Honeck leads Pittsburgh Symphony in an astonishing Beethoven 9

By William E Ford, 07 June 2019

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“Honeck understands this hall and coaxes his orchestra to keep its sound clean and clear”

Reviewed at Heinz Hall, Pittsburgh on 6 June 2019

Leshnoff, Double Concerto for Clarinet and Bassoon (World Premiere & PSO Commission)

Beethoven, Symphony no. 9 in D minor "Choral", Op.125

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Manfred Honeck, Conductor

Michael Rusinek, Clarinet

Nancy Goeres, Bassoon

Christina Landshamer, Soprano

Jennifer Johnson Cano, Mezzo-soprano

Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh

Werner Güra, Tenor

Shenyang, Bass-baritone

Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony captivate in Bruckner

Sam Jacobson, 20th February

Honored by the Bruckner Society of America, Manfred Honeck conducts a majestic and architecturally assured account of Bruckner’s Eighth, paired with Samy Moussa’s evocative Adgilis Deda.

*****

Piquant Poulenc, solemn Sibelius at the Pittsburgh Symphony

Sam Jacobson, 16th January

Dima Slobodeniouk returns to Pittsburgh for works by Finnish composers, and the Jussen brothers delight with Poulenc.

****1

Honeck and Pittsburgh Symphony make a strong Shostakovich statement

No’a L. bat Miri, 3rd December

Carnegie Hall's visit from the Steel City's Symphony demonstrates a thoughtful ensemble's ability to make music speak clearly, even without words.

*****

Grimaud’s glittering Gershwin highlights Pittsburgh Symphony program

Sam Jacobson, 7th November

Domingo Hindoyan’s Pittsburgh Symphony debuts spans sharp contrasts from Gershwin’s piano concerto to Franck’s symphony.

***11

Dalia Stasevska makes a radiant Pittsburgh Symphony debut

Sam Jacobson, 17th October

Familiar and unfamiliar Sibelius, a coruscating violin concerto and a recent score by Caroline Shaw are the elements of Dalia Stasevska’s noteworthy debut.

****1

Honeck heralds a spirited season opener at the Pittsburgh Symphony

Sam Jacobson, 26th September

Manfred Honeck inaugurates the new season in Pittsburgh with a Sibelius concerto and a Dvořák symphony, prefaced by a contemporary American work by Christopher Theofanidis.

****1

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William E Ford

William has enjoyed classical music for over five decades. He is a frequent concertgoer and blogs about classical music . He has a YouTube channel in which he interviews a variety of people in the world of music, such as composers, musicians, writers, and artistic directors. William is a clinical psychologist.