Graham Rickson praises the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Manfred Honeck’s recording of Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 and Jonathan Leshnoff Double Concerto in The Arts Desk:
“Quick warning: the Pittsburgh brass are borderline oppressive in Tchaikovsky’s opening fate motif, and it’s all for the good; this symphony’s initial bars should be scary if the journey from darkness to light is to feel convincing. … This is thrilling stuff – sample the Pittsburgh horns’ exultant big tune at the end of the exposition, and how superbly Honeck negotiates the abrupt mood change when the fate motto returns. And the darkness he brings to the first subject’s return just after the 12-minute mark, anticipating a similar moment in Tchaikovsky’s 6th… Tchaikovsky’s “simple, primal joy” is irresistible in this live performance, Honeck’s final accelerando so effective you wonder why more conductors don’t do it. … [Leshnoff’s] Double Concerto for Clarinet and Bassoon… is enormously enjoyable and beautifully written. … A charmer of a concerto, handsomely played. Engineering in both works is up to the expected standard. In other words, another winner.”
—Graham Rickson, The Arts Desk
See the full review on The Arts Desk