Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
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genres: orchestral, classical, tango · followers: 5,720
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has gained a wider reputation than the medium size of its home city might suggest, benefiting from the leadership of some of the 20th century's top conductors at various points in their careers.Spotify
In the 2010s, the orchestra has issued a major series of recordings of mainstream symphonic repertory. The Pittsburgh Symphony was founded in 1896 by the Pittsburgh Art Society, which two years later hired Irish-born operetta composer Victor Herbert as conductor.Spotify
The move ran counter to the tendency toward German conductors at the time, but the orchestra gained wide popularity. In 1904, the orchestra went to the opposite pole, installing Germany's Emil Paur as conductor and getting a heavy diet of Brahms and other symphonists for its money. Paur clashed with local musicians, financial support dried up after the Panic of 1907, and the orchestra disbanded in 1910.Spotify
It was reestablished in 1927, intentionally violating a Pennsylvania law against music on the Sabbath and gaining valuable publicity. The orchestra took advantage of the new medium of radio, launching broadcasts in 1936 that were heard across much of the eastern U.S. The following year, Otto Klemperer became one of a series of international-caliber conductors to lead the group, building it into a top-quality ensemble.Spotify
He was succeeded by Fritz Reiner (1938-1948), Vladimir Bakaleinikov (1948-1952), William Steinberg (1952-1976), André Previn (1976-1984), Lorin Maazel (1984-1996, who had lived in Pittsburgh and studied with Bakaleinikov), Mariss Jansons (1996-2004), a unique troika of Marek Janowski, Andrew Davis, and Yan Pascal Tortelier (2004-2008), and, since 2008, Manfred Honeck. The orchestra has also maintained a pops series that was conducted by famed ragtime pianist Marvin Hamlisch from 1995 until his death in 2014; in 2019, the pops concerts welcomed Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds as a guest. In its earlier years, the orchestra performed at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Music Hall, Syria Mosque (a performance space suggested by a shrine, not an actual mosque), and Penn Theatre; in 1971, it gained its own Heinz Hall, which has itself been expanded several times.Spotify
Especially under Steinberg and Previn, the orchestra amassed a large recording catalog. Honeck has revived the orchestra's recording activity, issuing a series of recordings of symphonic repertoire works in the 2010s on the Exton and Reference Recordings labels. In 2018, the orchestra issued a reading of Beethoven's Symphony No.Spotify
11, of Richard Strauss; Honeck's Beethoven interpretations have been influenced by the historical-performance movement. The Pittsburgh Symphony, under Honeck, was nominated for a Grammy award for its 2019 album Bruckner: Symphony No. 9.Spotify
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Wikipedia
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is an American orchestra based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Wikipedia
The orchestra is resident at Heinz Hall, located in Pittsburgh's Cultural District. Since 2008, the orchestra's music director is Manfred Honeck.Wikipedia
The orchestra's current president and CEO is Melia Tourangeau.Wikipedia
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Lecture 12. Guest Conductor: Saybrook Orchestra
Yale (YouTube) · lecture · youtube, transcript
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Play videoCarnegie Hall · published 2026-04-20 · 2m
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra: Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 (excerpt)
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Play videoYouTube · published 2014-02-14 · 1h 24m
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra live from Berlin, Opening concert of Musikfest Berlin 2013
2013Symphony1h 24m
FreeFull concertLongLive
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