Première Rhapsodie for Clarinet and Piano

Professor of Clarinet, Ron Samuels (Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra) performs Debussy's Première Rhapsodie for Clarinet and Piano with David Allen Wehr.

Graphic that reads Virtual Music on the Bluff, David Allen Wehr, Artistic Director. Features a photo of the inside of a piano and a futuristic-looking pattern.

Moszkowski - Suite for Two Violins and Piano

Violinists Charles and Rachel Stegeman, along with pianist David Allen Wehr perform Moriz Moszkowski's "Suite for Two Violins and Piano."

Graphic that reads Virtual Music on the Bluff, David Allen Wehr, Artistic Director. Features a photo of the inside of a piano and a futuristic-looking pattern.

Brahms - Sonata for Viola and Piano in F Minor, Op. 120, No. 1

Marylène Gingras-Roy and David Allen Wehr perform the Sonata for Viola and Piano in F Minor by Brahms.