Why We Love Heinz Hall

PHOTO COURTESY OF PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

You certainly don’t need a top hat and tails to go to the symphony, but putting on a nice set of clothes feels like the right thing to do — especially for a building this grand. So dress up and get a ride Downtown; it doesn’t matter if it’s a hired car or a bus, it just feels right to be taken to Heinz Hall.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Arrive early. You’ll hear music more or less as soon as you’re in the door; there’s usually a youth ensemble playing in the lobby. This month, you’ll also find the famed Christmas trees that decorate the building — a tradition in their own right. Grab a drink or a coffee (it depends on what kind of mood you like to set for a night of music) and peer out over Downtown from the Overlook Room. Linger; enjoy the ornate details. This adding of time around the main event is what turns a show into a night out.

And then, of course, you get inside the hall itself.

The PSO sounds great wherever they are; anyone who attends one of their popular outdoor concerts as part of the Three Rivers Arts Festival or the Allegheny County Summer Concert Series can attest to that. But they never sound better than they do inside Heinz Hall, owing to the incredible acoustic richness of the space. If you stand in the back row of an empty Heinz Hall, you’ll hear your voice bounce off of the stage wall — almost at a whisper. This is a space that simply sounds perfect.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

This month — and most months — there’s an event for music lovers of all ages and preferences. The enduring Holiday Pops series runs from Dec. 12-21, with a sensory-friendly performance on the 21st; a holiday brass concert is set for the 16th. Country fans can see superstar Trisha Yearwood perform with the PSO on Dec. 18. And the increasingly popular series of shows featuring live film scores, accompanying screenings of big-screen favorites, returns in January with “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.”

You can and should make a grand night out of your trip to Heinz Hall — but you needn’t make it a necessity. The building is a civic treasure; it houses another in the form of the world-class PSO. If you can come in style, do it — if you can’t, come as you are. They’ll be glad to have you.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Insider’s Tip

Want to see and be seen? You don’t need to be a bigwig to sit in one of the “opera box” style sections along the building’s walls — they’re available to the public. While not the most affordable ticket, they can’t be beat for style and experience. Get your tickets early, since seating is limited.

While You’re Here

Keep the night going and switch from classical to jazz. Hotspot Con Alma is right around the corner and features live music most nights, often until 11 p.m. — perfect for a drink after a trip to Heinz Hall.