Henry Schlinger reviews Pittsburgh Symphony and Manfred Honeck’s Brahms: Symphony No. 4 and MacMillan: Larghetto for Orchestra in Culture Spot LA:
“Opening and listening to a new CD by Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is always exciting because although I never know exactly how Honeck will interpret a work, especially a warhorse that has been recorded too many times to count, I know there will be some surprises. In the PSO’s latest recording of Brahms’ Symphony No. 4, the listener doesn’t have to wait long for the first surprise, which comes in the opening two notes of the first movement… Those used to Honeck really bringing out the fireworks will be pleasantly surprised with the second movement.… As with all of Honeck’s recordings with the PSO, this recording of the Brahms fourth symphony has many subtle and some not-so-subtle Honeck touches, mostly with dynamics either of individual instruments or entire sections. Collectively, Honeck and the PSO put their own unique fingerprint on this great symphony. … This disc concludes with the Larghetto for Orchestra by Scottish composer James MacMillan.… hints (at least for this reviewer) of Bruckner, Copland and even Respighi… It is an interesting companion piece to the Brahms; after the sturm und drang of the Brahms, MacMillan’s Larghetto for Orchestra provides almost 15 minutes of calm and reflection.… The sound on these recordings is always astounding. Therefore, a shout-out to Soundmirror and the recording engineers is in order. Between Brahms and MacMillan, Honeck and the PSO, and the recording engineers, this is a recording not to be missed.”
—Henry Schlinger, Culture Spot LA
See the full review on CultureSpotLA.com