Artistry at full throttle: Rafael Payare and the Pittsburgh Symphony

Rafael Payare conducts the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Yulianna Avdeeva, Rafael Payare and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

By Sam Jacobson, 13 April 2026

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“a night of compelling music-making, albeit with the volume cranked up to 11”

Reviewed at Heinz Hall, Pittsburgh on 10 April 2026

López Bellido, Perú Negro

Prokofiev, Piano Concerto no. 2 in G minor, Op.16

Schubert, Six moments musicaux, D.780 no. 3 in F minor Allegro moderato

Stravinsky, Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring)

Yulianna Avdeeva, Piano

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Rafael Payare, Conductor

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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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.

Rafael Payare finds artistry at full throttle with the Pittsburgh Symphony