Ben Folds, PSO: a spirited combo

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Singer-songwriter Ben Folds returned to Pittsburgh Wednesday for a spirited performance with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in Heinz Hall.

Mr. Folds’ music defies genre and bears traces of rock, pop, jazz, classical and other categories. His PSO appearance with associate conductor Francesco LecceChong made for an evening of soulful entertainment, with Heinz Hall packed to the wings.

A bit of a pianist himself, Mr. Folds sang from the keyboard throughout the evening, with a thin but clear voice, tinged with nuance. The opening half was short but sweet, finishing with the final movement of his 2015 Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, which builds from fiery rhythmic ostinatos and melodic patterns into some fun extended technique piano playing (touching the strings to alter the sound, for example).

After intermission Mr. Folds kicked his playing and the orchestra into a higher gear with hits such as “Steven’s Last Night in Town,” “You Don’t Know Me” and “Phone in a Pool.”

His now traditional gimmick of building a song based on the lyrics “Rock this [expletive]!” is a highlight with orchestra, with the musicians often cottoning on to the simple tune faster than Mr. Folds could explain it. Principal trumpet Charles Lirette brought down the house with an improvised solo — it would be fantastic to hear some of the same energy and rapport with the audience during a classical subscription performance.

Mr. Folds gave a passionate speech toward the finale encouraging those listeners present to return to the symphony for an evening of Ravel or Shostakovich — “I mean, my music doesn’t suck, but you should really hear these other guys,” he said. “This is one of the best orchestras in the world. You’re so lucky.”