New CD captures PSO's tremendous 2010 performance
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The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's recording of Mahler Symphony No. 3 is more of a document of the sound of the PSO under Manfred Honeck than any of the previous discs with him.
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Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra "Mahler Symphony No. 3." (Exton)
Heinz Hall is underrated nationally. Its acoustics may not match the pristine environments of Carnegie Hall in New York or Severance Hall in Cleveland, but it certainly is one of the best of the rest. But no matter the quality of a hall, it is difficult for a recording to match the live experience.
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's recording of Mahler's Symphony No. 3 on the audiophile label Exton, however, comes awfully close. Conducted by its music director Manfred Honeck, the performances of the work in 2010 were a tremendous conclusion to the 2009-10 season, and they sound just as luminous and charged as they were then.
The recording features mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung, who subbed for singer Jane Irwin after the opening night of the concerts. Exton had to pick one of the singers and they did well to choose Ms. DeYoung. Her radiant tone reverberates on disc and so do the many solos by Peter Sullivan (trombone), Cynthia DeAlmeida (oboe), George Vosburgh (trumpet) and William Caballero (horn). The women of the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and the Children's Festival Chorus come through with presence.
But most crucially for the PSO, this is more of a document of the sound of the PSO under Mr. Honeck than any of the previous discs with him. Now several years into his tenure, the orchestra is on-board with the maestro's interpretations. In particular, the members are committed to his predilection for highly contrasting levels. These typically drive sound engineers crazy, but come out brilliantly here.
One historical note: The recording marks the last concerts of Andres Cardenes as PSO concertmaster, and he also offers splendid solos to put an exclamation point on his tenure here.
The disc is only available domestically through the PSO at this point; it will reach U.S. retail outlets in fall.
Now Ensemble "Awake" (New Amsterdam)
The title track of this impressive album by the New York-based Now Ensemble was written by Patrick Burke, a Duquesne University composer. Composed for flute, piano, clarinet, bass and electric guitar, "Awake" gently opens its eyes quietly and stretches with Mahler-influenced woodwind licks. Gradually it grows louder and expansive with layer-upon-layer of sweeping sound built on simple harmonic progressions.
First Published August 25, 2011 12:00 am
