For more than 100 years, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has been an essential part of Pittsburgh's cultural landscape. The PSO prides itself in artistic excellence, a rich history of the world's finest conductors and musicians, a strong commitment to the Pittsburgh region, and the cultivation of its family of constituents and households. This tradition is furthered with great anticipation this Fall, when Austrian conductor Manfred Honeck assumes the position of Music Director with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, beginning in September 2008.

Heading the list of internationally recognized conductors to have led the PSO is Victor Herbert, Music Director between 1898 and 1904, who influenced the initial development of the PSO. Preceding Herbert was Frederic Archer (1896-1899), the first Pittsburgh Orchestra Conductor. Critical to the Orchestra's solidification as an American institution in the late 1930s was Maestro Otto Klemperer. Conductors prior to Klemperer were Emil Paur (1904-1910), Elias Breeskin (1926-1930) and Antonio Modarelli (1930-1937). From 1938 to 1948 the Orchestra embarked on a new phase of its history, taking its first foreign tour and making its first commercial recording under the dynamic directorship of Fritz Reiner.

The PSO's high standard of excellence was maintained and enhanced through the inspired leadership of William Steinberg during his quarter-century as Music Director between 1952 and 1976. André Previn (1976-1984) led the Orchestra to new heights through tours, recordings and television, including the PBS series "Previn and the Pittsburgh." Lorin Maazel began his relationship with the PSO in 1984 as Music Consultant but later served as Music Director from 1988-1996, molding the PSO into one of the finest orchestras in the world. As Music Director from 1997-2004, Mariss Jansons furthered the artistic growth of the orchestra, and upon his departure, the PSO  created an innovative leadership model with Artistic Advisor Sir Andrew Davis, with Principal Guest Conductor Yan Pascal Tortelier and Endowed Guest Conductor Chair Marek Janowski. These three conductors were the primary artistic leadership for the Orchestra until January 2007, when the PSO selected Honeck to take the reins at the start of the 2008-2009 Season.

Conductor: Manfred Honeck
Manfred Honeck was born in Austria and studied music at the Academy of Music in Vienna. An accomplished violinist and violist, Honeck spent more than 10 years as a member of the Vienna Philharmonic and the Vienna State Opera Orchestra. It is this experience that heavily influenced his conducting and helped give it a distinctive stamp.

Manfred Honeck has served the principal conductor and music director of: MDR Symphony Orchestra Leipzig, Norwegian National Opera in Oslo, Oslo Philharmonic, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Staatsoper Stuttgart. Honeck has also been Artistic Director of the "International Concerts Wolfegg" summer music series in Germany for more than fifteen years.

Programs
May 14
Jennifer Higdon
Blue Cathedral

Richard Strauss
Death and Transfiguration

Ludwig von Beethoven
Symphony No. 7

May 15
Ludwig von Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 5
   Piano Solo: Garrick Ohlsson

Gustav Mahler
Symphony No. 1