Manfred Honeck

Manfred Honeck has firmly established himself as one of the world’s leading conductors, renowned for his distinctive interpretations and international acclaim. As Music Director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, now in his 19th season, he continues to shape the Orchestra’s artistic identity with purpose and passion. His tenure, recently extended through the 2032–2033 season, has seen the Orchestra flourish artistically while strengthening its role as a cultural ambassador for Pittsburgh. Beginning with the 2028–29 season, he will also become the seventh Principal Conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, which will serve as his artistic anchor in Europe, as well as taking on the role of Festival Director of the San Francisco Symphony.

Born in Austria, Honeck completed his musical training at the Academy of Music in Vienna. His years with the Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna State Opera Orchestra have had a lasting influence on his work as a conductor. He began his conducting career at the Zurich Opera House and subsequently held posts with the MDR Symphony Orchestra Leipzig, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Staatsoper Stuttgart.

As a guest conductor, Honeck works with the world’s most prestigious orchestras, including the Staatskapelle Dresden, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. In the United States, he has conducted all of the nation’s leading orchestras. He also maintains a distinguished profile as an opera conductor, most recently returning to the Salzburg Festival in summer 2026 to conduct Ariadne auf Naxos with the Vienna Philharmonic.