The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Manfred Honeck rehearse for the orchestra’s March 13 virtual concert. Photo by Ed Dearmitt/Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
“The sounds of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra have resonated for 125 years,” writes JoAnne Klimovich Harrop in Sunday’s (2/21) Trib-Live (western PA). “Feb. 27 will mark its first performance this year. The original plan included a year-long celebration culminating with a gala. But the pandemic crashed that party. ‘We definitely still want to celebrate,’ said Melia Tourangeau, president and CEO of the symphony.… The symphony produced a special performance in the fall that will air virtually at 7:30 on Feb. 27…. In addition to the gala, the orchestra will offer new performances for the ‘Front Row’ [virtual] series [beginning] on March 13. Music director Manfred Honeck, who recently returned to the U.S., will be part of the performances.… Each episode is 60 minutes and includes a solo performance by a wind or brass musician…. Principal Pops conductor Byron Stripling has created a program of early folk classics and ballads, along with blues and soul that followed…. Mary Persin, vice president of artistic planning … said … ‘This virtual programming will be a vivid musical celebration of this milestone.’ ” The article includes a list of events that have recently been cancelled or postponed due to the pandemic.
