PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ANNOUNCES FIRST CONCERT IN ITS EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES INITIATIVE

Music Director Manfred Honeck will Host New Series of Archival Concerts

For Immediate Release
March 27, 2020

PITTSBURGH, PA—The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra today announced that the first in its planned Friday night concert series under its “Extraordinary Measures” initiative will begin tonight, March 27, at 8PM/Eastern. The initiative was created as a way for the orchestra to continue to provide music to the community online during the COVID-19 public health crisis.

The first in this series of archival live performances is a performance by the orchestra of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6, conducted by Music Director Manfred Honeck, from the Berlin Philharmonie in May of 2016. The series will be hosted by Honeck, and includes a brief exploration and performance of the Sixth Symphony with personal insights about the music and the concert. This performance will be posted on the Pittsburgh Symphony’s web site www.pittsburghsymphony.org at 8PM/Eastern and is available to all, free of charge, for 45 days.

“On a typical Friday as I walk through Heinz Hall, I hear the beautiful music of our incomparable musicians rehearsing for the weekend’s concerts; I see patrons as they walk in to our box office from Sixth Street, eagerly picking up tickets,” said Melia Tourangeau, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. “But this is not a typical Friday. We are all so disappointed not to be with you in person at Heinz Hall. Yet, we are no less committed to continuing to bring music to you. We look forward to gathering with you tonight – in our homes, but together enjoying the passionate musical experience that is the hallmark of Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.”

The "Extraordinary Measures" initiative is a series of musical offerings throughout the orchestra’s digital spaces and includes, in addition to the Friday night concerts:

• Regular “Bright Spot” videos that feature a special musical selection from a musician
• Ongoing Educational Support including Make Time for Music with Fiddlesticks (for children ages 3-8 and their families) and Practice! Practice! Practice! (tips and techniques from our musicians for instrumental students)

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra thanks BNY Mellon for their support of these performances. The original broadcast was made possible by a generous gift from Dick and Ginny Simmons.

The following clip from the concert is available to include in a news article or social media post accompanying the article, provided that it includes "courtesy Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra."

https://vimeo.com/401476951/505288ccd6​

Media Contacts
Julie Goetz | Director of Communications
jgoetz@pittsburghsymphony.org | 412.392.4866