Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95, B. 178 “From the New World” – Simon: Four Black American Dances

Reference Recordings® proudly presents Manfred Honeck’s masterly interpretation of Antonin Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 in E minor, (Op. 95) “From the New World”, and the first commercial release of Carlos Simon’s Four Black American Dances. This album was recorded live in February 2025 in beautiful and historic Heinz Hall, home of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, in superb audiophile sound. Maestro Honeck honors us again with his scholarly and personal music notes, in which he gives us great insight into this most famous of Dvořák’s symphonies.

Carlos Simon is the current Composer-in-Residence with the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington, D.C., and holds the position of inaugural Composer Chair of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. His music ranges from concert music for large and small ensembles to film scores with influences of jazz, gospel, and neo-romanticism. He was nominated for a 2023 GRAMMY® Award for Best Contemporary Classical Composition for Requiem for the Enslaved, which commemorates the stories of the 272 enslaved men, women, and children sold in 1838 by Georgetown University.

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is credited with a rich history of engaging the world’s finest conductors and musicians and is deeply committed to the Pittsburgh region and citizens. Since 2008, the Orchestra has been led by Manfred Honeck, its internationally renowned Music Director. The Orchestra has always been at the forefront; championing new works and has a long and illustrious history in the areas of recordings and live radio broadcasts dating back to the 1930s. It has toured frequently both domestically and overseas since 1896. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra continues to be critically acclaimed as one of the world’s greatest orchestras.

This release is the seventeenth in the highly acclaimed Pittsburgh Live! series of releases on the FRESH! imprint from Reference Recordings. This series has received GRAMMY® awards in 2025 and in 2018 as well as numerous GRAMMY® Nominations for other titles in the series. The entire Pittsburgh Live! series is produced, recorded and mastered by the team at Soundmirror, whose outstanding orchestral, solo, opera and chamber recordings have received over 140 GRAMMY® nominations and awards.