Manfred Honeck

Manfred Honeck
Honeck in 2013
Born (1958-09-17) 17 September 1958 (age 68)
Nenzing, Vorarlberg, Austria
EducationUniversity of Music and Performing Arts Vienna
Years active1980s–present
EmployerPittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
OrganizationVienna Jeunesse Orchestra
StyleClassical
RelativesRainer Honeck [de] (brother)

Manfred Honeck (born 17 September 1958) is an Austrian conductor. He is currently music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Early life

Honeck was born in Nenzing, Austria, near the border of Switzerland and Liechtenstein, one of nine children of Otto and Frieda Honeck. One of his brothers is the Vienna Philharmonic concertmaster Rainer Honeck [de] (born 1961). Beginning as a violinist, Honeck received his musical training at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and later played the viola. He subsequently played in the Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna State Opera orchestra. His early work as a conductor included a period as assistant to Claudio Abbado with the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester (youth orchestra). In 1987, Honeck founded the Vienna Jeunesse Orchestra.

Career

1991–1999

Following his work with the Mahler Jugendorchester, Honeck conducted regularly at the Zurich Opera House, from 1991 to 1996. In 1993, while conducting at the Zurich Opera House, he was awarded the European Conductor's Award. From 1997 to 1998, he was music director of the Norwegian National Opera in Oslo and held a regular position, from 1996 to 1999, with the MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra. In 1998, he was named the principal guest conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic.

2000–2006

From 2000 to 2006, Honeck was music director of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. He was principal guest conductor of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra from 2008 to 2011 and then again from 2013 to 2016. He has also been the artistic director of the International Concerts Wolfegg in Germany for over 20 years.

2006–present

Honeck became the general music director of the Staatsoper Stuttgart in the 2007–2008 season, with an initial contract for four years. During his tenure in Stuttgart, Honeck conducted productions of Berlioz's Les Troyens, Mozart's Idomeneo, Verdi's Aida, Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier, Poulenc's Dialogues of the Carmelites and Wagner's Lohengrin and Parsifal, among other works. Honeck formally concluded his tenure with the Staatsoper Stuttgart in 2011. In November 2023, the Bamberg Symphony announced the appointment of Honeck as one of its honorary conductors (Ehrendirigenten).

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

In May 2006, in the US, Honeck first guest-conducted the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO). In November 2006, he returned for an additional guest-conducting engagement with the PSO. On 24 January 2007, the PSO named Honeck its ninth music director, effective with the 2008–2009 season for an initial contract of three years. In September 2009, the PSO announced the extension of Honeck's contract to the 2015–2016 season. In February 2012, the PSO announced the further extension of Honeck's contract through the 2019–2020 season. In September 2018, the PSO announced the further extension of Honeck's contract through the 2021–2022 season. In September 2021, the PSO announced a further extension of Honeck's contract as music director through the 2027–2028 season. In June 2026, the PSO announced the newest extension of Honeck's contract as its music director through the 2032–2033 season.

Honeck's work with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has been documented on recordings with the Exton and Reference labels. Honeck and the PSO have recorded four SACDs for Reference Recordings, of Strauss tone poems, Dvořák's Symphony No. 8 and Janáček's Jenůfa suite, Bruckner's Symphony No. 4, and Beethoven's Fifth and Seventh Symphonies. Honeck and the PSO's recordings of Bruckner's Symphony No. 4 and Dvořák's Symphony No. 8, and Janáček's Jenůfa suite were nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Orchestral Performance in 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Recent events

In September 2026, the Philharmonia Orchestra announced the appointment of Honeck as its next principal conductor, effective in September 2028. Also in September 2026, the San Francisco Symphony announced the appointment of Honeck to the newly-created position of Festival Director, with a contract of five years.

Awards

The Austrian federal president awarded Honeck the honorary title of professor in 2016. He holds four Honorary Doctorates from Duquesne University, Carnegie Mellon University, Catholic University of America and Saint Vincent College. In 2018, he was named Artist of the Year by the International Classical Music Awards. On 28 January 2018, Honeck and the PSO were awarded the 2018 Grammy Award for Best Orchestral Performance for their recording of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5 and Barber's Adagio for Strings. The recording won a second Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album (Mark Donahue, engineer).

Personal life

Honeck lives in the village of Altach, Vorarlberg, Austria, with his wife Christiane and their six children. He is a devout Roman Catholic, known for praying prior to his performances.

Selected discography

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Other orchestras

References

  1. 1 2 Jürgen Schenkenbach (13 January 2006). "Höhenflug im Motzartjahr" (PDF). Vorarlberg Week (in German). Archived from the original (.PDF) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
  2. 1 2 Andrew Druckenbrod (8 April 2007). "An illuminating visit with the new PSO conductor, at home in western Austria". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on 17 July 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
  3. ↑ "Manfred Honeck". Imgartists.com. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  4. ↑ "Pittsburgh Symphony's Manfred Honeck arrives with a sound approach". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2026.
  5. ↑ Andrew Druckenbrod (25 November 2006). "No pressure: PSO guest conductor has patience both on and off the podium". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
  6. ↑ International Concerts Wolfegg "Internationale Wolfegger Konzerte". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  7. ↑ Mark Kanny (17 December 2006). "Symphony must use right criteria for leadership decisions". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 7 August 2007.[permanent dead link]
  8. ↑ Ben Mattison (29 November 2005). "Conductor Manfred Honeck to Lead Stuttgart Opera". Playbill Arts. Retrieved 1 September 2007.
  9. 1 2 "Manfred Honeck". Pittsburghsymphony.org. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  10. ↑ Andrew Druckenbrod (17 November 2009). "Manfred Honeck to leave Stuttgart Opera". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2009.
  11. ↑ Jürgen Kanold (9 July 2011). "Honecks Stuttgarter Klangkultur". Tagblatt.de. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  12. ↑ Andrew Druckenbrod (13 May 2006). "Honeck makes strong debut with PSO". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
  13. ↑ Andrew Druckebrod (25 November 2006). "PSO conductor brings New World of sound". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
  14. ↑ "Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Announces New Music Director Manfred Honeck" (PDF) (Press release). Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. 24 January 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
  15. ↑ Daniel J. Wakin (24 January 2007). "In Pittsburgh, a Music Director to Replace Three Conductors". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
  16. ↑ Mark Kanny (27 January 2007). "Honeck's selection will profit the symphony". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 7 August 2007.[permanent dead link]
  17. ↑ Andrew Druckenbrod (10 September 2009). "Honeck to remain Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra conductor until 2015". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  18. ↑ Andrew Druckenbrod (13 February 2012). "Honeck agrees to contract extension with PSO". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  19. ↑ "PSO extends Manfred Honeck's contract, elects new board chair". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  20. ↑ "Manfred Honeck Extends Contract As Music Director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Through The 2027–2028 Season" (Press release). Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  21. ↑ "Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Renews Music Director Manfred Honeck Through 2032/2033 Season" (PDF) (Press release). Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. 10 June 2026. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  22. 1 2 "Manfred Honeck". GRAMMY.com. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  23. ↑ "Philharmonia Orchestra appoints Manfred Honeck as next Principal Conductor" (Press release). Philharmonia Orchestra. 17 September 2026. Retrieved 18 September 2026.
  24. ↑ "San Francisco Symphony Announces the Appointment of Manfred Honeck as Festival Director, a Newly Created Role Beginning in the 2028–29 Season for a Five-Year Term" (Press release). San Francisco Symphony. 17 September 2026. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  25. ↑ "San Francisco Symphony – Honeck, Manfred". Sfsymphony.org. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  26. ↑ "The Winners of the International Classical Music Awards – ICMA 2018". Remusica.com. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  27. ↑ "Pittsburgh Symphony And Manfred Honeck Win TWO 2018 GRAMMY Awards | Reference Recordings". Referencerecordings.com. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  28. ↑ Andrew Druckenbrod (25 January 2007). "City opens arms to PSO's new music director from Austria". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on 4 March 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
  29. ↑ Wakin, Daniel J. (19 February 2010). "A Conductor Whose Worship Stands Apart". The New York Times.