New season 2019/20 of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra & Manfred Honeck (February 2019)

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and its Music Director Manfred Honeck have recently revealed their new season 2019/20:

In autumn 2019 they will embark on an 11-concert, 10-city, five-country European Tour.

Further highlights include the performance of the work Fountain of Youth by Pulitzer Price winner Julia Wolfe, a PSO co-commission together with Carnegie Hall and the New World Symphony, which will have its PSO premiere as the opening work of the 19/20 season under the baton of Manfred Honeck. Julia Wolfe is Musical America Composer of the Year 2019. Also the Beethoven anniversary in 2020 will be honoured by the orchestra, among others with a concert version of Fidelio as well as with the Missa Solemnis together with the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh.

Armenian cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan or Latvian violinist Baiba Skride  will make their debuts with the PSO among others. Renowned artists, like Gil Shaham, Hélène Grimaud, Augustin Hadelich and Yefim Bronfman will return to the PSO.

Winner of the prestigious Grammy Award for Best Orchestral Performance in 2018, the Pittsburgh Symphony and Music Director Manfred Honeck will join forces again with recording weekends in January and June of 2020. Works to be recorded for future release include Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7. The latest CD with Beethoven‘s  Symphony No. 3 „Eroica“ and Strauss‘ horn concerto No. 1 is nominated for the Grammy 2019, this time in three categories “Best Orchestral Performance”, “Best Engineered Album, Classical” and “Producer of the Year, Classical”.

Music Director Manfred Honeck about the new season: “This season promises to be a compelling musical journey that will inspire and provoke Pittsburgh and audiences beyond.  At heart, we are all humans and need to share love, laughter, sadness and joy. At the center of this stand-out season is the exceptional artistry of our Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra musicians and the power of great music to stir the soul. We are excited to introduce you to new works and new musical voices, and to discover new ways with signature works and with returning friends. I’m particularly looking forward to exploring the meaning and the stories behind the music of Mozart and Beethoven, two of the most significant and profound musical giants and visionaries.”

Find here further information on the new season of the PSO and Manfred Honeck.

“Let’s talk about…” – new book about PSO and Manfred Honeck (January 2019)

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) has long been in the shadow of the Big Five. Wrong, says music journalist Alain Steffen in his new book “Let’s talk about …”. Alain Steffen tells the story of the orchestra since its beginning in the year 1894 until today and talks among others with former chief conductors Sir André Previn and Mariss Jansons. Manfred Honeck has been Music Director of the orchestra since 2008. Under his baton, the PSO gained international fame. Manfred Honeck leads the musicians to worldwide stages and major festivals.
Interviews with musicians, conductors, composers and soloists, like Hélène Grimaud, Thomas Hampson and Anne-Sophie Mutter will give insights into the way the orchestra works and will illustrate its unique sound language. A tour diary takes the reader to the concert hall and behind the scenes.

The book has been published in German language at Rombach publishing house. Find here further information.

Manfred Honeck and Christoph Waltz lead new production of Beethoven’s Fidelio in Vienna in 2020 (January 2019)

In the Beethoven year 2020, conductor Manfred Honeck will lead the opera “Fidelio” (2nd version, 1806) at the Theater an der Wien, staged by the actor Christoph Waltz.

Find here the press release of the Theater an der Wien.

Manfred Honeck & PSO receive three Grammy nominations (December 2018)

Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra have been nominated for three Grammys with their current CD (Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 “Eroica” and Strauss’s Horn Concerto No. 1) with the Label Reference Recordings, in the categories “Best Orchestral Performance” , “Best Engineered Album, Classical” and “Producer of the Year, Classical”.

“We are honored to be recognized again this year with these three GRAMMY® Award nominations. On behalf of the entire PSO, I want to say how pleased we are that the outstanding talent of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and our wonderful Sound Mirror and Reference Recordings Team have received this honor,“ said Music Director Manfred Honeck.

The award ceremony will take place on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles.

Manfred Honeck steps in for Mariss Jansons at Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (November 2018)

On 10 November, Austrian conductor Manfred Honeck will step in for sickened Mariss Jansons for a concert with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and pianist Igor Levit. On the program will be Mahler’s symphony No. 1 and Beethovens piano concert No. 4.

Find here further information about this concert.

Manfred Honeck conducts anniversary concert of 120 years Deutsche Grammophon (November 2018)

Together with Lang Lang and Anne-Sophie Mutter, Manfred Honeck and the Staatskapelle Berlin will present the anniversary concert, celebrating 120 years of Deutsche Grammophon. The concert will take place on Tuesday, 6 November at Berlin Philharmonie.

Find here further information on the anniversary.

Manfred Honeck extends contract with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra through season 2021/22 (September 2018)

Manfred Honeck, Music Director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra since 2008, has extended his contract with the PSO through season 2021/22.

Over the last quarter century, Manfred Honeck has firmly established himself as one of the world’s leading conductors, renowned for his distinctive interpretations and arrangements of a wide-range of repertoire. He has led the PSO to great musical heights including a GRAMMY ® this year and being named the 2018 Artist of the Year by the International Classical Music Awards. Manfred Honeck and the orchestra regularly perform in major European music capitals and at leading festivals. Through regular residencies they have built a close relationship to the Musikverein in Vienna.

“It continues to be my distinct pleasure and honor to serve as Music Director of this great orchestra,” said Manfred Honeck. “I have tremendous admiration and respect for the wonderful musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and a deep affection for Pittsburgh, as well. Each year, our relationship grows stronger and stronger and in the coming years, we will have two very special celebrations—the 125^th anniversary season of the PSO and the 50^th anniversary season of Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts as the symphony’s home. I look forward to continuing to tour and record with this orchestra and more music and outstanding performances that we will share with our city of Pittsburgh and around the world.”

Manfred Honeck conducts celebration concert / 470. birthday Staatskapelle Dresden (September 2018)

On Saturday, 22 September, Manfred Honeck will conduct the celebration concert on the occasion of the 470. birthday of Staatskapelle Dresden. The concert will take place in the Kulturpalast Dresden. On the program will be works by Dvorak and Brahms.

Find here more information on the concert.