Tuesday, February 18, 2025, 5:54AM |  16°
MENU
Advertisement
Pianist Igor Levit deliveres a rousing interpretation of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 22 in E-flat major with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Friday at Heinz Hall.
3
MORE

Review: Pittsburgh Symphony is spectacularly primed for European tour

Edward DeArmitt/Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Review: Pittsburgh Symphony is spectacularly primed for European tour

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra next week departs on its 25th European tour, and music director Manfred Honeck will lead the ensemble in some of the world’s finest halls. As a parting gift, the PSO is spending the weekend in Heinz Hall performing some of the same music that it will in Europe, a collection of works by Shostakovich, Mozart, Rachmaninoff, Bruckner and more.

Sports teams are often considered to be national ambassadors, champions of the city representing the best and boldest a population has to offer. If that’s the case, the orchestra can be considered our international ambassador, our cultural envoy to listeners and leaders across the pond. Friday’s performance is indicative of an exceptional tour, as guest concertmaster Zenas Hsuand piano soloist Igor Levit joined the ensemble to deliver a charged, thrilling program, exceptional even for this fine institution.

The evening opened with “Ressurexit” by Mason Bates, a 10-minute hyper-compressed musical retelling of the Christian Resurrection story, premiered in 2018 by the PSO. The music begins with suggestive flutters in the winds underneath a transparent sheen of upper strings. Deep, earthy English horn and oboe melodies built to a steady increase in speed and energy before the whole orchestra peaked in a triumphant burst.

Advertisement

Mr. Levit took to the stage for Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 22 in E-flat major, a cheerful romp of a piece with plenty of opportunity for cheek and sensitivity. The first movement cadenza sounded a touch far afield from the themes to my ears, impressive as it was, while the second movement was sublimely polished.

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's European Tour on Aug. 28, 2017, in Wiesbaden, Germany.
Jeremy Reynolds
Pittsburgh Symphony unveils details for 10-city European tour this fall

But the third movement — here was the meat of the piece. It begins with a simple piano tune that returns often (as is typical for a rondo), and Mr. Levit’s embellishments when the tune returned were utterly charming. The movement seemed to hover just on the edge of too fast, with the soloist galloping ahead with gusto and grace, Mr. Honeck and the orchestra gently pulling back a touch in the more lyrical phrases. Such was Mr. Levit’s enthusiasm that he entered a bar early at one moment, but in context this made the performance more visceral. Sometimes, technical perfection isn’t what’s best for a concert.

Post intermission, Mr. Honeck and the musicians launched into a taut, thorny performance of Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 in D minor, a work that encompasses a vast emotional gamut and remains fraught with historical subtext. (While Shostakovich was awarded the Stalin Prize not long after premiering this symphony, his memoirs reveal his disenchantment with the Soviet situation.) In 2018, the PSO won a Grammy Award for best orchestra performance for a recording featuring this work, and Friday’s performance was ample evidence why the album has resonated with the world.

After a desolate opening, bursts of rage entwine with glimmers of hope; the orchestra is at times a behemoth and at times an elephant tiptoeing on eggshells. The third movement is the emotional crux of the work, performed Friday with the most affecting wretchedness before that great sarcastic beast of a finale, itself enhanced by moments of warmth and reverence before a brilliant but chilling finish.

Advertisement

The musicians depart Tuesday morning for Europe and will perform in several German cities as well as Paris, Belgium and other key cities. Bon voyage to the PSO. 

The orchestra performs Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Heinz Hall, Downtown. Tickets are $20-$97 at 412-392-4900 or pittsburghsymphony.org.

Jeremy Reynolds: jreynolds@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1634; twitter: @Reynolds_PG. Mr. Reynolds' work at the Post-Gazette is supported by a grant from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Getty Foundation and Rubin Institute.

First Published: October 19, 2019, 4:10 a.m.

RELATED
SHOW COMMENTS (0)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
The Federal Bureau of Investigation seal outside the headquarters in Washington, D.C.
1
opinion
Vanni Cappelli: The FBI purge could lead to another 9/11
Sidequest on 44th in Lawrenceville on Dec. 27, 2024.
2
a&e
Canceled show finds ex-Misfits singer Michale Graves lashing out about being purged from Pittsburgh
Head coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith watch a receivers and defensive backs drill at Steelers Minicamp at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex Thursday, June 13, 2024.
3
sports
Gerry Dulac: Next season’s major decisions loom this week for Mike Tomlin, Steelers staff
A small public audience listened as Pittsburgh Public Schools released final recommendations for its facilities utilization plan during the education committee meeting at the PPS Administration Building in Oakland on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
4
news
Pittsburgh Public Schools considering reinstating virtual testimony following months of pushback
A protester waves a sign opposing Trump administration policies during a protest at the intersection of Murray and Forbes Avenues in Squirrel Hill Monday, Feb. 17, 2025.
5
news
Presidents Day protest in Pittsburgh takes aim at Trump policies
Pianist Igor Levit deliveres a rousing interpretation of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 22 in E-flat major with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Friday at Heinz Hall.  (Edward DeArmitt/Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra)
Members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra string section performing in Heinz Hall Downtown.  (Haley Nelson/Post-Gazette)
Pianist Igor Levit performs Mozart with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.  (Edward DeArmitt/Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra)
Edward DeArmitt/Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Advertisement
LATEST ae
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story