Osmo Vänskä leads Pittsburgh Symphony in rich Russian repertoire

Janice Carissa

Osmo Vänskä

By Sam Jacobson, 18 January 2025

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“breezed by in a whirlwind with a particularly dazzling passage in octaves”

Reviewed at Heinz Hall, Pittsburgh on 17 January 2025

Moussa, Elysium

Rachmaninov, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in A minor for piano and orchestra, Op.43

Medtner, Fairy Tale for piano in E minor, Op.34 no. 2

Tchaikovsky, Symphony no. 5 in E minor, Op.64

Janice Carissa, Piano

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Osmo Vänskä, 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.