The Mary Pappert School of Music's beloved Music on the Bluff series returns this fall with Brahms on the Bluff, a four-concert celebration of one of classical music’s most beloved composers of the Romantic era.
Now in its 24th season, the series brings together Duquesne faculty, members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and internationally acclaimed guest artists for performances that highlight the richness and beauty of Johannes Brahms’ chamber music.
For David Allen Wehr, founding artistic director and pianist of Music on the Bluff, returning to Brahms was an easy choice. “Brahms has always been one of my favorite composers,” said Wehr, dean of the Mary Pappert School of Music and the Jack W. Geltz Distinguished Piano. “At many important moments in my career, Brahms has been the composer I’ve been playing.”
The season also carries special significance for Wehr. The original Brahms on the Bluff series—presented from 2005 to 2008—featured a complete cycle of the composer’s chamber music and helped establish Music on the Bluff as a destination for chamber music lovers across the region.
Brahms on the Bluff opens Sunday, Sept. 13, with Hungarian Dance Fever at PNC Recital Hall in the music school. A 2:30 p.m. pre-concert discussion led by Benjamin Binder, professor and chair of musicianship, will introduce the audience to the music before the 3 p.m. performance. Inspired by the energy and spirit of Brahms’ Hungarian-influenced works, the program features Wehr at the piano along with guest artists and faculty performers, including Binder, Martha Guth, Cynthia Raim and Randall Scarlata.
This year's programs were crafted around the strengths and passions of the featured performers. “I built each program around my favorite performers and collaborators, with their input on the music they wanted to play,” Wehr explained. “I want everyone to play and sing what’s closest to their hearts.”
Additional concerts include Lullaby on Saturday, Oct. 10; The Three Sonatas for Violin and Piano on Sunday, Jan. 24; and Before the Beard on Sunday, Feb. 28. All performances will be held in PNC Recital Hall and include pre-concert discussions that offer audiences a deeper look into the music and musicians behind each program.
Admission is $20 (plus fees) per seat or $80 per full-season subscription. Renewals for last year’s subscribers begin Monday, Aug. 17. New season passes and individual seat reservations begin Monday, Aug. 24.
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