Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Embarks This Week on 18-day, 12-Concert European Tour

Music Director Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) embark this week on the 12-concert BNY Mellon 2010 European Tour from May 15 through 29, 2010.

In addition to two concerts at Vienna’s famed Musikverein, the Orchestra is also performing in Switzerland, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovenia. Joining the Orchestra and Maestro Honeck are violin virtuoso Anne-Sophie Mutter, renowned pianist Emanuel Ax, and dynamic cellist Jan Vogler.

The PSO is continuing its partnership with the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance in Europe.

“The PSO’s BNY Mellon 2010 European Tour, along with the U.N.’s World Environment Day and Pittsburgh’s role as the North American host city, are key opportunities for capitalizing on the global attention that the region is again receiving," said PRA President Dewitt Peart.

"The spotlight is back on Pittsburgh, and we’re going to turn the conversation about ‘why Pittsburgh?’ – begun in earnest last year around the Pittsburgh (G-20) Summit – to ‘why not Pittsburgh?’ Ours is a top-ranked region that has continued to be a standard setter for turning the page to a new economy, even in the thick of a deep recession,” he said.

"The PSO is one shining example of a transformed, world class Pittsburgh – a region that’s proven it can welcome and wow the world. The PRA and the PSO will showcase the region, its balanced, diversified economy and its other assets to international business leaders and decision makers in the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Luxembourg and Switzerland. Pittsburgh is a model place to invest and to do business; come and see. That’s the message we’ll be taking to the world."

Repertoire for the tour includes one of Maestro Honeck’s signature works: Mahler’s Symphony No. 1. Performances include Brahms’ Violin Concerto; Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8; Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5; Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor;” and Schumann’s Cello Concerto.

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has been a vital part of the City of Pittsburgh’s heritage for more than 100 years. With its noble history of the finest conductors and musicians and its strong commitment to artistic quality and excellence, audiences around the world have claimed the PSO as their orchestra of choice.

In September 2008, the PSO welcomed its ninth Music Director Manfred Honeck. Beginning in the early 1900s with frequent performances in Canada, the PSO confirmed its ranking as a world-class orchestra, earning critical acclaim for each tour abroad.

Its 34 international tours include 18 European tours, eight trips to the Far East and two to South America. In January 2004, the PSO became the first American orchestra to perform at the Vatican for Pope John Paul II, as part of the Pontiff’s Silver Jubilee celebration.

The Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, an affiliate of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, markets the benefits of conducting business in southwestern Pennsylvania to companies all over the world that are growing, relocating or expanding. For more information, visit www.pittsburghregion.org.

The Allegheny Conference on Community Development and Affiliates – the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, the Pennsylvania Economy League of Southwestern Pennsylvania and the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance – work in collaboration with public and private sector partners to stimulate economic growth and improve the quality of life in southwestern Pennsylvania. For more information, visit www.alleghenyconference.org.

SCHEDULE:

BASEL, Switzerland – Musiksaal Stadtcasino
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin
Brahms Violin Concerto
Dvořák Symphony No. 8

STUTTGART, Germany – Liederhalle
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin
Brahms Violin Concerto
Mahler Symphony No. 1, “Titan”

PARIS, France – Salle Pleyel
Monday, May 17, 2010
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin
Brahms Violin Concerto
Shostakovich Symphony No. 5

FRANKFURT, Germany – Alte Oper
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Emanuel Ax, piano
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor”
Shostakovich Symphony No. 5

LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg – Philharmonie
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Emanuel Ax, piano
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor”
Dvorak Symphony No. 8

LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg – Philharmonie
Friday, May 21, 2010
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin
Brahms Violin Concerto
Shostakovich Symphony No. 5

PRAGUE, Czech Republic – Smetana Hall
Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 8 p.m.
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin
Brahms Violin Concerto
Shostakovich Symphony No. 5

DRESDEN, Germany – Semperoper
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Jan Vogler, cello
Schumann Cello Concerto
Mahler Symphony No. 1, “Titan”

VIENNA, Austria – Musikverein
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Emanuel Ax, piano
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor”
Shostakovich Symphony No. 5

VIENNA, Austria – Musikverein
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin
Brahms Violin Concerto
Mahler Symphony No. 1, “Titan”

BUDAPEST, Hungary – Belá Bartók National Concert Hall
Friday, May 28, 2010
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin
Brahms Violin Concerto
Mahler Symphony No. 1, “Titan”

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia – Cankarjev Dom
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Jan Vogler, cello
Schumann Cello Concerto
Shostakovich Symphony No. 5

The PSO recognized BNY Mellon for its title sponsorship of the BNY Mellon 2010 European Tour, Westinghouse Electric Company LLC for its presenting sponsorship of the May 17 concert in Paris, and PPG for its supporting sponsorship of the May 16 concert in Stuttgart. International touring is made possible, in part, by the Hillman Endowment for International Performance.

For more information, go to www.pittsburghsymphony.org.