Virtuosity and contrasts with Dueñas and Honeck in Pittsburgh

María Dueñas, Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in Heinz Hall

By Sam Jacobson, 16 February 2025

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“uncovering details and nuances in Dvořák’s orchestration that can get washed away in lesser hands”

Reviewed at Heinz Hall, Pittsburgh on 14 February 2025

Simon, Four Black American Dances

Saint-Saëns, Violin Concerto no. 3 in B minor, Op.61

Dvořák, Symphony no. 9 in E minor, "From the New World", Op.95

María Dueñas, Violin

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Manfred Honeck, Conductor

Artistry at full throttle: Rafael Payare and the Pittsburgh Symphony

Sam Jacobson, 10th April

Can one be artful and musical while playing at maximum volume? In a program of López, Prokofiev and Stravinsky, Rafael Payare and the Pittsburgh Symphony answer a resounding yes.

*****

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

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Sam Jacobson

Sam Jacobson has been writing for Bachtrack since 2015 and is currently in Pittsburgh, having previously lived throughout the Midwest. A keen traveler, he endeavors to see all the great orchestras and opera houses across the US and abroad. Outside of music, he works as a software engineer. He also maintains a blog which can be read here.

Virtuosity and contrasts with Dueñas, Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony