After three seasons in the first violin stand of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, violinist Noah Bendix-Balgley is leaving the Steel City to become concertmaster for perhaps the world's most prestigious orchestra--the Berliner Philharmoniker.
Mr. Bendix-Balgley will be back for part of the PSO's next season, of which he's scheduled to play at least three subscription gigs.
At 29, the Asheville, N.C. native became the PSO's concertmaster during the 2011-12 season, starting a four-year contract last year that was set to expire come 2017.
Obviously, that fine print is subject to revision now.
Concertmasters are often the highest-paid members of an orchestra--taking on several roles such as leading the first violin section, covering the solos and prompting the rest of the band for tuning.
And in Pittsburgh, the concertmaster is a de facto artist lecturer at Carnegie Mellon's School of Music.
You might recall that thanks to the financial aid of the PSO, Bendix-Balgley was able to obtain a 1732 Bergonzi violin appraised at more than $1,000,000.
Certainly a core member to the PSO--and now an international stringed superstar--Bendix-Balgley will leave a void the size of a pothole there in the City of Bridges. Classy to the core, as well, he wished Pittsburgh (and especially Manfred Honeck) nothing but the best in their own future musical endeavors.
Congrats, then, to Berlin's new top dog. Sir Simon, America's loss is indeed your gain.
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