Location: Heinz Hall, home of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Downtown
Featured guests: Music Director Manfred Honeck and Dylan Naroff, first violin
3 things that surprised me:
1. Maestro Manfred Honeck showed us around his office and opened a cabinet that held an array of wine and liquor bottles. He says that guest performers often stop by following a concert to celebrate and assured me that the cabinet is opened only after a show is over.
2. The maestro demonstrated some of the flourishes he may use during a performance. With flicks and gestures, he can instruct the musicians to change the tempo, perform more quietly or play their instruments more expressively. Honeck, who is in his 16th season with the PSO, says it’s wonderful to be leading the same orchestra for so long because he has gotten to know the musicians, and they have developed a shorthand for communicating during rehearsals and performances.
3. I followed Dylan to the locker room where performers get ready for the concerts. I hadn’t imagined that – like one of Pittsburgh’s sports teams – the orchestra has a locker room. Dylan’s locker door is covered in scuba diving stickers affixed there by the violinist who occupied the locker before. While we chatted at Dylan’s locker, a cellist practiced nearby. That part’s probably not happening in the Penguins’ locker room.
One thing that didn’t make the final cut: The PSO recently started the Disrupt Music Series to attract new audiences to Heinz Hall. Disrupt shows are a little shorter than standard concerts and include themed cocktails and other immersive experiences. The next one is scheduled for May 18.
Additional info: You can learn more about the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and buy tickets for upcoming concerts at the website.
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