Inside Perspective

MBA Network Night at Carnegie Hall - Blog Host Kevin

On Thursday evening, March 27th at Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland, the Pittsburgh Symphony Chamber Orchestra welcomed the MBA Network.  Before the concert, students, faculty, board members and alumni of Pittsburgh's top Business Schools joined together for a networking opportunity.  The event was collectively supported by the Deans of Carnegie Mellon's Tepper School of Business, Duquesne University's AJ Palumbo School of Business Administration, Robert Morris University's School of Business and University of Pittsburgh's Katz School of Business. 

Andres Cardenes at Lynn University Masterclass - Blog Host Kevin

Andrés Càrdenes represented the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on February 29, 2008 while giving a masterclass at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. Several violinists from the Lynn University Conservatory of Music performed for Andrés in the Amarnick-Goldstein Concert Hall within the deHoernle International Center. The class was offered to the students of Lynn University, as well as to members of the Palm Beach area community, in order to broaden the reach of the PSO to aspiring violin students.

February Update - Leonard Slatkin

The New Year has gotten off to a quick start, hampered by a severe cold.
     Beethoven 9's in Milan were great fun, a term one does not usually associate with this piece. But it seemed appropriate for the audience, which was looking for this high level of entertainment to bring in the festivities. Our tenor fell ill suddenly with just one performance under our belt, so we had to find another quickly. Being in Milan, you would have thought all they had to do was go across town to La Scala and get someone. But the answer seemed to lie in Germany, where a fine substitute filled in.

Josh Bell and John Corigliano - Blog Host Kevin

A picture says a thousand words...

January Update - Leonard Slatkin

Happy New Year!

2007 has ended on a mostly upbeat note. In some years, December is a more quiet time for symphonic conductors. What with Holiday Pops, Messiahs, and other concerts devoted to this time of year, there is not much place for a lot of the traditional or adventurous symphonic fare.

Or is there?

November/December update - Leonard Slatkin

Another whirlwind month has come to a close. There are times when I am not sure that it is possible to keep up with the calendar. And traveling these days is certainly not one of life’s greatest pleasures.

The first two weeks of November were spent with the Royal Philharmonic. For the first time in my career, I did a concert at Albert Hall in London, which was not a Prom. To fill the 5,000+ seating area, the programs have to be more popular than usual. In this case, Holst’s Planets paired with Walton’s Belshazzar. The concert was recorded and is available on iTunes.

Percussion fun backstage! - Blog Host Jonathan

We're doing the full version of Stravinsky's Firebird this weekend and one of the joys of hearing (and seeing) the full ballet score is the huge array of instruments employed. The stage is packed - especially with percussion instruments.  In fact, there's one instrument that can't even fit on the stage:

Percussionist, Chris Allen, has to leave the stage during the middle of the piece and... wait for it... climb a ladder in order to reach the top of the 9ft+ chimes.

Off-stage instruments aren't that uncommon in symphonic repertoire, but I'm pretty sure I've ever seen "stage-hand's ladder'" marked in a score before.

Our brave percussionist climbs to the top and then uses the conductor-cam (click to enlarge image) to follow Maestro Noseda's directions and play at exactly the right moment.

All in a day's work for a PSO percussionist, and not without a little back-stage humor (and the mandatory pre-rehearsal coffee) :)

As the orchestra fellow... - Geoffrey Johnson

I guess I should first introduce myself as the first person to have won the African-American Fellowship with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.  I have been asked to keep a blog to let you know what is going on in my life and how this new program has enhanced me, which I am thrilled about!  I will not bore you with my resume, but I will say that I am a recent graduate on oboe from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where I was fortunate enough to study with John Mack, as well as the new principal oboist of Cleveland Orchestra, Frank Rosenwein.

October update - Leonard Slatkin

Well, October was certainly a busy month. In Washington, at the NSO, we began the subscription season. Beethoven 9 was up first. It is amazing how my thoughts of this work have changed over the years. Time was when the last movement was the only one worth listening to. But now, the drama and tension of the first, the sarcasm and explosiveness of the Scherzo, and the joyous cry of thanksgiving in the slow movement take me to places much closer to the composers intentions. And that Finale still is not bad.

You May Have Noticed. . . - Blog Host Jonathan

Those regular readers of the PSO blogs may have noticed a couple of additions over the past week or two...

We're delighted to have on board our soon-to-be Music Director and Principal Guest Conductor.  The 2008-2009 season (just under a year from now) will see Manfred Honeck and Leonard Slatkin take up those positions with our orchestra and we're very very excited about it.  I'm personally even more excited that they'll be contributing to our blogs, Manfred via email and Leonard via his own website (see their first posts here and here)!

Expect to see posts on a monthly basis, detailing what the maestri (or is it 'maestros'? Answers on a post-card!) have been up to and where in the world they are.  As ever, feel free to post your questions and comments for them and our other Pittsburgh Symphony Bloggers.

Now, I'm off to enjoy the end of the rehearsal of Sibelius' violin concerto with Nikolaj Znaider.  Brilliant!

On changes in life - Leonard Slatkin

By now, most of you will have learned of my recent appointment as Music Director of the Detroit Symphony. Between the positions that I am completing and the ones that are coming up, it is even confusing to me. So let’s summarize.

I have just ended my three-year stint at the Hollywood Bowl. My 12-year tenure with the National Symphony ends this June. Last year was my first as Principal Guest Conductor of

London

’s Royal Philharmonic (4 weeks a year). I just began my week a semester residency at

Indiana

University

(two weeks). Next September I become Music Director in Detroit (14-16 weeks) and Principal Guest conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony (3 or 4 weeks).

This takes in a bit more than half of the calendar year. Assuming that I want some down time, I will probably take on about 14 additional weeks of guest conducting both here and abroad.

Pittsburgh Visit - September 2007 - Manfred Honeck

At the beginning of September I made only my fourth visit to the city of Pittsburgh.  It is amazing to think how different this trip was from my first one in the Spring of 2006, when I first appeared conducting this wonderful Pittsburgh Symphony. I remember the very first rehearsal well - there was an immediate relationship that I felt between myself and the musicians. Now, eighteen months later, I returned for my first 'lessons' in how to be the Music Director of this orchestra!

Hello Pittsburgh! - ASOL Fellow Brandon V-W

After spending the last three weeks learning and integrating myself into the staff of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, I have finally managed to make it to the blogs.  For those of you who followed Lisa Bryington posts, I am her successor.  My name is Brandon VanWaeyenberghe.  It is long, semi-difficult to pronounce and perfectly suited for the classical music industry.  But I insist that you call me Brandon.  It is just simpler that way.

Back to School - Blog Host Kevin

This past Friday, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra opened another year of the Mellon Grand Classics, and for me, it was a little like going back to school.  Watching the musicians come back for another season reminded me of students unpacking their bags and moving into the dormitory for another year, all the while greeting friends they hadn't seen for many weeks, sharing stories of their summers, and looking eager to play again.  There was a palpable anticipation.

Back On Track - Alison Fujito

First of all, I want to give my heartfelt thanks to those of you who have sent good wishes, prayers, etc.  Your support meant such a great deal to me during a very, very difficult year and a half for me.

I am so happy to be able to play these opening concerts this week!