Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra celebrates its longevity with virtual program
Feb. 21—The sounds of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra have resonated for 125 years. (That's a quasquicentennial, according to the dictionary.) 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 vision for the anniversary has taken on about 15 iterations since covid."
Planning for this day began three years ago, Tourangeau said. Despite many obstacles, the symphony found a way to still be heard.
It created "Front Row: The PSO Virtual Experience," a digital platform for performances.
"It's been beautifully produced," Tourangeau said. "Viewers get to see the facial expressions of the musicians and watch their fingers move across the strings of the instruments, which people don't usually get to see so close up."
The symphony produced a special performance in the fall that will air virtually at 7:30 on Feb. 27. The cost is $25. A shorter piece will be broadcast at 7:30 p.m. on March 11 on WQED.
For the symphony's largest fundraiser, they've sold 350 tickets and the sponsors have continued their support, Tourangeau said.
The symphony is the sixth largest in the U.S.
"(Andrew) Carnegie had the foresight to see the importance of this music," Tourangeau said. "Music has been a great connector of people. Nothing has demonstrated that more than how it feels not having the live, in-person experience of music. We feel fortunate to still be able to bring music to people. The musicians know how important that is. They've taken a massive pay cut to help us get through this challenging time.
In addition to the gala, the orchestra will offer new performances for the "Front Row" series since there is no date for when live audiences can return to Heinz Hall, the symphony's home Downtown.
The first performance will premiere on March 13.
Music director Manfred Honeck, who recently returned to the U.S., will be part of the performances.
Guest artists — pianist Inon Barnatan and violinist Simone Porter — will also perform. Barnatan is celebrated for his "poetic sensibility, musical intelligence and consummate artistry." Porter has been recognized as an "emerging artist of impassioned energy, interpretive integrity, and vibrant communication."
The programs will feature composers with more than 300 years in separation in year of birth, from Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) to Anna Clyne, who's 40 years old.
Each episode is 60 minutes and includes a solo performance by a wind or brass musician as part of a musical interlude.
Principal Pops conductor Byron Stripling has created a program of early folk classics and ballads, along with blues and soul that followed, officials said.
BNY Mellon is sponsoring the classical digital performances. PNC is sponsoring the Pittsburgh Symphony Pops performances.
There will be a musical guide who will share behind-the-scenes insight about the piece.
"It will help the audience as they experience it together with us," said Mary Persin, vice president of artistic planning, who designed the programs.
Persin recalled the last live concert at Heinz Hall was in January 2020 for the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth.
She said the 125th anniversary got her thinking of all the musicians who have filled the chairs on stage.
"This virtual programming will be a vivid musical celebration of this milestone," she said. "The community has embraced the digital platform as a new way to connect and our musicians have been resilient for 125 years."
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact JoAnne at 724-853-5062, jharrop@triblive.com or via Twitter .
