“The last time a visiting orchestra performed in Aspen, the town had just one chairlift—the longest in the world—and Harry Truman was president,” writes Christine Benedetti in Thursday’s (8/18) Aspen Daily News (Colorado). “That all changes when the 121-year-old Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra comes to town for a residency with the Aspen Music Festival and School next week, more than 65 years later. [They] … arrive in Aspen for three nights of performances beginning Tuesday. Led by maestro Manfred Honeck, the shows also feature violinist Pinchas Zukerman and PSO principal clarinetist and AMFS artist-faculty member Michael Rusinek…. Aspen Music Festival and School CEO Alan Fletcher previously lived [in Pittsburgh], and served on the board, from 2001 to 2006. The PSO has also commissioned three works by Fletcher, who is a composer himself. When the AMFS board and staff started talking about ways to extend their eight-week season, which comes to an end this Sunday, Aug. 21, with additional musical offerings, one generous board member, Sanford Grossman, suggested bringing in an entire orchestra, which he would sponsor…. While hosting an entire orchestra is quite elaborate, it’s also a unique opportunity for Aspen audiences ‘to hear one of the best orchestras in the world,’ says Fletcher.”
Posted August 22, 2016
Pictured: Manfred Honeck leads the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
