Europe calls again for Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
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Dewitt Peart, president of the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, says the group will accompany the touring PSO with the goal of nurturing business connections.
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The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra plans both to bolster its future and honor its legacy when it returns to Europe in late summer. This will be the 18th time the PSO has toured Europe, and the demand has not decreased.
"The fact we are receiving these invitations is a credit to our history and reputation," said PSO president Lawrence Tamburri. "In the last two European tours, we played to packed halls."
Aug. 26: Wiesbaden, Germany
Aug. 27: Hamburg, Germany
Aug. 29: Vilnius, Lithuania
Sept. 7: Paris
Sept. 1-2: Grafenegg, Austria
Sept. 3: Lucerne, Switzerland
Sept. 9-10: Bonn, Germany
Sept. 11: Berlin
But he also cited the draw of music director Manfred Honeck, the Austrian conductor with an ever-growing reputation in Europe.
"It's in part because of Honeck's reputation we have been invited back," Mr. Tamburri said.
"Touring Europe with our wonderful musicians is always a special experience for me," said Mr. Honeck. "It is fantastic to make music with our world-class orchestra in some of the finest concert halls in the world."
The 2011 European Festivals Tour takes the orchestra to six countries for a total of a dozen concerts. They include the Lucerne and Berlin festivals, the Beethoven Festival in Bonn, as well as concerts in Vilnius, Lithuania; Grafenegg, Austria; Paris; Hamburg; Wiesbaden, and the United Kingdom. Venue and dates for concerts in Britain will be released at a later date.
The tour program features Mahler's Symphony No. 5, Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5, Braunfels' "Fantastic Appearances of a Theme by Hector Berlioz" and Wagner's "Prelude to Lohengrin."
The tour, sponsored by BNY Mellon and supported by the Hillman Endowment for International Performance, renews an onstage relationship with violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter that proved a winner last summer in a tour to other venues in Europe. Ms. Mutter will perform Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto and Wolfgang Rihm's "Gesungene Zeit" and "Lichtes Spiel" in Lucerne, Berlin, Bonn, Hamburg, Vilnius, Grafenegg, Wiesbaden, and the U.K. Also appearing will be pianist Helene Grimaud, who will appear in Grafenegg, the U.K., Paris and Bonn.
As in previous tours, the PSO will be joined by the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance to promote the Pittsburgh region in Europe.
"Showcasing the PSO, one of our best cultural assets, and engaging with global business leaders let us nurture established relationships and build new friendships that bring investment to our region," said PRA president Dewitt Peart.
First Published January 23, 2011 12:00 am
