Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

Music, beautiful music, is vital to our society.

The Highmark Holiday Pops are back for 2019 through December 22 at Heinz Hall. Tickets start at $22.

Deck the halls with boughs of holly – and all of your favorite holiday music! Bring the whole family to experience Pittsburgh’s holiday tradition with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, The Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, Broadway star Ashley Brown, and Santa Claus, too!

Laura attended opening night for our outlet.

On Friday December 13 – ah that superstitious night – my friend Debbie and I got to go to Heinz Hall to see the opening night of the Pittsburgh Symphony Holiday Pops concert. I have to acknowledge that I do not have any musical talent at all. However, I have always been a music lover and I love hearing the  Symphony. I am grateful that the Symphony exists. Music, beautiful music, is vital to our society. And I want to state that I have never felt uncomfortable as an LGBT person.

I was raised in the Presbyterian Church with the Christmas hymns and carols. And I still love them.  The symphony opened with two of my absolute favorite carols – Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and Angels We Have Heard on High. Both of these songs always move me; they are so majestic. Then the symphony played Sleigh Ride another favorite of mine that epitomizes the holiday. The Symphony had a guest vocalist, Ashley Brown, who was Mary Poppins on Broadway, Belle in Beauty and the Beast, and the voice of Disneyland. Her voice was powerful and beautiful and she sang several holiday classics as well as a holiday hits medley, which included All I Want For Christmas is You, in which she light-heartedly parodies Mariah Carey. Her vocal range was amazing and I really enjoyed hearing her sing. (Incidentally, this song is now at the top of the charts 25 years after Mariah Carey first sang it.)

I have always been a music lover and I love hearing the  Symphony. I am grateful that the Symphony exists. Music, beautiful music, is vital to our society.

Also featured during this concert was Santa Claus, who has a very nice voice, and who entertained with candy and questions of shy kids about what they want for Christmas;  The Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh who was featured on the majority of the songs(their singing is magnificent); Point Park University Vocal Trio who partnered with Attack Theatre for a song called Swingin’ Little Christmas Time; and The Three Rivers Ringers who made ringing bells seem effortless.

For those people like me who love the hymns and the carols this concert will not disappoint.