Pittsburgh Symphony’s European Tour: Cultural Diplomacy and More

In last Monday’s (8/19) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Jeremy Reynolds writes, “In the classical music world, there’s ‘baton diplomacy,’ when music becomes a tool of cultural ambassadorship, such as when an American orchestra tours another country. Often, in addition to … concert halls … there are meetings between diplomats and business leaders. Orchestral tours are … an excuse and opportunity to bring people together over a shared interest in music and culture. This is one of the two primary reasons American orchestras still tour internationally, a tradition that is drawing increasing scrutiny for its expense and its carbon impact around the world. That’s why when the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra disembarks on its 2024 European junket on Sunday—which mostly takes place in Germany—they won’t be going alone. They’ll have representatives from the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, leaders from the Pittsburgh Chapter of the German American Chamber of Commerce and more to meet with German business leaders to explore potential collaborations and partnerships that could bring new business or forge stronger cultural connections between Pittsburgh and international businesses…. As Pittsburgh continues to evolve beyond its industrial roots and the pandemic, stakeholders see the symphony as an integral part of the city’s brand.”