Bamberg Symphony Orchestra Names New Honorary Conductor

Manfred Honeck has become the fifth conductor to receive the honor

Manfred Honec follows in the footsteps of Eugen Jochum, Horst Stein, Herbert Blomstedt, and Christoph Eschenbach, as the new Honorary Conductor of Germany's Bamberg Symphony.

Honeck has been a regular guest with the orchestra for the last 32 years and first worked with the ensemble right at the beginning of his conducting career. His first CD recordings as a conductor were made in Bamberg, and he has given 109 concerts with the group.

One of the world's leading conductors, Honeck is presently in his sixteenth season as Music Director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He has also held posts at the Staatsoper Stuttgart, the Czech Philharmonic, and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, among others.

"I look back with gratitude on the many years in which I have worked with the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra time and again," Honeck said. "They supported me significantly even as a young conductor, which still means a lot to me. I hold the orchestra and its quality in the highest regard, and it always gives me great pleasure to make music together. I am honored to be able to join the illustrious circle of honorary conductors as 'Benjamin'."