Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Company type	Non-profit organization
Industry	Classical music, Performing arts
Founded	1895
Headquarters	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania , United States
Key people	Manfred Honeck (Music Director), Melia Tourangeau (President and CEO)
Products	Orchestral concerts, recordings, broadcasts
Website	pittsburghsymphony.org

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is a distinguished American ensemble located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Its home is Heinz Hall situated within Pittsburgh's Cultural District. Since 2008, the orchestra has been under the artistic direction of music director Manfred Honeck. The organization's current president and CEO is Melia Tourangeau.

1895–1910: Origins and formative years

The PSO was established in 1895 by the Pittsburgh Arts Society, with conductor Frederic Archer at the helm. The orchestra’s inaugural concert took place in 1896 and included musicians drawn from the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

In 1898, leadership passed to Victor Herbert, who broadened the orchestra’s touring circuit to include cities such as Boston, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and destinations in Canada. Prominent members during his tenure were concertmaster Luigi von Kunits and first violinist Frederick William Stahlberg. Herbert introduced two original compositions to the orchestra’s repertoire: Suite romantique op. 31 and the tone poem Hero and Leander op. 33. Under his guidance, the PSO performed at the 1901 Pan-American Exposition, showcasing Herbert’s commissioned work "Panamericana: Morceau Characteristique." Herbert’s period as conductor concluded in 1904 due to disagreements with manager George H. Wilson.

Following Herbert, Austrian conductor Emil Paur assumed control, emphasizing a more cerebral approach centered on classical works, notably those by Johannes Brahms. Paur enforced rigorous standards by limiting musicians’ external engagements and predominantly hiring European instrumentalists. His tenure was marked by friction with management; Wilson resigned in 1906 citing conflicts with Paur’s leadership methods. Paur continued until the orchestra ceased operations in 1910.

1910–1938: Formation of the New Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

The Pittsburgh Orchestra Association was created by concert promoter May Beegle with the goal of attracting a wide range of musical acts to the city.

In 1930, American conductor and composer Antonio Modarelli took charge of the Pittsburgh Symphonic Orchestra. Recognized for his "forceful, authentic, modern music," Modarelli had international conducting experience as well as a background teaching at Duquesne University and leading a Navy band. Despite attempts to elevate the symphony’s status through frequent guest conductors, Modarelli was effectively sidelined and requested to resign in 1936.

Otto Klemperer played a vital role by recruiting fresh talent and working closely with the Musicians' Union to integrate both local and imported performers. Since that era, the orchestra has continued expanding its reach and established a significant endowment fund.

1938–1948: The Reiner era

From 1938 until 1948, Fritz Reiner served as music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony. A protégé of Hungarian composer Béla Bartók, Reiner introduced numerous Bartók compositions into the orchestra’s programming.

During World War II, the PSO incorporated women musicians for the first time, welcoming eighteen female performers in 1942 followed by an additional twenty-four in 1944. This made the PSO one of the most gender-inclusive major American orchestras during that era.

In 1948, Victor De Sabata came to Pittsburgh encouraged by colleague Vladimir Bakaleinikoff. His tenure saw a substantial increase in ticket sales; notably, approximately 1,200 attendees braved a severe snowstorm to attend a concert he conducted at the Syria Mosque. De Sabata returned for guest appearances in later years, and in 2010 the orchestra honored him by creating a Guest Conductor Chair bearing his name.

1952–1976: The Steinberg Era

William Steinberg assumed the role of music director in 1952. Early in his leadership, the Symphony organized "industry concerts" sponsored by local labor groups such as the United Steelworkers of America, reaching workers throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. Collaborations with Manufacturers Heat and Light Company and Columbia Gas allowed the orchestra to bring performances to smaller towns.

The ensemble embarked on a tour sponsored by the State Department, performing in key cities including Warsaw, Madrid, Berlin, Zagreb, Reykjavik, and various other locations spanning Europe and the Middle East.

Many of Steinberg’s initial recordings were produced at the Syria Mosque, partnering with labels like Capitol Records and Columbia Records; this venue functioned as their main concert hall from 1926 through 1971. Beginning in 1962, Steinberg conducted sessions for Command Records at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, employing cutting-edge 35mm film technology to achieve enhanced audio fidelity.

Steinberg stepped down as music director in 1976 but remained involved as music director emeritus for guest conducting appearances.

1976–1984: The Previn Era

André Previn took over as music director in 1976, cultivating a spirit of collaboration with orchestra members and forming a chamber trio with principal players around 1979. In 1981, he renewed his contract, affirming his dedication to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

During this timeframe, Victoria Bond, notable as the first woman to earn a doctoral degree in orchestral conducting from the Juilliard School, served as affiliate conductor from 1978 to 1980. She also directed the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony and New Amsterdam Symphony, strengthening the orchestra’s ties to the community.

Previn introduced jazz elements into concert programming and led the orchestra’s national television debut on PBS in 1977 with Previn and the Pittsburgh, an Emmy-nominated series sponsored by the Alcoa Foundation that aired for three years. Distinguished guests featured on the show included John Williams, Ella Fitzgerald, and Oscar Peterson.

Previn left his post in 1984, recognized for enhancing the orchestra’s prestige, broadening its community involvement, and boosting its international profile.

1984–1996: The Maazel Era

Lorin Maazel began as music consultant in 1984, advancing to music adviser and principal guest conductor in 1985 before becoming music director in 1988. He announced his intention to leave in 1995 to concentrate on composing and formally stepped down in 1996. After Maazel’s passing in 2014, the Pittsburgh Symphony commemorated him through memorial concerts and a multimedia exhibition featuring archival materials.

Marvin Hamlisch held the position of principal pops conductor from 1995 until his death in 2012, playing a key role in shaping the orchestra’s popular music offerings.

1995–2004: The Second Century

A fundraising campaign initiated in 1993 sought to boost the Pittsburgh Symphony’s endowment by $70 million. On April 10, 1995, the orchestra announced Mariss Jansons as Maazel’s successor; he became its eighth music director in 1996. The Latvian-born conductor was acclaimed for bringing "warmth and humanity" to the ensemble. Under Jansons’ leadership, the Symphony toured internationally and recorded extensively while pioneering new approaches to audience engagement within Pittsburgh. His tenure concluded at the close of the 2003–2004 season.

2005–2007: Transitional Period

Beginning with the 2005–2006 season, the PSO implemented a revised artistic governance structure. A collective bargaining agreement empowered musicians with increased influence over the orchestra's operations, including decisions related to hiring and programming. Sir Andrew Davis acted as artistic advisor, while Yan Pascal Tortelier served as principal guest conductor and Marek Janowski occupied the endowed guest conductor position.

Davis directed the overall programming vision, focusing on works by British and American composers, and conducted a repertoire ranging from baroque to modern compositions. He had previously appeared as a guest conductor with the PSO between 1977 and 1990.

Although originally planning to conclude his tenure after the 2007–2008 season, Davis and the Symphony agreed in October 2007 to terminate his contract earlier due to his growing external commitments. The contracts for Tortelier and Janowski also ended in 2008; Janowski subsequently assumed the Otto Klemperer Guest Conductor Chair with the PSO.

2008–present: Manfred Honeck Era

Manfred Honeck first appeared as a guest conductor with the PSO in May 2006 and returned in November of that year. In January 2007, he was named the orchestra’s ninth music director, effective from the 2008–2009 season, reinstating the traditional music director leadership framework. His initial agreement spanned three years. In September 2009, the PSO extended Honeck’s contract through the 2015–2016 season, followed by another extension in February 2012 through 2019–2020. Additional renewals occurred in September 2018 extending through 2021–2022 and again in September 2021 through the 2027–2028 season.

In June 2007, American maestro Leonard Slatkin was appointed principal guest conductor for the 2008–2009 season.

In November 2006, the PSO secured a $29.5 million pledge from the Richard P. Simmons family to initiate a capital campaign aimed at addressing financial challenges. By December of that year, an $80 million fundraising initiative was announced. Due to budgetary pressures, the orchestra discontinued its chamber orchestra series following the 2008–2009 season and reduced its workforce by nine positions in March 2009.

Music directors

• Victor Herbert (1898–1904)
• Emil Paur (1904–1910)
• Antonio Modarelli (1930–1937)
• Fritz Reiner (1938–1948)
• Vladimir Bakaleinikov (1948–1952)
• William Steinberg (1952–1976)
• André Previn (1976–1984)
• Lorin Maazel (1984–1996)
• Mariss Jansons (1996–2004)
• Manfred Honeck (2008–present)

Other conductors in leadership roles

• Frederic Archer ('Lead Conductor', 1895–1898)
• Otto Klemperer ('Guest Conductor', 1937)
• Victor de Sabata ('Guest Conductor', 1948–1952)
• Marek Janowski, Andrew Davis, Yan Pascal Tortelier ('Artistic Advisors', 2005–2008)

Previn and the Pittsburgh

Premiering in 1977 with sponsorship from the Alcoa Foundation, "Previn and the Pittsburgh" was a three-year television series on WQED-TV that became PBS’s highest-rated classical music program. The series showcased Music Director André Previn’s wide-ranging musical interests and collaborations with prominent artists such as John Williams, Ella Fitzgerald, Yo-Yo Ma, Stephen Sondheim, and Itzhak Perlman. Following its debut broadcast, audience engagement increased significantly, resulting in over 2,500 additional tickets sold.

Pittsburgh Symphony Radio

Launched in 1982 and hosted by Jim Cunningham from WQED-FM, Pittsburgh Symphony Radio broadcasts two-hour performances featuring Music Director Manfred Honeck alongside guest soloists. This program is carried by over 100 PRI and NPR affiliates across the United States. The orchestra’s radio legacy traces back to 1936 when the NBC Blue Network aired a series of twenty-six half-hour episodes sponsored by the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company.

Additional television broadcasts

During Gilbert Levine’s tenure, the Pittsburgh Symphony joined forces with the London Philharmonic Choir, Kraków Philharmonic Choir, Ankara Polyphonic Choir, and members of the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh for a special presentation that included the world debut of John Harbison's sacred motet "Abraham" as well as Mahler's Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection." The event, attended by the Pope, Rav Elio Toaff, Imam Abdulawahab Hussein Gomaa, and an audience of 7,000, was televised on RAI and PBS, reaching a global viewership and later issued on DVD by WQED Multimedia. Building on this success, Levine launched the "Music for the Spirit" concert series with the Pittsburgh Symphony, inaugurating it in 2006 with performances of Haydn's "Creation" and Mahler's Symphony No. 3.

Heinz Hall background

From 1967 through 1971, Heinz Hall underwent an extensive $10 million renovation that retained much of its original framework while adding a new five-story extension to increase stage dimensions, rehearsal areas, music library space, and dressing rooms.

Before its official reopening in 1971, significant concerts included a 1969 pension fund benefit featuring Leonard Rose, Isaac Stern, and Eugene Istomin performing compositions by Berlioz, Beethoven, and Brahms. Audience responses were overwhelmingly positive regarding the new venue.

Heinz Hall’s formal dedication took place in September 1971 with inaugural concerts under conductor William Steinberg showcasing Beethoven's overture "Consecration of the House" alongside Mahler's Symphony No. 2 ("Resurrection"), performed in collaboration with Pennsylvania State University choirs. The New York Times commended the hall’s enhanced acoustics, emphasizing that Pittsburgh audiences could finally experience the orchestra’s sound as intended.

In 1982, MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni designed the Garden Plaza featuring a waterfall and a sculpture by Angela Connor. A four-story addition followed in 1988, incorporating bars, dining facilities, meeting rooms, and renovated reception spaces.

A $6.5 million refurbishment commenced in 1995 supported by the Howard Heinz Endowment and Pennsylvania’s Strategy 21 initiative. Directed by architect Albert Filoni alongside acoustician R. Lawrence Kirkegaard, this project improved acoustics, technological infrastructure, and visual appeal. The hall reopened with a ceremony led by Governor Tom Ridge and Teresa Heinz.