@ the Symphony

Yulianna Avdeeva

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 22:52:25 +0000

The Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 2 is her favorite but she knows them all. Yulianna Avdeeva brings the 2nd to Heinz Hall with the Pittsburgh Symphony April 10th and 12th conducted by Rafael Payare. Yulianna Avdeeva spoke with Jim Cunningham about the special features of the Second Concerto. It is filled with tricky writing but born in Moscow, Yulianna Avdeeva has special love for the complex composer who returned to Russia with Stalin in charge after success in Paris and Chicago where he heard the premiere of the opera Love For Three Oranges. Yulianna Avdeeva discusses her recording of "The Life of the Machines" by Wladislav Szpilman who was brought to life in Roman Polansky's film "The Pianist" depicting the wartime world of Szpilman playing Chopin at the Warsaw Radio while the bombs fell. Was it realistic? Avdeeva knows members of Szpilman's family. She has been in France to give a recital in Aix-en-Provence and she is off to Rafaael Payare's Montreal Orchestra where she will work with guest conductor Simone Young. She has high praise for the Pittsburgh Symphony and remembers her live broadcast playing Prokofiev with Petr Popelka with special pleasure. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rafael Payare

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 22:48:02 +0000

Rafael Payare has been a rising star for more than a decade having worked with Gustavo Dudamel, Claudio Abbado, Daniel Barenboim and Lorin Maazel on his way to the Music Director spot in Montreal and San Diego. In his dressing room with the portrait of former Pittsburgh Symphony Music Director Lorin Maazel looking over his shoulder, he tells Jim Cunningham he loved playing the French Horn in the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra, but his life is even richer with two daughters and wife Alisa Weilerstein who sometimes join him for concertos. He has hired thirty new members of the San Diego Symphony at the Jacobs Center after a huge investment has now greatly improved acoustics with a Wall Street Journal headline 'Splendid New Sound' from opening night 2024. His father was a cartographer in Venezuela where Maestro Payare benefited greatly from the Il Sistema training which brought his 'Brother" Dudamel to the front of the orchestra world. Jimmy Lopez' "Peru Negro" has a premiere here in Pittsburgh and he'll lead it in San Diego where Lopez is Composer-in-Residence along with Montreal. Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" never fails to provide a charge for the conductor who has been described as 'electrifying'. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Daniele Rustioni

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 18:03:14 +0000

The Principal Guest Conductor of the Metropolitan Opera, Daniele Rustioni, speaks with Jim Cunningham in the Guest Conductor's Dressing Room at Heinz Hall about his program for March 27,28 and 29, with Yefim Bronfman playing the Schumann Concerto, Beethoven's Eroica Symphony and Samuel Barber's School for Scandal Overture. Maestro Rustioni discusses his upcoming concerts, his work in Pittsburgh (including his visit to Carnegie Hall in December 2025 to hear the Orchestra play), and his operatic engagements in Europe.

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Yefim Bronfman

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Piano superstar Yefim Bronfman is a Mets fan. Yefim also loves making his coffee mostly at home in New York when he isn't jetting around China, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Boston or wherever great music happens.

He spoke with Jim Cunningham in his dressing room at Heinz Hall after rehearsing the Schumann Concerto. He plays March 27-29 with Daniele Rustioni and the Pittsburgh Symphony. It's their first time working together.

Yefim also talks about his love for the opera but gets to the Met only now and then with his full calendar. He admires Clara Schumann but has not yet played her music. He has met members of the extended Schumann family and Franz Schubert's family was represented in a chance meeting in Los Angeles. Yefim plays the fierce Alfred Schnittke Concerto and music by Mathias Pintscher too but he is a master of the classics of Vienna and Central Europe. Is classical music growing or getting smaller? It is changing, he says while noting that Music Director Andris Nelsons of the Boston Symphony will be all right. It is a big loss to have his contract end after next season.

Pittsburgh is a favorite stop. He's be back next season with Liszt and there is talk of adding one more concert next fall.

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Kate Lindsey

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:29:38 +0000

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Music Director Manfred Honeck, plays Mahler's Symphony No. 2, "Resurrection". WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with mezzo-soprano Kate Lindsey. She talks about singing with Ying Fang before; her thoughts on the music; and this being her very first time in Pittsburgh, even though she grew up in Virginia. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ying Fang

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:25:53 +0000

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Music Director Manfred Honeck, plays Mahler's Symphony No. 2, "Resurrection". WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with soprano Ying Fang. She talks about her work with Manfred Honeck; doing the piece recently with Yannick Nezet-Seguin; performing Mozart's Idomeneo with Manfred at the Met; and her espresso machine she takes on the road with her. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Emanuel Ax

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 6 Mar 2026 20:58:57 +0000

Piano legend, global classical music superstar, and Musical America Artist of the year 2026 Emanuel Ax plays Brahms' First Concerto with Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony this weekend at Heinz Hall! WQED's Jim Cunningham ventured down to Heinz Hall for a chat with Mr. Ax during Friday's rehearsals.

Ax talks about his honors and the memory he has of pianist Arthur Rubinstein at the Rubinstein Competition in Tel Aviv in 1974, as well as the premiere of the John Williams's Piano Concerto written for him and heard with the composer onstage last year in Los Angeles. He remembers many Pittsburgh personalities with great warmth, including Byron Janis, Andre Previn, Lorin Maazel, and Mariss Jansons.

Ax reflects on the Brahms, calling it a piece full of "Hungarian passion," and highlights some of his favorite recordings. He also provides his outlook on the current state of classical music in the public world.

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Live Broadcast - 2/13/26 - Post Concert Interview

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 04:11:24 +0000

Live Broadcast - 2/13/26 - Intermission Interviews

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 03:59:47 +0000

On Friday February 13, 2026, WQED-FM broadcast the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra concert live from Heinz Hall. The concert featured Arturs Maskats "Tango;" Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5 with soloist Randall Goosby; Barber's Adagio for Strings, and Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from "West Side Story." During intermission, WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham was joined by Music Director Manfred Honeck, who talked about the Mozart and the playing of Randall Goosby; this being the first time he ever conducted the Symphonic Dances by Bernstein; and if Valentine's Day is celebrated in Austria. Jim was also joined by Randall Goosby, who talked about his encore - Coleridge Taylor Perkinson's "Louisiana Blue Strut, A Cakewalk"; playing the Mozart; and how he hopes to come back to Pittsburgh when the weather is warmer so he can play golf at Oakmont! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Live Broadcast - 2/13/26 - Pre Concert Interviews

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 03:53:47 +0000

On Friday February 13, 2026, WQED-FM broadcast the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra concert live from Heinz Hall. The concert featured Arturs Maskats "Tango;" Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5 with soloist Randall Goosby; Barber's Adagio for Strings, and Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from "West Side Story." Prior to the start of the concert WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham was joined by cellist Charlie Powers, who talked about their post-concert performance of Elgar and Bernstein, and traveling to Florida in a few weeks with a few other members of the Orchestra for a short chamber tour. Jim was also joined by Alejandro Pinzon, who is the director of the Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra. He talked about playing the bandoneon on the first piece in the program - "Tango." Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Josef Spacek - PSO Guest Violinist

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 23:43:43 +0000

WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with PSO guest violinist Josef Spacek making his Heinz Hall debut with the Dvorak Violin Concerto. Spacek spoke about his long relationship with guest conductor Petr Popelka; his work in his native country and arrival in the US at Curtis in Philadelphia before going to Julliard where he studied with Itzhak Perlman. Spacek has worked to develop a new line of violin strings, which he will be playing on his Guarneri del Gesu violin. He spoke about his recent recording of the Martinu concertos and how he found love, marrying an American girl whom he met in France. Spacek says he's delighted to learn about Pittsburgh and hopes to bring his family for a visit soon. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Petr Popelka - PSO Guest Conductor

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 23:38:50 +0000

WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with returning guest conductor Petr Popelka leading the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in Brahms' Academic Festival Overture, the Dvorak Violin Concerto and Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra. Maestro Popelka speaks in his dressing room about Pittsburgh's connection to the Bartok Concerto for Orchestra; his work with soloist Josef Spacek; their love of fellow countryman Antonin Dvorak; his successful debut with the Berlin Philharmonic; and his love of radio. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Live Broadcast - 1/16/26 - Post-Concert Interview

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 04:10:58 +0000

WQED-FM was at Heinz Hall for a live broadcast of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on Friday January 16, 2026. The concert featured guest conductor Dima Slobodeniouk conducting "Flounce" by Lotta Wennakoski and the Sibelius Symphony No. 2, along with Lucas and Arthur Jussen playing the Poulenc Concerto for Two Pianos. WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham was joined by Vice President of Artistic Planning for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Mary Persin. She spoke about tonight's concert; the orchestra's outreach program in libraries happening all spring; and upcoming concerts she's looking forward to hosting at Heinz Hall. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Live Broadcast - 1/16/26 - Intermission Interviews

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 04:07:47 +0000

WQED-FM was at Heinz Hall for a live broadcast of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on Friday January 16, 2026. The concert featured guest conductor Dima Slobodeniouk conducting "Flounce" by Lotta Wennakoski and the Sibelius Symphony No. 2, along with Lucas and Arthur Jussen playing the Poulenc Concerto for Two Pianos. WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham was joined by guest conductor Dima Slobodeniouk during intermission to talk about the concert; his friendship with Lotta Wennakoski and her piece "Flounce;" working with the Pittsburgh Symphony; conducting Beethoven 9th's in Vienna; and his upcoming engagements. Also joining Jim during intermission were the piano soloists Lucas and Arthur Jussen. They spoke about the Poulenc piece as well their encore; what they will do with their day off before Sunday's concert; and their love of sports. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Live Broadcast - 1/16/26 - Pre Concert Interviews

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 04:02:20 +0000

WQED-FM was at Heinz Hall for a live broadcast of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on Friday January 16, 2026. The concert featured guest conductor Dima Slobodeniouk conducting "Flouce" by Lotta Wennakoski and the Sibelius Symphony No. 2, along with Lucas and Arthur Jussen playing the Poulenc Concerto for Two Pianos. Before the concert, host Jim Cunningham spoke with Principal Contrabassoon James Rodgers who talked about the program; highlights for him for tonight; and a description of our broadcast location backstage. Jim also spoke with violist Sean Juhl who spoke about his new appointment with the Cleveland Orchestra. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Live Broadcast - 12/7/25 - Post Concert Interviews

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sun, 7 Dec 2025 23:24:06 +0000

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra played Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man;" Beethoven's Violin Concerto with PSO Concertmaster David McCarroll as soloist, and the Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 at Heinz Hall the weekend of December 5th, 2025. WQED-FM was there to broadcast the concert on Sunday December 7th live. After the concert, WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with violist Sean Juhl about their busy schedule the last week or so. Then, Jim was joined by Principal Horn William Caballero and Principal Oboe Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida, who spoke about the trip to New York City, playing the Shostakovich Symphony No. 5, their new CD, and their love of WQED-FM. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Live Broadcast - 12/7/25 - Intermission Interviews

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sun, 7 Dec 2025 23:19:35 +0000

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra played Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man;" Beethoven's Violin Concerto with PSO Concertmaster David McCarroll as soloist, and the Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 at Heinz Hall the weekend of December 5th, 2025. WQED-FM was there to broadcast the concert on Sunday December 7th live. During intermission, WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with PSO Music Director Manfred Honeck, who spoke about the rave reviews of the orchestra's concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City earlier in the week and his plans for the holidays. Jim also spoke with soloist and PSO Concertmaster David McCarroll about the Beethoven violin concerto, and the Bach encore he played. Jim was then joined by Pittsburgh Symphony Vice-President of Artistic Planning Mary Persin with a recap of the New York City trip, and what people can look forward to with the Pittsburgh Symphony during the rest of the December. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Live Broadcast - 12/7/25 - Pre Concert Interviews

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sun, 7 Dec 2025 23:14:51 +0000

HIMARI

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 21:32:06 +0000

Violin prodigy Himari makes her debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony on November 28th with Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1. She joined Jim Cunningham to talk about the Bruch, her first EP with Decca Records, and playing with the Berlin Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Himari began playing the violin at the age of three and by the age of six, was already performing with professional orchestras. In 2022, she became the youngest student admitted to the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where she now studies under the renowned violinist Ida Kavafian.

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Juraj Valcuha

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 00:09:27 +0000

Houston Symphony Music Director Juraj Valcuha returns to conduct the Richard Strauss "Ein Heldenleben," A hero's Life, which reveals the autobiography of the composer complete with his thoughts on music critics but does it end with a triumph? Not exactly. It is a giant piece and 45 minutes of delightful music. Maestro Valcuha tells Jim Cunningham in his dressing room after rehearsal on Thursday evening that he has already given the world premiere of the "Liberty Bell" by Julia Wolfe, co-commissioned with Pittsburgh and Houston. The composer will take a bow on stage this weekend. She uses lots of bells in the augmented percussion section. Juraj Valcuha has renewed his Houston contract through 2027 and he is still getting to know the city. Rodeo is on the plan for next year and after leaving Pittsburgh, he'll conduct "A Hero's Life" at Jones Hall at Thanksgiving. He is just back from conducting the Debussy opera "Pelléas and Melisande" in Switzerland for one month working with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande - famous for hundreds of recordings with Ernest Ansermet. He's a nature lover and he hopes he can enjoy the great outdoors a bit with many dates on his calendar. Pittsburgh is a favorite stop with his grandfather having lived here. He's visited Grandads' final resting place in Pittsburgh and looks forward to more concerts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pablo Ferrandez

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 00:06:27 +0000

Just as he left the stage Thursday afternoon at Heinz Hall, Pablo Fernandez talked with Jim Cunningham about his Saint-Saens Cello Concerto No. 1 with Juraj Valcuha and the Pittsburgh Symphony. They've worked together with great success in Paris, he loves working with the Pittsburgh, and remembers well his debut with John Williams in December of 2023. He's been playing the Saint-Saens since he was very young and of course he plays "The Swan" from the Carnival of the Animals as an encore often. He's enjoying this trip and his wife is along for the journey this time. A new recording is on the way and life is good. He had to head off to rehearse for the Saturday Pittsburgh 360 concert where he plays two chamber music masterpieces with members of the orchestra and the audience on stage. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pianist Helene Grimaud

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 7 Nov 2025 00:39:53 +0000

Pianist Helene Grimaud talks with Jim Cunningham about her wide-ranging tour with the Gershwin Piano Concerto marking its 100th anniversary. She recorded it live with David Zinman two decades ago and is delighted to return to it in Pittsburgh, Houston, Washington DC and opening the new era in Cincinnati with Christian Macelaru. She's recently driven across the country from her California home to return to a place in Westchester, New York. A new recording is on the way. She has loved her many concerts with Pittsburgh including tour programs where she brought along her own tuner and Steinway. In Europe the distances are not too far, so hiring the truck and piano mover is more practical than in the States. In Pittsburgh, she is delighted to play the 24 year old concert grand while the new instrument is smoothing out its freshness. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Conductor Domingo Hindoyan

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 7 Nov 2025 00:37:47 +0000

Domingo Hindoyan makes his Heinz Hall debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony on November 7th and 9th leading "Alegria" by Roberto Sierra, the Gershwin Piano Concerto in F with Helene Grimaud as soloist and the Cesar Franck D minor Symphony. Maestro Hindoyan talks about his family growing up in Venezuela and playing the violin in the youth orchestra which is part of the highly successful training program El Systema. He discusses his new post at LA Opera, his music making in England and much more in this conversation with Jim Cunningham in the conductor's dressing room recorded on Thursday November 6 , 2025. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Leila Josefowicz

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 14:51:04 +0000

She loves being the champion of the new in classical music. Leila Josefowicz, violinist with an Avery Fisher Career Prize and a Macarthur Genius Award, hasn’t found being anointed brainy to be a detriment to her social life or connecting with listeners. She joins Dalia Stasevska for the new Saturday Sessions concert on Saturday October 18, 2025 at Heinz Hall and Friday and Sunday for the Stravinsky Violin Concerto. The Stravinsky requires full concentration with it’s tricky rhythms and furious storms of notes complete with a chord considered briefly unplayable. Drinking Earl Grey tea and wearing a Steelers sweater in the conductor’s dressing room, she spoke with Jim Cunningham about her friendship with composer John Adams, recent recordings, and what is needed to bring off music of our time. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jacob Joyce - Saturday Sessions

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 19:54:37 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Associate Conductor Jacob Joyce joined Jim Cunningham on the QED Morning Show to discuss the Orchestra's first Saturday Session of the season. These concerts bring you iconic classical repertoire in a more guided, approachable way. Jacob hosts from the stage, sharing insights and stories as the music comes to life. Jacob explained what people can expect at this Saturday's session which includes Caroline Shaw's "The Observatory" and Stravinsky's Violin Concerto. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dalia Stasevska

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 19:56:35 +0000

Leaving on a jet plane finds Dalia Stasevska wearing a Metallica t shirt but arriving at Heinz Hall for her Pittsburgh Symphony debut without her luggage. She was projecting teen spirit during this conversation with Jim Cunningham in the guest conductor’s dressing room - after all, her husband plays in a metal band. Metallica worked with the Berlin Philharmonic and both the Symphony Orchestra and metal bands make a mighty roar. She described her efforts for the city of Kiev and Ukraine, the country of her birth, before moving to Finland where she learned music in a distinguished tradition. Now she leads the Lahti Orchestra in Finland and the BBC Symphony Orchestra in London. She’s opened and closed the Last Night of the Proms and has a career on the trajectory of a rocket. Dalia explained that her parents are artists, hippies and named her for the flower the Dahlia. She loves the music of Caroline Shaw which she will dig into this weekend in "The Observatory" along with Sibelius Sixth and his greatest hit Finlandia. Finlandia always touches her heart as does the playing of Leila Josefowicz who has Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto in the concerts October 17th and 19th with the special Saturday Sessions event on the 18th where Jacob Joyce joins Maestra to break it down for the audience. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pianist Francesco Piemontesi

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 17:06:40 +0000

Francesco Piemontesi returns to Heinz Hall to perform Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 with Robin Ticciati conducting the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He spoke with WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham about the piece, working with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, what he has upcoming in his performance schedule and much more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Live Broadcast - Post Concert Interview - 9/26/25

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 13:53:55 +0000

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Music Critic Jeremy Reynolds stopped by our broadcast location to talk to Jim Cunningham about his immediate post-concert thoughts on the season opening concert by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Live Broadcast - Intermission Interviews - 9/26/25

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 13:50:59 +0000

During intermission of WQED-FM's live broadcast of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on September 26, 2025, WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with Music Director Manfred Honeck, soloist Alexi Kenney about his performance of the Sibelius Violin Concerto, and composer Christopher Theofanidis, whose "Rainbow Body" opened the concert. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Live Broadcast - Pre Concert Interviews - 9/26/25

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 13:47:32 +0000

WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Assistant Conductor Jacob Joyce about the pre-concert talk he held with composer Christopher Theofanidis. Jacob also talked about the November 2025 concert by the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, in which he is the Artistic Director. Jim also spoke with violinist Karin Hoppo, a member of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra. She played in the lobby prior to the PSO concert and talked about her experience being in PYSO. Finally, Jim spoke with PSO VP of Artistic Planning Mary Persin who gave an overview of the upcoming season. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Live Broadcast - Post Concert Interview - 6/13/25

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 03:13:53 +0000

WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with Jeremy Reynolds, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Classical Music Critic, after the Friday June 13, 2025 Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra concert. Jeremy gave his quick review of the concert - he loved the 2nd movement of the Shostakovich and thought Beatrice Rana brought impressive energy to the Mendelssohn Piano Concerto No. 1. He also gives a sneak peak of some upcoming stories he has in the works. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Live Broadcast - Intermission Interviews - 6/13/25

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 03:11:04 +0000

During intermission of our live broadcast of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on Friday June 13, 2025, WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with Music Director Manfred Honeck about the Shostakovich Symphony No. 10; the world premiere of Lera Auerbach's "Frozen Dreams;" and his summer plans. He then spoke with guest pianist Beatrice Rana about the Mendelssohn Piano Concert she just finished playing. She told Jim the encore was a piano arrangement from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker; playing at the BBC Proms this summer; and she even signed a copy of our latest LP. Jim also spoke with Lera Auerbach - the composer of "Frozen Dreams." She talked about the idea of the piece; her connection to Austria; this being her first time in Pittsburgh even though her music has been performed here before; and the horrific story of her grandfather being taken by the KGB. On a happier note, she talked about the piece she is working on next. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Live Broadcast - Pre Concert Interviews - 6/13/25

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 03:03:21 +0000

Prior to Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra concert on Friday June 13, 2025, WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with PSO Violist Stephanie Tretick, who is retiring after 45 years with the orchestra. She talks about her musical journey; memories of the PSO over the years; and how she'll miss visiting hardware stores in different countries on the orchestra tours. Jim also spoke with PSO Principal Tuba Craig Knox, who is celebrating his 20th year with the orchestra. He talks about his moments in the Shostakovich Symphony No. 10; the recording process this weekend; and his plans to visit Scotland over the summer. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bruce Liu

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 6 Jun 2025 20:17:49 +0000

Chopin Piano Competition winning pianist Bruce Liu makes his debut at Heinz Hall Friday June 6 and Sunday June 8th with a 360 concert on the 7th playing the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3. He sat down in the Grand Lobby at Heinz Hall after the dress rehearsal with Jim Cunningham to talk about the delights of the Beethoven Third. Beethoven was already experiencing hearing trouble playing the Third from memory at the premiere and giving cues that suggested he could not hear the orchestra clearly and the next year 1803 wrote his Heiligenstadt Testament. Bruce describes the challenge and atmosphere of the 2021 Chopin Piano Concerto which he won with his unconventional style. Bruce is appearing at the BBC Proms this summer playing the Tchaikovsky Second Concerto and he hopes for a few moments of quiet to think about his latest music repertoire additions. Bruce speaks about recording a recital in one of the Chopin homes in Paris at the Place Vendome available from DG+ and his CD "Waves" with an all French program. He loves Pittsburgh and working with Manfred Honeck. He got the call to replace Alice Sara Ott just a few days ago when he was playing Prokofiev in Vancouver and just a few days before that he was playing Chopin with Yuraj Valcuha in Houston. Yuraj had told him how much he enjoys Pittsburgh. Bruce tells his story from age 8 in Paris to Montreal and says at age 28 he doesn’t mind when airline personnel confuse him with the martial arts film star Bruce Lee. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Giancarlo Guerrero

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 30 May 2025 20:22:54 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Guest Conductor Giancarlo Guerrero speaks in the conductor’s dressing room about the program of May 30th through June 1st, which features "Sprout" by Sean Shepherd, the Khachaturian Violin Concerto with Nemanja Radulovic, and the Brahms Fourth Symphony. He tells Jim Cunningham he is delighted to return and thrilled to see Jeremy Black as Concertmaster of the Grant Park Orchestra which he will lead as Music Director for the first time this summer. Maestro Guerrero talks about his enthusiasm for living composers and winning eight Grammy awards championing their music. His work with women composers has been especially successful as Jennifer Higdon mentioned in a recent interview while in town for Pittsburgh Opera. Giancarlo loves country music and has worked with some of the biggest Nashville stars in Music City but he is on to Sarasota with a new hall and Florida sunshine. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nemanja Radulovic

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 30 May 2025 20:19:22 +0000

Nemanja Radulovic makes his Pittsburgh debut playing the Khachaturian Violin Concerto with Guest Conductor Giancarlo Guerrero May 30th and 31st plus a matinee on June 1st at Heinz Hall. The Serbian born violin virtuoso talks with Jim Cunningham in the grand lobby about his music study in Serbia, Serbian history, his love of Bach and his two Bach CDs, plus his Khachaturian and Rimsky Korsakoff CD. He discusses his two ensembles which he founded - "Double Sens" and "The Devil’s Trills," his easy rapport with the Pittsburgh Symphony and Giancarlo Guerrero, and provides Serbian and French pronunciation tips. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Juraj Valcuha

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 16 May 2025 16:42:01 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony guest conductor Yuraj Valcuha made his American debut at Heinz Hall and has become a favorite appearing here many times including this weekend and next season. In this conversation in the conductor’s dressing room surrounded by the portraits of previous music directors, he spoke of how much he enjoys his visits and his family ties to Pittsburgh referencing the historical marker next to Heinz Hall commemorating Czech Slovak history that took place in Pittsburgh. He discusses his program this weekend including the Emperor Concerto by Beethoven with Yefim Bronfman, music inspired by Alice in Wonderland - the Mad Tea Party by Unsuk Chin, Stravinsky’s Fairy’s Kiss and a Cinderella suite from the Prokofiev ballet which has never been done here. He told Jim Cunningham he loves the Grand Waltz and the Clock striking midnight. Maestro Valcuha discusses his work in Houston and the success of his first seasons at Jones Hall. Every concert goes out live with internet video around the globe. He has not been to the rodeo yet but he will visit what is one of the largest gatherings of livestock anywhere in the world and he loves the Museum of Fine Arts and the musical life in Houston along with special affection for Pittsburgh. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Víkingur Ólafsson

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 14:37:53 +0000

Vikingur Olafsson speaks with Jim Cunningham in the Heinz Hall Fourth Floor rehearsal Room about his work with Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony playing Brahms First Concerto. He spoke about his path to playing Bach’s Goldberg Variations around the globe more than 88 times, being called the Icelandic Glenn Gould, loving the Musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra since hearing them in Berlin where he performed with Maestro Honeck last year, his extensive radio and tv work, "From Afar" - his cd recorded on both an upright piano and a grand, the Icelandic cuisine curiosity of fermented shark and the liquor known as Black Death. He’s visited the Warhol and Fallingwater and he said he learned to love the US at Juilliard and could not have been more delighted to visit Pittsburgh. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Live Broadcast - Post-Concert Interviews - 4/11/25

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 02:57:18 +0000

After our live broadcast, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Principal Cello, Anne Martindale Williams, spoke with WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham about the concert; the PSO Disrupt Concert that took place the night before; and how her daughter has changed from playing the cello to practicing medicine. Jim was also visited by Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra President and CEO Melia Tourangeau, who gave a review of the concert; upcoming events she is looking forward to; meeting a musician who was on the PSO's State Department tour from the 1960's; and how she values the relationship between the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and WQED-FM. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Live Broadcast - Intermission Interviews - 4/11/25

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 02:52:13 +0000

During intermission of our live broadcast, WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham first spoke with the weekend's guest conductor - Daniele Rustioni, who made his 2nd appearance with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He talked about the program, getting appointed as Principal Guest Conductor at the Metropolitan Opera and more. He was followed by guest pianist Kirill Gerstein, also making his 2nd appearance with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He talked about the new take on the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 he played; his encore of the Rachmaninoff Melodie, Op. 3; and his upcoming recordings. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Live Broadcast - Pre-Concert Interview - 4/11/25

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 02:47:35 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Associate Conductor Jacob Joyce spoke with WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham before our live broadcast to talk about this evening's concert. He also spoke about the latest news on the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, of which he is the Music Director. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Live Broadcast - Post-Concert Interview - 3/7/25

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 8 Mar 2025 04:38:57 +0000

What did Jeremy Reynolds, classical music critic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, think of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's concert with conductor Elim Chan and pianist Jan Lisiecki? Listen to his immediate reactions as he spoke with WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham at the end of the concert during our live broadcast of March 7, 2025. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Live Broadcast - Intermission Interviews - 3/7/25

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 8 Mar 2025 04:35:57 +0000

During intermission of our live broadcast of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with guest conductor Elim Chan, guest pianist Jan Lisiecki, and PSO Vice-President of Artistic Planning Mary Persin about the just release 2025-2026 Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra season. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Live Broadcast - Pre-Concert Interviews - 3/7/25

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 8 Mar 2025 04:33:12 +0000

WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke to Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Horn Michelle Hembree and Principal Contrabassoon James Rodgers prior to the concert of March 7, 2025 which was broadcast live. Both spoke about the concert, working with conductor Elim Chan, significant parts for their instrument in the pieces and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Emanuel Ax

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Pianist Emanuel Ax talks with Jim Cunningham about Mozart's 25th Piano Concerto, which he will play February 21st and 23rd at Heinz Hall. He also discusses his return next year to play Brahms' First Concerto with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, his tour with clarinet Anthony McGill from the New York Philharmonic, and his tribute to Sir Andrew Davis in Toronto. Emanuel also highlights his favorite Mozart pianists, and his project of recording all the Beethoven Symphonies with Leonidas Kavakos. He shares stories about his friendships with Peter Serkin and Yo-Yo Ma too. Hear all about it from Emanuel's lips in this episode! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Manfred Honeck

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Maestro Manfred Honeck talks about the program for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's concert this weekend, on February 21st and 23rd. The program features Hannah Ishizaki's new composition "Spin", Korngold's Symphony in F Sharp, and Mozart's 25th Piano Concerto. He also speaks about how delighted he was to receive an honorary Doctorate at Duquesne University this past week. Manfred looks forward to seeing the newest WQED documentary "A Conversation with Manfred Honeck" on Thursday, February 27th at 8 pm. He had a wonderful conversation with WQED Board Chair Emerita Millie Myers, and hopes everyone enjoys the show. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hannah Ishizaki

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Composer and violinist Hannah Ishizaki talks about her commissioned music "Spin", which will receive its world premiere at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on February 21st and 23rd. Hannah talks about how the Pittsburgh Symphony influenced her as she knew several players growing up in Pittsburgh. She also describes how she wove in electronic dance music, or EDM, into her piece. She even divulges the conversation she had with Manfred Honeck about dance music, like that from the ball season in Vienna. Hannah also speaks about her musical influences, her study in Pittsburgh, her work at Julliard, her travels in Europe, and her mother and father's help in pursuing it all. At 24 years old, the young composer is looking forward to basking in this success, and the many more to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Violinist Maria Duenas

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 23:13:27 +0000

Violinist Maria Duenas shares her thoughts on the Saint-Saens Third Violin Concerto with Jim Cunningham. She plays it February 14th, 15th and 16th with Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony. She is delighted to return to Pittsburgh on the very day her new 2-cd set on DG with all the Paganini Caprices is released on cd, download, vinyl, and special edition with Polaroid photos for fans. Is she doing anything romantic for Valentines Day? The handsome gentleman accompanying her on this trip to Pittsburgh was one Valentine—her Father, who said he is very much enjoying the visit. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Composer Carlos Simon

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 23:10:58 +0000

Composer Carlos Simon talks with Jim Cunningham about his "Four Black Dances," which Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony will record for the Reference label on Valentines weekend 2025 along with the Dvorak New World Symphony. He also speaks about his Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson music written for Sandra Seaton’s play as performed in Pittsburgh with Pittsburgh Opera and Washington DC. What he’s working on next and his admiration for Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony, his post at the Kennedy Center as Composer in Residence all weave into the discussion in the Grand Lobby at Heinz Hall after his rehearsal. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sir Mark Elder

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Mon, 3 Feb 2025 22:20:15 +0000

Maestro Elder talks with Jim Cunningham in the lobby of the Fairmont Hotel downtown Pittsburgh about his Pittsburgh Symphony concerts of January 31st and February 2nd, 2025 with principal Oboe Cynthia Koledo de Almeida playing Vaughan Williams Oboe Concerto, Pohjohla’s Daughter by Sibelius, and the Shostakovich Symphony No. 15. What does it all mean? The William Tell Overture quote, Wagner, and self reference along the way. Even with comments from Shostakovich's son Maxim that we’re in a musical toy box of childhood and suggestions that Shostakovich is mourning the deaths of Stalin’s victims we still don’t have all the answers. Sir Mark discusses his new post in Valencia Spain, his work with the BBC Proms, his statement about the Gulf War that was “blown completely out of proportion “ and resulted in his removal from the concert. He chooses some career highlights of working with living composers such as Thomas Ades and Harrison Birtwhistle, mentions his joy working with Jose Carreras and Placido Domingo, recording a highly praised Wagner Ring Cycle and many other amazing nights from his four decades with the Halle Orchestra, touring with English National Opera and making hundreds of records which encompassed a complete Vaughan Williams Symphony cycle. He is amazed at the composer’s talent, loves the Pastoral Sixth which is much more than “cows looking over the gate,” and has loved his concerts with the Pittsburgh Symphony. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Maria Duenas

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 18:56:33 +0000

Maria Duenas talks with Jim Cunningham about her new 2-cd set with the complete Paganini Caprices and related caprices, one a world premiere by Gabriela Ortiz. Also the Jordi Cervello Milstein Caprice. It's to be released on Valentines Day, when she returns to Heinz Hall to play the Saint-Saens Third Concerto with Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony. She discusses her award winning recording of the Beethoven Concerto with Manfred Honeck for DG and accepting the award on national TV in Berlin for the ZDF network. You can get the new disc in a two-disc vinyl set or in a Fanbox. What's in the box? Maria has the scoop. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

PSO Cellist Charlie Powers & Dr. Mark Meyer - Shoulder to Shoulder 2025

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 20:33:53 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra cellist Charlie Powers, and Dr. Mark Meyer of UPMC joined WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham on the QED Morning Show to talk about the next "Shoulder to Shoulder" concert with doctor and pianist Dr. Barry Coutinho. The concert takes place on February 5th at the Herberman Conference Center at the UPMC Conference Center at Shadyside Hospital. The concert features Charlie and other PSO Musicians joining Dr. Coutinho in music of Chopin, Liszt, Piazzolla and Vivaldi's "Four Seasons." Shoulder to Shoulder's mission is to improve health outcomes in San Jose del Negrito, Honduras and the surrounding rural communities by empowering these communities to provide sustainable comprehensive primary health care. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pittsburgh Symphony Live -Post Concert Interview - 1/17/25

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 03:56:32 +0000

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performed Samy Moussa's "Elysium," Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 with pianist Janice Carissa and conductor Osmo Vanska. WQED-FM broadcast the concert on Friday January 17, 2025 live! Jim Cunningham spoke to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Classical Music Critic Jeremy Reynolds to get his initial thoughts on the concert, as well as some of the other articles he's writing. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pittsburgh Symphony Live - Intermission Interviews - 1/17/25

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 03:54:13 +0000

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performed Samy Moussa's "Elysium," Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5. WQED-FM broadcast the concert on Friday January 17, 2025 live! During intermission, Jim Cunningham spoke to the pianist Janice Carissa, who was making her Heinz Hall debut; guest conductor Osmo Vanska; and composer Samy Moussa. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pittsburgh Symphony Live - Pre-Concert Interviews - 1/17/25

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 03:51:30 +0000

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performed Samy Moussa's "Elysium," Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 with pianist Janice Carissa and conductor Osmo Vanska. WQED-FM broadcast the concert on Friday January 17, 2025 live! Jim Cunningham spoke to PSO Violinist Louis Lev and PSO Contrabassoonist James Rodgers prior to the concert to get their thoughts on the program. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Manfred Honeck

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 5 Dec 2024 14:29:35 +0000

Jim Cunningham sat down with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Music Director Manfred Honeck to talk about this weekend's concerts. The program includes Reena Esmail's "REImember;" Faure's "Cantique de Jean Racine", arranged by Manfred Honeck; Brahms' "Schicksalslied;" Hailstork's "Lacrimosa" and Faure's "Requiem." The concert features the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and soloists Jeanine De Bique and Joshua Hopkins. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

PSO Live - Post Concert Interviews - 11/15/24

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 04:00:15 +0000

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Classical Music Critic Jeremy Reynolds stopped by the WQED-FM location after the live broadcast of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on November 15, 2024. He gave a glowing review of the orchestra, Lorna McGhee and conductor Jacob Joyce. PSO President and CEO Melia Tourangeau also stopped by to speak with Jim Cunningham about the concert; the orchestra trying to get out into more communities and upcoming concerts she's looking forward to seeing. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

PSO Live - Intermission Interviews - 11/15/24

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 03:56:26 +0000

During intermission of WQED-FM's live broadcast of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Jim Cunningham spoke with the soloist in the Rautavaara Flute Concerto - PSO Principal Flute Lorna McGhee; PSO Associate Conductor Jacob Joyce, who found out he was going to be conducting the concert just a few hours before showtime; and PSO VP of Artistic Planning Mary Persin about some of the exciting concerts taking place at Heinz Hall for the holidays. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

PSO Live - Pre Concert Interviews - 11/15/24

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 03:53:18 +0000

WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with WQED President and CEO Jason Jedlinski and former WQED Board Chair Dr. Millie Myers prior the November 15th, 2024 Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra concert. They spoke about what they were looking forward to in tonight's concert, as well as upcoming initiatives at WQED. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Symphony Splendor 2024

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 21:49:42 +0000

The Pittsburgh Symphony Association volunteers have tirelessly raised well over a million dollars to keep the music playing. The effort continues with Christmas On Broadway at the Holiday House Tour in Shadyside November 22-24 and November 29- December 1. Over thirty musicians from the area including Pittsburgh Symphony members, Mendelssohn Choir singers and many others will add to the holiday mood. There are candlelight tours available and parking can be arranged nearby. Long time volunteer and Musician Liaison Christine Thompson joined Past Symphony Association President Diane Unkovic and Jim Cunningham with details. They also discussed the Mendelssohn Choir Faure Requiem, Handel Messiah and Brahms' Song of Destiny which will be performed in a very busy holiday season with multiple Holiday Pops programs put together with Byron Stripling conducting, playing the trumpet, and singing. Diane Unkovic discusses her husband 's new book "The Fragility of China: Breaking Points of an Invincible Regime" and the Pittsburgh Symphony visits to China. Christine Thompson gave on update on her husband, E flat clarinet Thomas Thompson who retired after fifty years in the orchestra but recently had the saxophone out once more for a bit of Pictures at an Exhibition. Questions about the Holiday House Tour can be sent to psamember@gmail.com and there is more information at the Symphony Association website. Tickets are $50 in advance and $55 at the event. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Public Radio Music Day with the Pittsburgh Symphony

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra joined WQED-FM live on Public Radio Music Day (October 23, 2024), to play three pieces from Stravinsky's Tale of the Soldier (Histoire du soldat). They played The Soldier's March, Airs by the Stream, the Little Concert. Anna Singer talked with Douglas Rosenthal, David Sogg, and Jeremy Branson about the piece and the group. Members of the group included: Ron Samuels, clarinet; David Sogg, bassoon; Neal Berntsen, trumpet; Douglas Rosenthal, trombone; Jeremy Branson, percussion; Dennis O'Boyle, second violin; John Moore, bass. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Christoph Eschenbach

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 19:30:33 +0000

Pianist and Conductor Christoph Eschenbach returns to Pittsburgh after many years as Music Director of the Philadelphia, Houston and National Symphony orchestras. He talks about his program of Schumann’s Second Symphony, and the Brahms Violin Concerto with Ray Chen. He remembers his first Pittsburgh concert in 1972 with William Steinberg and hundreds of other concerts he played and conducted at Heinz Hall. He points to the recent Ukraine benefit concert he gave at Carnegie Hall in New York as a highlight added recently with Anne Sophie Mutter. Jim Cunningham also asks him about his years in Washington DC, Philadelphia and Houston and if he could share any wisdom having had such a vast range of musical experiences dating back to his extremely challenging youth during the years of WWII. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pittsburgh Symphony Live - 9/27/24 - Postconcert Interviews

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 02:35:51 +0000

WQED-FM broadcast the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra concert live on Friday September 27, 2024. Jim Cunningham spoke with WQED-FM's Anna Singer, PSO Principal Cellist Anne Martindale Williams and Post-Gazette Classical Music Critic Jeremy Reynolds after the concert. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pittsburgh Symphony Live - 9/27/24 - Intermission Interviews

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 02:33:25 +0000

WQED-FM broadcast the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra concert live on Friday September 27, 2024. Jim Cunningham spoke with PSO Music Director Manfred Honeck and guest soloist - violinist Augustin Hadelich backstage during intermission. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pittsburgh Symphony Live - 9/27/24 - Preconcert Interviews

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 02:31:06 +0000

WQED-FM broadcast the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra concert live on Friday September 27, 2024. Jim Cunningham spoke with WQED President and CEO Jason Jedlinski, WQED Board Chair Emeritus Millie Myers, and PSO Contrabassoon James Rodgers backstage prior to the concert. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andrew Reamer

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 7 Sep 2024 16:31:32 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Principal Percussionist Andrew Reamer spoke with Jim Cunningham just a few hours before the final concert of the Pittsburgh Symphony European Festival tour September 7 2024 in Vienna, Austria. He talks about the special events of the tour which began at the Salzburg Festival. It is an emotional event for Mr. Reamer because it is his last concert as he will begin his retirement after 35 years. He looks back at some of the special events that took place having been hired by Lorin Maazel in 1989 and participated in 40 tours. Andy has also been a favorite soloist in the annual Thanksgiving concert with the Feuerfest Polka, playing the anvil while wearing colorful costumes. Many of his family members are on the tour, including his wife, Ruth Ann, who also recently retired from her longtime job as a columnist in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He hopes to return as a guest from time to time and will continue his work with the Drummer’s service company, which his father founded. The Cleveland Orchestra is also on tour in Vienna using a bass drum he made as does the Pittsburgh Symphony. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

David McCarroll

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Wed, 4 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony David McCarroll spoke about the two German European Tour concerts at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg Germany. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra was on its way an afternoon rehearsal with Yefim Bronfman playing the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3. The program consists of John Adams Short Ride in a Fast Machine, Stravinsky’s Suite From the Firebird and Puccini’s Turandot Suite. David discusses the tour so far with Anne Sophie Mutter, who will be performing Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

William Caballero and Cynthia Koledo de Almeida

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Tue, 3 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Principal Horn of the Pittsburgh Symphony, William Caballero, and Principal Oboe, Cynthia Koledo de Almeida, talk about the 2024 European Festivals Tour just before the first of two concerts at the Elb Philharmonie in Hamburg, Germany. They describe the extraordinary success of the Salzburg Festival concert, the beauty of the South Tirol in Merano Italy, and the confetti at the end of the concert in Dusseldorf with Anne Sophie Mutter. The Pittsburgh Symphony has met the challenges of very warm concert halls and a few players being sidelined temporarily with Covid. Cynthia can’t recommend schnitzel with tofu in Austria but they’ve found lots of good things to eat and loved a guided tour with Manfred Honeck of Anton Bruckner’s final resting place at St. Florian Monastery. All in all the trip has been rapturously received everywhere and the Orchestra is feeling great. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Yefim Brofnman - PSO 2024 European Tour

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Piano superstar Yefim Bronfman joined Jim Cunningham in the third floor rehearsal room at Heinz Hall to discuss his interpretation of the Rachmaninoff Third Concerto which he will play on August 15 at the Pittsburgh Symphony's European Tour sendoff celebration, at the Salzburg Festival, the Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, and at Merano in the Italian Alps. He talks about his tour routine, playing outside, his recent performance at the Tanglewood Festival of the Scriabin Poem of Ecstasy, how author Philip Roth described him in the novel The Human Stain, and the significance of the Sound of Music in its upcoming 60th anniversary observation. He has high praise for the Pittsburgh Symphony working with Manfred Honeck and the value of taking the orchestra to Europe. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Manfred Honeck - PSO 2024 European Tour

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Music Director, Manfred Honeck, talks about the upcoming European festivals tour starting with a visit to the prestigious Salzburg festival. He talks with Jim Cunningham about the special atmosphere at Salzburg and how it is Mozart’s birthplace, the country where Honeck was born, and where the Sound Of Music was filmed over 60 years ago! Maestro runs through the special qualities of each stop on the tour and how pleased he is to be working with Yefim Bronfman, Anne Sophie Mutter and Maria Duenas as soloists. Gute Reise and Bon Voyage! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Manfred Honeck and Michael Daugherty - Intermission Interviews

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 8 Jun 2024 03:29:27 +0000

WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Music Director and composer Michael Daugherty backstage immediately after the world premiere of Daugherty's "Songs of the Open Road," during our live broadcast on Friday June 7, 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

William Caballero & Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Mon, 3 Jun 2024 21:46:24 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Principal Oboe Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida and Principal Horn William Caballero have joined pianist Rodrigo Ojeda to record Three Rivers Trios on the Crystal label released May 27. The disc features two pieces written for them: Chris Massa’s Scenes From Chautauqua Lake and Eric Ewazen’s Three Rivers Trio along with several other first recordings of the Mozart trio for oboe horn and piano arranged by Eric Naumann from the Quintet k. 407, Robert Kahn’s Serenade, and Heinrich Molbe’s Air Arabe. Cyndy and Bill will give the world premiere of Michael Daugherty’s Songs of the Open Road on Friday June 7th with Manfred Honeck conducting the Pittsburgh Symphony. They give a road map for the piece and talk about how the commission came together complete with a visit to the Lucille Ball Museum in Jamestown New York, the Big Sur, Continental Divide, Sleeping Bear, Desilu, Blue Ridge and Key West. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Benjamin Grosvenor

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Wed, 29 May 2024 13:53:18 +0000

Jim Cunningham spoke with pianist Benjamin Grosvenor who plays the Liszt Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra this weekend. Benjamin talks about the piece, his latest recording projects, and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Vasily Petrenko

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Wed, 29 May 2024 13:51:05 +0000

Vasily Petrenko returns to Heinz Hall to conduct the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra this weekend. He'll conduct Dukas' "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," Tchaikovsky's Manfred Symphony and Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1 with soloist Benjamin Grosvenor. Jim Cunningham talks to him about the program, his latest projects and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Stephane Deneve

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 17 May 2024 22:13:33 +0000

WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with this weekend's Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra guest conductor, Stephane Deneve. He's conducting music of Ravel, Poulenc and the Gershwin "An American in Paris." He talks about program, working in St. Louis, if he ever sees Leonard Slatkin in town, and if he is a classical radio fan. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pianist Cedric Tiberghien

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 17 May 2024 22:11:04 +0000

Pianist Cedric Tiberghien plays the Ravel Piano Concerto for the Left Hand this weekend with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. It's his Heinz Hall debut. WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham got his thoughts on the Ravel concerto, his interests outside of music and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Samy Moussa

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 23:23:40 +0000

Montreal Canada born composer Samy Moussa talks about his Pittsburgh Symphony commission Adgilis Deda ---Hymn for Orchestra - mentioning that it is terrific to have it on a program with one of his favorite composers Anton Bruckner as well as how it was inspired by a person he met in Georgia of the former USSR where he spent an extended period of time. He describes his path so far as a musician studying in Canada, Munich, Germany and now living in Berlin. He is delighted that the Pittsburgh Symphony has already played his Violin Concerto and that he will be working with an orchestra and conductor he has admired from afar. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Manfred Honeck

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 23:21:52 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Music Director Manfred Honeck talks with Jim Cunningham in the grand lobby of Heinz Hall about the Liszt Dante Symphony and this weekend's performances of Beethoven’s Ninth with 3 pieces by Anton Bruckner - Locus Iste, Ave Maria and the Adagio from the String Quintet in F in the arrangement Manfred Honeck and Thomas Ille have made. He also speaks about the Beethoven Ninth and how it is always new including an offstage military band and working with Daniel Singer at the Mendelssohn Choir. Manfred Honeck talks about the Pittsburgh Symphony commission of Samy Moussa to write Adgilis Deda---Hymn for Orchestra. The Pittsburgh Symphony announced just this week that the orchestra will be back on tour in August and September 2024 as the only American orchestra at the Salzburg Festival and return visits to several other prestigious European Festivals. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Leif Ove Andsnes

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 20:13:17 +0000

Pianist Leif Ove Andsnes returns to the Pittsburgh Symphony to play one of the most challenging piano concertos of all, the Third by Sergei Rachmaninov with Music Director Manfred Honeck. He joins Jim Cunningham in the Grand Lobby of Heinz Hall to talk about the fine points of the Concerto, how he stays " in the pocket" as drummers in jazz and funk bands like to do, comments on the record Rachmaninov made of his own Third, mentions a few favorites from the 37 cd box set of his recordings which have been issued by Warner Classics, talks about his season with the Rachmaninov Third also in Philadelphia, his chamber music tour with the Dover Quartet playing Brahms and Dohnanyi and his videos including the Pictures Reframed which involves the piano being played under water and his love of his hometown Bergen, Norway about a day's drive from Trondheim where he will perform this season. He says he does not know anything about the Trondheim stick dance which Monty Python suggests is done by women in Norway to resolve marital disputes. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Charlie Albright

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 19:08:01 +0000

Gilmore and Avery Fisher prize winning pianist Charlie Albright makes his Pittsburgh Symphony debut April 12, 13 and 14 with George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue for PNC Pops and Saturday morning Fiddlesticks concerts. He’s from Centralia, Washington with a start at age 3 then on to studying at Harvard with an interest in economics and pre medicine but the piano became the main focus. He’s appeared with Yo Yo Ma on numerous occasions often with special circumstances and he is loving the sound of the Pittsburgh Symphony, the grandeur of Heinz Hall and the collaboration with Byron Stripling. The subjects covered include why he loves music and young people, his work on YouTube teaching piano, his daughter who is less than one year old and the pre concert ritual which now and then includes a stop at Chipotle. Charlie Albright spoke after the Friday rehearsal with Jim Cunningham sitting at the top of the stairs in the grand lobby under the crystal chandeliers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jean-Yves Thibaudet

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 4 Apr 2024 22:39:45 +0000

Pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet joins Jim Cunningham to share his thoughts about Camille Saint-Saens and the Egyptian Concerto No. 5 written in uxor and inspired by his visit to the country even weaving a bit of a song he heard from the river. Jean-Yves talks about his Hall of Fame designation at the Hollywood Bowl, his work in the wine region of Burgundy with cellist Gautier Capucon, his interest in jazz, his new cd with Michael Feinstein and his style with couture from Vivienne Westwood. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Osmo Vanska

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 4 Apr 2024 22:35:10 +0000

The long time Music Director of the Minnesota Orchestra discusses the Inextinguishable Symphony No 4 by Carl Nielsen, the Bach Toccata and Fugue in d minor in the Skrowacewski transcription and its use on horror films along the way to becoming the best known music by J. S. Bach. Maestro Vanska says he’s living the Finnish equivalent of the free life but enjoys his home in Minnesota, he knows the Finnish wunderkind Klaus Makela and why he is great having just been appointed Music Director in Chicago along with the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Topics include the Finnish character to avoid small talk , his Yamaha motorcycle and why he let the Minnesota Orchestra auction it off. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Juanjo Mena

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 20:36:21 +0000

WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham sat down with conductor Juano Mena, who will conduct the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra this weekend in Elgar's Enigma Variations and Sukkot Through Orion's Nebula by James Lee III. Plus, he'll conduct violin works by Ginastera and Sarasate with Hilary Hahn. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

PSO Live Broadcast Intermission Interviews - 3/15/24

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 03:05:59 +0000

During WQED-FM's live broadcast of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on Friday March 15, 2024, Jim Cunningham spoke with conductor Jacob Joyce, guest violinist James Ehnes, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Vice-President of Artistic Planning Mary Persin and WQED President and CEO Jason Jedlinski during intermission. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mason Bates

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Tue, 5 Mar 2024 19:36:38 +0000

Mason Bates joins Jim Cunningham to talk about his Pittsburgh premiere of Philharmonia Fantastique, commissioned in part by Pittsburgh. With animation and live action film this score has won a Grammy in its Chicago Symphony recording while becoming Mason’s most performed piece. It mixes animation with ties to the Pixar studio and Lucasfilm, live action on screen while the orchestra plays. Mason also fills us in on his next opera based on Michael Chabon’s "The Fabulous Adventures of Kavalier Klay." Mason Bates recalls how much he enjoyed his Pittsburgh visits, commissions and year as Composer in Residence and his winning of the Heinz Award, plus meeting Theresa Heinz. At the end of the conversation, he reveals where he takes out of town guests when they visit San Francisco while he teaches at the Conservatory. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

PSO Double Bass Section

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Tue, 5 Mar 2024 15:51:23 +0000

John Moore, Micah Howard and Nicholas Myers, members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Double Bass section, stopped by the QED Morning Show with Jim Cunningham to talk about the Pittsburgh Double Bass Symposium taking place at CMU on Sunday March 10th, as well as the Sound Fusion concert taking place at Heinz Hall on March 5th. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pablo Heras-Cassado

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 14:36:55 +0000

Pablo Heras-Cassado returns to Heinz Hall to conduct Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, Manuel de Falla's Three Cornered Hat, and Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 with Yunchan Lim. Jim Cunningham spoke with the Maestro about the concert. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cellist Pablo Ferrandez

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 23:33:25 +0000

Pablo Ferrandez returns to Heinz Hall having had a sensational debut in a 2023 December concert with Anne Sophie Mutter and John Williams playing Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with Anne Sophie Mutter. He describes the challenge of playing the Shostakovich Cello Concerto No 1., the composer’s fear of being taken away in the night were he to run counter to what Stalin thought he should be writing, the importance of the timpanist in the First Concerto, his family of musicians naming him after Pablo Casals, growing up in sunny Spain, his recordings for Sony including the Brahms Double Concerto with Anne Sophie Mutter, the Czech Philharmonic and Manfred Honeck, and what he knows about Pittsburgh and the orchestra in this conversation with Jim Cunningham. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Composer Katherine Balch

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 23:27:13 +0000

Katherine Balch talks about her new music commissioned by the Pittsburgh Symphony and several other American Orchestras with the world premiere on February 16, 2023--- Musica Pyralis to be conducted by Manfred Honeck. She is inspired by the events around her including fireflies in the music for Pittsburgh. Katherine tells Jim Cunningham her story: born in San Diego, now teaching at Yale, her thoughts about connecting with audiences. her family and whether she is a California girl. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Alexandre Kantorow

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 9 Feb 2024 21:24:35 +0000

Pianist Alexandre Kantorow makes his Heinz Hall debut February 9th through 11th at Heinz Hall with Manfred Honeck. In this conversation with Jim Cunningham recorded in the Dorothy Porter Simmons Rooms at Heinz Hall, he talks about the Liszt Second Concerto; his recent win of the Gilmore Prize and the win at the Tchaikovsky Competition; his early career; growing up in the musical family with his Dad, a conductor and his Mom a violinist; being French; wearing a beret; enjoying fresh baguettes; and his upcoming tour with Jaap van Zweden and the Hong Kong Philharmonic. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Anthony Parnther

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 1 Feb 2024 22:23:17 +0000

Anthony Parnther makes his Pittsburgh Symphony debut with "Lift Every Voice" on Saturday February 3rd, 7pm at Heinz Hall where he’ll conduct the Florence Price Third Symphony and the Lars Erik Larsson Trombone Concertino with Cooper Cromwell Whitney solo. The wide ranging program celebrates tradition in African American musical culture with Grammy wining soloist Oleta Adams and the Unity Choir conducted by Nikki Porter. Anthony has conducted and played bassoon on over 1000 Hollywood film scores including his work as conductor for the Oscar nominated score for Oppenheimer. He is Music Director of the San Bernardino Symphony. Mark Swed of the Los Angeles Times wrote that “he is the quintessential LA musician.” Anthony Parnther tells his story and speaks of his love of Gospel music while growing up, plus he remembers his Pittsburgh debut conducting music by Matthew Rosenblum in the Microtonal Music Festival in this conversation at Heinz Hall in the conductor’s dressing room with Jim Cunningham. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cooper Cromwell-Whitley

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 20:52:55 +0000

Trombonist and Paul J. Ross Fellow with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Cooper Cromwell-Whitley, discusses with Jim Cunningham his childhood love for the trombone, and Lars-Erick Larsson's Concertino for Trombone that he will play this Saturday, February 3rd at 7 pm in the "Lift Every Voice" concert with Oleta Adams, Nikki Porter and the Lift Every Voice Unity Choir, Anthony Parnther, and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Visit https://pittsburghsymphony.org to learn more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nikki Porter

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 17:59:30 +0000

Minister of Music at Eastminster Presbyterian Church and choir director, Nikki Porter, discussed with Jim Cunningham live on the QED Morning Show her upcoming concert with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Oleta Adams, conductor Anthony Parnther, pianist Alton Merrell, and trombonist Cooper-Cromwell Whitley in "Lift Every Voice" next Saturday, February 3rd at 7 pm. Nikki talks about the program featuring Florence Price and some of Oleta Adam's most famous works. Nikki also highlights here work as a local choir director in the Pittsburgh area. Tickets start at $25. Visit https://pittsburghsymphony.org/ to learn more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Alexi Kenney

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 17:07:31 +0000

Violinist Alexi Kenney returns to Pittsburgh to perform the Barber Concerto with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and guest conductor Juraj Valcuha. Alexi talks about the concerto, playing the PSO and more with Jim Cunningham. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Juraj Valcuha

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 17:05:17 +0000

Juraj Valcuha returns to Heinz Hall to conduct the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in Nico Muhly's "Bright Idea", Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra and Barber's Violin Concerto with guest soloist Alexi Kenney. WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke to the maestro about the concert. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Live Broadcast Intermission Interviews - 1/12/24

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 20:00:27 +0000

WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham speaks with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Guest Conductor Petr Popelka, pianist Yulianna Avdeeva and PSO Vice President of Artistic Planning Mary Persin during intermission of WQED-FM's live broadcast on Friday January 12, 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Moon Doh - Courage to Stand Concert

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 20:54:48 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Associate Conductor Moon Doh stopped by the QED Morning Show to talk about the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's Schooltime concert "Courage to Stand" taking place Wednesday January 17th at 10:30 and 7pm and Tuesday January 23rd at 10:30am. The concerts feature the orchestra and special guests in a dynamic exploration of musicians, dancers, poets, and other leaders who have used the power of the arts to express their core convictions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Daniel Meyer - PSO Holiday Pops

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 23:24:34 +0000

The Pittsburgh Symphony Holiday Pops concludes this weekend. The conductor of the shows, Daniel Meyer, stopped by the QED Morning Show with Jim Cunningham to tell people what they can expect when they see the show at Heinz Hall. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Byron Stripling - Cirque Carnival

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 20:25:24 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Principal Pops Conductor Byron Stripling stopped by the QED Morning Show to talk about this weekend's concerts titled "Cirque Carnival." Byron talks about what you can expect from the concert, PSO Principal Flute playing as a soloist and working with Dizzy Gillespie. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Live Broadcast Intermission Interviews

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 4 Nov 2023 03:14:10 +0000

WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham interviewed violinist Bomsori, guest conductor James Gaffigan, new Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Associate Trombone Doug Rosenthal, and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Classical Music Critic Jeremy Reynolds during our live broadcast from Friday November 3, 2023. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rudolf Buchbinder

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 22:05:39 +0000

Rudolf Buchbinder talks with Jim Cunningham about playing all five Beethoven concertos in a single weekend at Heinz Hall October 26th and 28th 2023. He says it is not a big deal, that Beethoven and Mozart did it all the time even though it has never been done in Pittsburgh since the 1967 concerts of Rudolf Serkin and William Steinberg at the Syria Mosque. Buchbinder discusses his love for Beethoven and where he feels his presence in his favorite city Vienna. Does he know who The Immortal Beloved was and what is the key to his nature are among the topics. Love is the answer! Plus, thoughts about his most recent recording for DG Soiree de Vienne and all the Beethoven Sonatas recorded in a few days at the Salzburg Festival for live ORF broadcasts. The importance of radio, having Frau Buchbinder, Agnes, along for the ride, his admiration for Pittsburgh, and the good summer at his Grafenegg Festival all turn up along the conversation path. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Frzy

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 14:21:54 +0000

Pittsburgh born rapper Frzy returns to WQED where he won an Emmy award for his "Wont You Be My Neighbor" video joining Christian Kriegeskotte who has composed the orchestral score for an evening of Frzy fun at Heinz Hall with Moon Doh conducting November 8. DJ Solo and Frzy’s The Faculty with singers and more mark the 50th anniversary of hip hop in style. Frzy talks about the positive flow of his message with Jim Cunningham. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mary Persin

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 17:35:26 +0000

WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Vice-President of Artistic Planning Mary Persin about tonight's (10/18) PSO360 concert as Pittsburgh Symphony musicians take center stage for an intimate evening of music in collaboration with the landmark Pittsburgh Violins of Hope community project. She also talks about upcoming PSO concerts she's looking forward to and about the special Violins of Hope concert taking place in November. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Moon Doh - The Sound of Magic

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 20:33:49 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Associate Conductor Moon Doh stopped by the QED Morning Show to talk about the concerts he's conducting this weekend called "Disney: The Sound of Magic." Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jacob Joyce & Erin Lynn - Disrupt

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 5 Oct 2023 20:56:42 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Associate Conductor Jacob Joyce joins Jim Cunningham and Erin Lynn, Director of Audience Experience, to speak about the Disrupt concert "Ludwig Grooves" with Manfred Honeck conducting Beethoven’s Seventh and the John Adams "Short Ride in a Fast Machine." The Transformation Fizz cocktail and mocktail can be taken in to the concert hall. Arrive early for fun with the photo booths and optional wigs, art from the Carnegie Museum, Attack Theater Dancers and Jacob Joyce revealing special features of the music. Will Maestro Honeck wear sneakers? A relaxed vibe with music making at the highest level. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

PSO Live Backstage Interviews

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Mon, 2 Oct 2023 13:12:38 +0000

WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham interviews Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Music Director Manfred Honeck, guest soloist Helene Grimaud and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra President and CEO Melia Tourangeau during intermission of our live broadcast on Friday September 29th, 2023. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Helene Grimaud

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 21:49:39 +0000

WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham had a chance to interview Helene Grimaud at Heinz Hall before she plays the Schumann Piano Concerto this weekend with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. She talks about the concerto, her love of playing in Pittsburgh and if she celebrates Halloween. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Manfred Honeck

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 19:40:28 +0000

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra opens its 2023-2024 Mellon Grand Classics Season this weekend with music by Gabriela Ortiz and Sergei Rachmaninoff, with Helene Grimaud playing the Schumann Piano Concerto. Music Director Manfred Honeck stopped by the QED Morning Show to talk with Jim Cunningham about the concert, the Gala with Renee Fleming and much more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

John Moore and Neal Berntsen

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 21:02:40 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra musicians John Moore and Neal Berntsen discussed with Jim Cunningham live on air during WQED-FM's fall funder about the Musicians of Steel 5k Run and Walk on September 30th at 10am in Millvale. 100% of the race entry fees go towards the PSO Musicians Care Fund that is a non-profit that support local community and school programs that have lost funding. They also talk about the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's newest CD featuring Tchaikovsky's 5th Symphony. Visit https://www.musiciansofsteel5k.com to learn more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Renee Fleming and Manfred Honeck

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 21:29:47 +0000

Superstar soprano Renee Fleming sat down with Music Director Manfred Honeck in the Fifth Floor dressing room to talk about their Pittsburgh Symphony "Now is the Time" Gala concert at Heinz hall September 23, 2023 recalling Renee’s first years in Indiana, PA and Ridgeway. Manfred Honeck answers the question - is Renee Fleming a diva? Renee discusses her Kennedy Center honor at the end of the year with Dionne Warwick, Queen Latifah, Billy Crystal and Barry Gibb. Jim Cunningham asks about her series of Imax ‘Cities that Sing’ live to theaters concerts with Paris and Venice. Renee Fleming mentions her work with Andre Previn in "Streetcar Named Desire" and his last music, "Penelope." They run down the concert program with 4 Black Dances by Carlos Simon, John Kandar’s "Letter From Sullivan Ballou," La Boheme by Leoncavallo, "Till There Was You" from the Music Man, and Andrew Lippa’s "The Diva." Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Moon Doh - Summer Shorts

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 15:13:05 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Assistant Conductor Moon Doh stopped by the QED Morning Show with Jim Cunningham to talk about the "Summer Shorts" series of concerts the orchestra is doing this summer. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pianist Igor Levit

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 9 Jun 2023 21:25:52 +0000

Pianist Igor Levit will play the Gershwin Piano Concerto this weekend with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He spoke with WQED-FM's Anna Singer about the piece. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Composer Stacy Garrop

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 9 Jun 2023 21:18:15 +0000

June 9th through the 11, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will World Premiere "Forging Steel" by composer Stacy Garrop. Stacy spoke with WQED-FM's Anna Singer about the piece. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Manfred Honeck & Melia Tourangeau

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 9 Jun 2023 21:01:56 +0000

WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with Manfred Honeck and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra President and CEO Melia Tourangeau about the PSO's concert this Friday through Sunday that features the Pittsburgh Ballet, two commissions and features Igor Levit with Gershwin's piano concerto. They also talk about the League of American Orchestra meetings taking place in Pittsburgh. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pablo Heras-Casado

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 18 May 2023 21:49:06 +0000

Conductor Pablo Heras-Casado speaks with Jim Cunningham in the conductor’s dressing room after rehearsal on May 18, 2023 about the Stravinsky Rite of Spring and it’s ferocity, sense of danger and riot inducing nature which he recently recorded in France. He explains what composer Igor Stravinsky meant when he said Herbert von Karajan’s Rite of Spring featured a “Hootchie Kootchie tempo”; he speaks about his personal approach and about his recent recordings for Harmonia Mundi of Schumann, Schubert and Beethoven, his tour with the the Freiburg Orchestra, the Disrupt concert at Heinz Hall with the Riot theme and how to engage a younger audience for classical music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Alice Sara Ott

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 18 May 2023 21:46:38 +0000

Pianist Alice Sara Ott tells Jim Cunningham about her long association with the Edvard Grieg Concerto, playing it in Norway, visiting the Grieg House and playing his piano, recording it with Esa Pekka Salonen , her ten CDs for DG, growing up in Germany and home in Munich, her fashion sense and design work and how delighted she is to make her Pittsburgh debut. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Seong-Jin Cho

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 21:33:28 +0000

Korean born pianist Seong–Jin Cho returns to Heinz Hall and the Pittsburgh Symphony conducted by Manfred Honeck April 21, 22 and 23 2023 in the Ravel Piano Concerto in G. He’s played it many times for a pianist who is 28 years old and in this conversation with Jim Cunningham, explains the special moments of the French masterpiece. Fresh from his solo recital at Carnegie Hall in New York where he played music by Handel featured on his latest DG cd, Seong-Jin shares what he’s working on for concerts in the near future and the high wire debut at Carnegie Hall with the Vienna Philharmonic when Denis Matsuev and Valery Gergiev withdrew from the program on short notice. Berlin is his home these days but he gets back to his birthplace often where classical music is thriving. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Holocaust Remembrance Concert

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 17:34:59 +0000

Members of the Pittsburgh Symphony including David McCarroll, Concetmaser; Tatjana Mead Chamis, viola; Dylan Naroff, violin; and cellist Angela Park joined Jim Cunningham to discuss their performance of suppressed composers including Gideon Klein, Erwin Schulhoff and Mieceslaw Weinberg in the Chatham University Chapel, 7pm on April 18. Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, is the cornerstone program of the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh. It is the day set aside to remember the approximately six-million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. The Holocaust Center’s annual Yom HaShoah Commemoration is a solemn community gathering. This year, in addition to a concert, the evening will include a candle lighting ceremony, with additional candles lit in honor of the Liberators, Veterans, and the non-Jews who risked their lives to save the lives of their Jewish friends and neighbors; a film produced by Chatham University students featuring local survivors; and a memorial for local survivors who have passed away. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jader Bignamini

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 14:48:40 +0000

Jader Bignamini makes his Pittsburgh Symphony debut with Shostakovich Tenth Symphony and Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto played by Kiril Gerstein - April 14th and 16th, 2023 with a special Disrupt concert on the 15th with a more casual concert presentation. Maestro Bignamini speaks about the Tenth and Beethoven, plus gives Jim Cunningham a summary of his early years in Crema, Italy not far from Cremona. He says he is delighted to make several debuts this season and is enjoying his second full season in Detroit as Music Director. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Intermission Interviews - 3/31/23

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 1 Apr 2023 03:25:05 +0000

Jim Cunningham spoke with Guest Conductor Daniele Rustioni and pianist Francesco Piemontesi during intermission of WQED-FM's live broadcast of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on March 31, 2023. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Daniele Rustioni

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 22:38:18 +0000

Daniele Rustioni makes his Heinz Hall debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony March 31st and April 2nd with Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances, the Brahms First Piano Concerto with Francesco Piemontesi, and Unsuk Chin’s "Subito Con Forza." It’s a high wire act because he is also conducting the Metropolitan Opera’s Falstaff during the same weekend with a Saturday matinee live broadcast on radio and to theaters with the HD series. He told the orchestra his Mother will be watching in Italy so it must be good! He flew to Pittsburgh on Thursday morning for rehearsal and he will fly to New York after the Friday performance at Heinz Hall for the Saturday Met Falstaff which begins with an early curtain. Then he returns to Pittsburgh for Sunday afternoon. His friend and mentor Gianadrea Noseda had done something similar a few years ago. Daniele tells Jim Cunningham about his admiration for Italian conductor Victor de Sabata who made his American debut in Pittsburgh at the Syria Mosque. Daniele Rustioni was born in Milan and studied at the Conservatory there. He is married to Francesca Dego and they recoded the Violin Concerto by Ermanno Wolf Ferrari and the Mozart Violin Concertos. About his Falstaff at the Met, Patrick Dillon in Opera Canada wrote: “The not-quite-forty-year-old Milanese has been making ever-increasing waves in the world’s opera houses and concert halls, and at the Met this season he took the virtuosic house band out of the pit and onto the stage of Carnegie Hall for Bartók and Stravinsky before helming the current string of Falstaff's. Everything about his deft, graceful, shipshape account of this infinitely rewarding score seemed unobtrusively right.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Marty Bates and Moon Doh

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 17:05:13 +0000

Members of the Pittsburgh Symphony visit Teutonia Maennerchor on Phineas Street, Northside to present Triumph of the Misfits in the Discovery and Drinks series with Schubert’s Death and the maiden Quartet and Ravel’s String Quartet on March 30 at 7pm. Each ticket includes a selection from the bar. Pittsburgh Symphony Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Marty Bates will host. In May, Assistant Conductor Moon Doh will present the next program in the series with Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring as the centerpiece. Assistant Conductor Doh also has a free Side by Side concert April 11 at Heinz Hall with Gustav Mahler. The plans for the PSO Disrupt series and highlights of the remainder of the season are in the discussion with Jim Cunningham. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

James MacMillan

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 21:37:10 +0000

Composer Sir James MacMillan joins Jim Cunningham in the WQED-FM studio just hours before his world premiere to share his thoughts about his new music heard for the first time on commission from the Pittsburgh Symphony - March 17th ,18th and 19th, 2023. Her tears fell with the dews at even will be recorded along with the Mozart Requiem for Reference. He wrote the music and found the words of Tennyson From Mariana that seemed to fit. Sir James has known Principal Flute Lorna McGhee since she was just starting out in Scotland and he wrote a considerable amount for the flute in the score. He discusses his time as Composer of the Year in Pittsburgh, and his music written for Pittsburgh starting with a Fanfare in 2016, the Fourth Symphony, the Larghetto for Manfred Honeck’s 10th year as Music Director. Also on the list of topics: the chant workshop he will lead on Saturday with the men of the Westminster Choir, his new music being heard around the globe including at the Cincinnati May Festival, St. Patrick’s Day in Scotland, Andrew Carnegie the Great Scot, the ability of music to lift us even in our darkest hour, how he shares much of Manfred Honeck’s thinking about spirituality and where we are with the state of the spiritual life in our world today. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Manfred Honeck

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 20:38:09 +0000

The Music Director of the Pittsburgh Symphony runs down the concerts of March 7 with Lang Lang playing the Saint-Saens 2nd Concerto and March 10th and 12th with Franz Schmidt’s Fourth Symphony for the first time at Heinz Hall, along with Emanuel Ax playing Chopin’s Second Concerto . The weekend of March 17, 18 and 19, Manfred Honeck conducts his personal version of the Mozart Requiem which will be recorded for the Reference label with narrator F. Murray Abraham and soloists with the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Emanuel Ax

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 16:28:33 +0000

Emanuel Ax plays the Piano Concerto No. 2 by Chopin with Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony Friday March 10 and Saturday March 12 at 2:30 at Heinz Hall. Jim Cunningham joined Mr. Ax to talk about Chopin, the love of his life George Sand, Ax's long association with the composer including the Chopin Competition in Warsaw, recording the concerto twice with Eugene Ormandy and Sir Charles Mackerras plus doing crosswords, a new cd on the way from Yo Yo Ma and much more in this interview recorded after rehearsal at Heinz Hall. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dima Slobodeniouk

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 21:47:18 +0000

Conductor Dima Slobodeniouk, born in Moscow and a long time resident of Finland where he conducted and recorded with the Lahti Symphony makes his debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony this weekend. In this conversation with Jim Cunningham he speaks about the war in Ukraine and adding music by Valentin Silvestrov, the Prayer for Ukraine, played on the anniversary of entering year two of the conflict. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Gil Shaham

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 21:39:32 +0000

Violinist Gil Shaham talks about his unique approach to the Beethoven Violin Concerto and Franz Clement who played his instrument upside down during the cadenza at the premiere when the ink was still wet on the page. Gil also talks about his recording with the Knights, his long collaboration with the Pittsburgh Symphony, the 360 concert on Saturday night and how to pronounce his name depending on where you are in the world. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Lawrence Loh-The Music of John Williams

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 20:47:50 +0000

The Music Director of Syracuse New York’s Symphoria, Lawrence Loh, leads a program of favorite film scores by John Williams for the Pittsburgh Symphony Pops. After serving more than a decade as Resident Conductor in Pittsburgh and conducting hundreds of concerts in and out of Heinz Hall, Lawrence Loh has become an acknowledged master with concerts in Seattle, Detroit, Florida and Phoenix just recently in addition to a long standing annual holiday concert with the Dallas Symphony. He has the rundown of scores, the surprises, the Chewbacca Roar contest in the lobby, which players have nice solo moments, and much more in this discussion with Jim Cunningham. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

PSO Intermission Interviews - 2/15/23

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 16:27:02 +0000

Jim Cunningham speaks with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Music Director Manfred Honeck and PSO Principal Cello Anne Martindale Williams during intermission of our live broadcast on February 15, 2023. Yo-Yo Ma also says a quick hi at the end of the broadcast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

PSO Intermission Interviews - 2/10/23

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 16:22:27 +0000

Jim Cunningham interviews Music Director Manfred Honeck, guest violinist Ray Chen, PSO Concertmaster David McCarroll, and thermin player Arturo Fernandez, during WQED-FM's live broadcast on February 10, 2023. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Manfred Honeck

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 20:51:22 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Music Director Manfred Honeck stopped by the QED Morning Show with Jim Cunningham to talk about this weekend's concerts with violinist Ray Chen and Holst's "The Planets." Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Matthias Goerne

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 2 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony soloist Baritone Matthias Goerne, described by many as the greatest singer in the lieder world today and one of the greatest operatic stars, speaks backstage minutes after his rehearsal of Wotan’s Farewell by Richard Wagner which he sings this weekend with music from Tristan und Isolde and The Flying Dutchman next to the Beethoven ‘s Fifth Symphony - February 3rd ,4th and 5th at Heinz Hall. He talks in detail about the program, the special challenges of singing Wagner, his teacher Dietrich Fischer Dieskau, about his new CD for Deutsche Grammophon, Schubert Revisited and about his decades long friendship with Manfred Honeck. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Paul Lewis

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Pianist Paul Lewis joins Sir Mark Elder and the Pittsburgh Symphony to make his Heinz Hall debut with Mozart’s 12th Concerto in A January 20 and 22, 2023. He describes the delights of the Mozart with Jim Cunningham in his second floor dressing room following the Thursday rehearsal. Paul became a Commander of the British Empire in 2016. He has no opinion at all about Prince Harry’s criticism of the Royal Family. Paul greatly admires his teacher Alfred Brendel, talks about his years in Liverpool, his latest recordings of Brahms and Schubert for Harmonia Mundi, first impressions of Pittsburgh and where contemporary music turns up in his repertoire which has won the highest praise for Brahms, Beethoven, Liszt, Haydn and Schubert. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Peter Oundjian and Alina Ibragimova

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Conductor Peter Oundjian and violinist Alina Ibragimova provide the roadmap for the Prokofiev First Violin Concerto which they perform with the Pittsburgh Symphony January 13th and 15th. Peter chooses a few high points in his 14 years as Music Director of the Toronto Symphony and fills Jim Cunningham in on his family ties to Eric Idle of Monty Python. He also shares his love of Ralph Vaughan Williams and the Thomas Tallis Fantasy having recorded the composer in Toronto. Alina remembers being in Pittsburgh on March 11, 2020 just hours from her debut when the music world went on hiatus. Both are glad to have survived the pandemic and feel optimistic about the future of classical music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Daniel Meyer

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 8 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Daniel Meyer conducts 8 Pittsburgh Symphony Holiday Pops concerts through Sunday the 18th of December with the Mendelssohn Choir, Santa and Blaine Alden Krauss who stars in Hamilton on Broadway plus dancers from the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater who perform highlights from the Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky. Maestro Meyer has the rundown of the event for Jim Cunningham and what he is up to with the Erie Philharmonic and the Westmoreland Symphony. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Martin Helmchen

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 1 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Berlin born pianist Martin Helmchen makes his debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony and Manfred Honeck playing the Schumann Concerto December 2 at Heinz Hall. He talks with Jim Cunningham in the upstairs dressing room about his earlier work with Manfred Honeck, the Schumann Concerto which he recorded a number of years ago and how his interpretation has changed, Robert Schumann the romantic figure in music, Germany and the US in the World Cup, and the progress in unification of the East and West in Germany. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

David Robertson

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 21:21:38 +0000

Conductor David Robertson explains why you shouldn’t be too sad about Tchaikovsky’s last days, his final symphony and applauding before the last movement. Has he ever heard a better French Horn virtuoso than Pittsburgh Principal William Caballero? No, and Robertson started his musical life as a horn player. Oliver Knussen adds considerable virtuosity and color to the program too. What’s it like to train the next generation of conductors at Juilliard and exactly how do you do it? Find out in this conversation with Jim Cunningham recorded in the conductor’s dressing room at Heinz Hall after rehearsal on Thursday November 10, 2022. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Manfred Honeck

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Manfred Honeck discusses the program this weekend Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with Yefim Bronfman in the Mozart 22nd Piano Concerto, the Sibelius Second Symphony and the first Pittsburgh performance of the Open Mind by Rolf Martinsson. Manfred Honeck explains the power of the marillenmarmalade made of apricots from the Wachau valley in Austria and enjoys a sample given as a gift by his sister Elfi and brother in law Florian Partl. Maestro Honeck will play a concert for winners of the Nobel Prizes in Stockholm, Sweden in December and he recaps his visit to the Metropolitan Opera in his visit to the WQED-FM Morning Show with Jim Cunningham.

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Yefim Bronfman

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Yefim Bronfman has the detail on Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 22 which he plays with the Pittsburgh Symphony October 28, 29 and 30 at Heinz Hall. In the upstairs rehearsal room he tells Jim Cunningham how he made up his mind on selecting the new Steinway which debuts this weekend with Manfred Honeck; New York after the pandemic; Halloween decorations; and his premiere in Cleveland. Plus, a look ahead at the rest of his winter season in this "At the Symphony" conversation.

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Nikki Porter

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Nikki Porter, Head of Staff and Minister of Music at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, leads the Unity Choir in "Lift Every Voice and Sing" - Saturday October 22 at Heinz Hall with the Pittsburgh Symphony. She tells her story to Jim Cunningham and suggests the spirit will move you downtown on Saturday evening. Kellen Gray conducts the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for the fourth Lift Every Voice concert! After more than two years, back together in Heinz Hall to experience music’s power to bring us forward. Kendra Ross and Garfield Lemonius host this one-night-only celebration of dynamic contemporary artists, including the world premiere of As I Please, a multimedia work by composer Kathryn Bostic, filmmaker Njaimeh Njie, and writer Jessica Lanay, commissioned by the PSO.
Josh Jones, alumnus of the Paul J. Ross Fellowship program, makes his PSO solo debut performing Vivaldi’s Concerto for Piccolo on marimba, Jasiri X makes his solo debut performing the Academy and Grammy Award-winning "Glory" from the movie Selma, Jessie Montgomery’s Strum for String Orchestra musically animates the mural "Playing the Cosmic Strings" by local artists Mikael Owunna and Marques Redd.

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Augustin Hadelich - October 14, 2022 Intermission Interview

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham speaks with violinist Augustin Hadelich after he performed the Sibelius Violin Concerto with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra during our live broadcast on October 14, 2022.

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Augustin Hadelich - October 14, 2022 Intermission Interview

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham speaks with violinist Augustin Hadelich after he performed the Sibelius Violin Concerto with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra during our live broadcast on October 14, 2022. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Juraj Valcuha - October 14, 2022 Intermission Interview

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham speaks with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra guest conductor Juraj Valcuha after the concert on our live broadcast from October 14, 2022.

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Suzanne Perrino - October 14, 2022 Intermission Interview

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham speaks with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Executive Vice-President of Learning and Community Engagement during our live broadcast on October 14, 2022.

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Moon Doh - Radical Days Concert

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Mon, 10 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Assistant Conductor Moon Doh presents the orchestra's Free Radical Days concert at Heinz Hall on Tuesday October 11th, 7:30pm. While on the European Tour, Jim Cunningham asked Maestro Doh about the pieces on the Radical Days concert.

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Fabien Gabel

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 7 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Guest Conductor Fabien Gabel spoke to WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham about this weekend's concerts with music by Ravel, Moussa, Chausson, and Stravinsky.

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Karen Gomyo

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 7 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

This weekend's Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra concerts feature violinist Karen Gomyo playing Chausson's Poeme for Violin and Orchestra, as well as the US Premiere of the Violin Concerto by Samy Moussa. Karen spoke to WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham about the pieces.

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Byron Stripling - Pittsburgh Symphony Pops

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000

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Byron Stripling - Pittsburgh Symphony Pops

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Pops presents "The Sounds of New Orleans" September 30th through October 2nd at Heinz Hall. Principal Conductor Byron Stripling stopped by the QED Morning Show to tell Jim Cunningham all about the concerts this weekend. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Honoring Mark Huggins - PSO Live - 9/23/22

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000

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Honoring Mark Huggins - PSO Live - 9/23/22

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra President and CEO Melia Tourangeau recognizes and honors Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Associate Concertmaster Mark Huggins, who is retiring from the orchestra at the end of September. From the PSO Opening Night concert on Friday September 23, 2022. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Osmo Vanska - 9/23/22

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000

WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with guest conductor Osmo Vanska at the end of our live broadcast of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's Season Opening Concert on Friday September 23, 2022.

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Joan Tower Speech - PSO Live 9/23/22

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Composer Joan Tower introduced her piece, "A New Day" from the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Season Opening Concert on Friday September 23, 2022.

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Intermission Interviews - PSO Live - 9/23/22

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Jim Cunningham interviews cellist Alisa Weilerstein and composer Joan Tower about her piece "A New Day", plus he talks with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra President and CEO Melia Tourangeau about the upcoming season during the orchestra's Season Opening Concert on Friday September 23, 2022.

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Joshua Bell

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Violinist Joshua Bell tells Jim Cunningham the Tchaikovsky Concerto never gets old having recorded it as a teenager with several re- recordings since and a previous performance with the Pittsburgh Symphony and Manfred Honeck. He estimates 1000 times he’s played the Tchaikovsky and he always hears something new. Joshua thinks the classical music scene is in good shape and will never decline in spite of the pandemic and concern about audiences returning. He’s just back from a tour with the Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields to Brazil and other stops in South America plus visits to Italian concert halls where the vibrancy of classical music was strong. Pittsburgh and his thirty years of music making here is always a highlight he suggests in the dressing room conversation after rehearsal on Friday afternoon before the Saturday gala.

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Joshua Bell

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Manfred Honeck - European Tour Preview

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Music Director Manfred Honeck visited the WQED studios for a live conversation on the QED Morning show on August 10th. It was the first in-person interview during the last two years of the pandemic outside of live broadcasts at Heinz Hall. Maestro Honeck ran down the special features of the upcoming 75th Anniversary European Tour of the Orchestra and the special guests Anne Sophie Mutter, Helene Grimaud and Gautier Capucon. He says he has sailed through the pandemic but regrets that so many have suffered and that audiences for music are slowly rebounding. Maestro Honeck mentioned his summer vacation with his family in the Tirol and Tuscany, ran down the special repertoire on the tour including Ligeti's "Lontano" and his transcriptions of music by Erwin Schulhoff. Manfred Honeck thanked the tour report sponsors Thiel College, Botkin Family Wealth Management and Elliot Dinkin of Cowden Associates and promised to provide dressing room commentary whenever possible.
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PSO Live Broadcast Intermission Interviews - 6/17/22

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Jim Cunningham spoke with guest pianist Emanuel Ax, Music Director Manfred Honeck, and sound recordist Dirk Sobotka during intermission of our live broadcast of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on Friday June 17, 2022.

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Emanuel Ax

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Emanuel Ax sat down with Jim Cunningham on Saturday afternoon after the live broadcast of opening night Friday June 17 to talk about Mozart's 20th concerto, Chopin for an encore, his long association with the Pittsburgh Symphony, friendship with Andre Previn, the war in Ukraine and it's effect on Lviv where Emanuel Ax was born, his recent Beethoven Trios cd Beethoven for Three with Yo Yo Ma and Leonidas Kavakos, and the answer to the question are there too many good musicians today-- recorded upstairs at Heinz Hall in the rehearsal room on the fourth floor with help from Adam Kilburn engineer and videographer. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Emanuel Ax

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

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Manfred Honeck

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 10 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The Music Director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Manfred Honeck talks with Jim Cunningham about the program for the weekend of June 10th with three pieces written for or first heard in America. The first Pittsburgh performance of the Dvorak Te Deum, the Poulenc Gloria inspired by Benedictine Monks playing soccer in 1961 both sung by the Mendelssohn Choir, and Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto with Beatrice Rana. Maestro Honeck says he enjoys the time on the plane to study his music and he enjoyed his recent tour with the Orchestra of Paris, having his son Joachim in town, how delighted he was with the Beethoven Symphony complete series this Spring and how thrilled he is with the general state of affairs even following a pandemic.

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Beatrice Rana

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 9 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Beatrice Rana returns to Heinz Hall with Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto conducted by Manfred Honeck June 10, 11 and 12 after a rave review from the New York Times for her New York performance. She talks with Jim Cunningham about Tchaikovsky and what makes it always new, and discusses her recording with Antonia Pappano and the Santa Cecilia orchestra, her chamber music festival in Puglia Italy, studying at the Nino Rota Conservatory, Fellini movies, driving on Italian highways, her new Chopin cd and visiting the Three Rivers Arts Festival.

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Symphony Splendor - Garden Tour

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Wed, 8 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Jean Horne, long time Fanfare columnist for the Pittsburgh tribune Review and Chris Thompson, Mendelssohn Choir member, who discusses singing Poulenc and Dvorak with Manfred Honeck the weekend of the 10th of June.

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Jennifer Orchard, Yeokyung Kim, Marylène Gingras-Roy and Charlie Powers

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Mon, 6 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Jennifer Orchard, Yeokyung Kim, Marylène Gingras-Roy and Charlie Powers play the Beethoven Quartet opus 59 No 2 allegretto live in the WQED-FM studio and talk about the Beethoven in our Neighborhood Library Project which takes them to Oakmont and the Carnegie Library on June 6 at 5:30. Their colleagues will continue to play the complete cycle of all the Beethoven Quartets in Carnegie Libraries though June 29.

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PSO Intermission Interviews - May 20, 2022

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sat, 21 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with Guest Conductor Matthias Pintscher, Principal Flute Lorna McGhee and PSO Vice President of Artistic Planning Mary Persin during intermission of our live broadcast.

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Matthias Pintscher

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 20 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Matthias Pintscher is the guest conductor this weekend with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He'll conduct Ravel's "Mother Goose" and "Alborada del gracioso," as well as Debussy's "La Mer." Alexi Kenney will play the Bartok Violin Concerto No. 2. Matthias talks to WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham about the concert, his recordings and composing and more.

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Alexi Kenney

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 20 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Alexi Kenney is the soloist this weekend with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He'll play the Bartok Violin Concerto No. 2 with guest conductor Matthias Pintscher. In this conversation with Jim Cunningham, Alexi talks about the concerto, being familiar with the PSO, and more.

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Nathalie Stutzmann

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 6 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Nathalie Stutzmann makes her Pittsburgh Symphony debut May 6th, 7th, and 8th 2022 with Dvorak’s New World Symphony and the Brahms Violin Concerto played by Daniel Lozakovich, along with a Heinz Hall first of Missy Mazzoli. Maestra Stutzmann makes her Met debut in two Mozart operas in 2021 and her debut at Bayreuth as well as the new Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony. Then there’s the Kristiansand Orchestra in Norway and the recording career as a contralto. What’s next? Hear all about it in the interview with Jim Cunningham complete with an assessment of women in the composing and conducting world and a little light shopping in Market Square.

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Daniel Lozakovich

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 6 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Daniel Lozakovich was born in Sweden just 18 years ago. He became the youngest artist ever signed to Deutsche Gramophone at 15 and he discusses his prior collaboration with Nathalie Stutzmann who he joins for a Pittsburgh debut playing the Brahms Concerto May 6th, 7th and 8th, 2022. He tells Jim Cunningham about his instrument too.

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Manfred Honeck and Yefim Bronfman

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Sun, 24 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke to Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Music Director Manfred Honeck and pianist Yefim Bronfman during intermission of our live broadcast from April 22, 2022.

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George Daugherty - PSO Pops

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 7 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

George Daugherty, conductor and creator of "Bugs Bunny at the Symphony" discusses the world wide phenomenon of the scores of Carl Stalling and others that accompany cartoon classics. How do they do it so precisely? George explains. He's a ballet conductor too and won an Emmy for a televised "Peter and the Wolf" on ABC. Pittsburgh began it all and Maestro Daugherty is delighted to be back in town sharing the updated version - now revised four times in the place where it began over thirty years ago.

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Intermission Interviews - April 1, 2022

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Mon, 4 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

During intermission of WQED-FM's live broadcast of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Jim Cunningham interviewed Music Director Manfred Honeck, guest soloist Leif Ove Andsnes, and PSO President and CEO Melia Tourangeau.

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Leif Ove Andsnes

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 1 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Leif Ove Andsnes returns to Heinz Hall to play the Benjamin Britten Piano Concerto No. 1 in its first time out in Pittsburgh. He talks about the concerto, playing it at the BBC Proms in 2019, the Britten record Sviatoslav Richter made with the composer conducting, Richter’s eccentricities, the new Mozart recording he’s just released, and his switch to the Sony label after 35 CDs for EMI. He discusses the music of Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov, which he will play on Saturday night in a special benefit concert at Heinz Hall. Leif shares with Jim Cunningham his feelings about the conflict in Ukraine and he discusses his recent all Grieg songs recording with Lise Davidsen including a meditation on Spring at the end as especially evocative of the Nordic soul.

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Wynton Marsalis and Manfred Honeck

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

This Friday at 8pm and Sunday afternoon at 2:30pm, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra plays the Pittsburgh premiere of "Herald, Holler and Hallelujah" by Wynton Marsalis. WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke to Mr. Marsalis and Music Director Manfred Honeck about the piece; how it came to be; and much more in this conversation.

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Manfred Honeck and Mary Persin - 2022-2023 Season Announcement

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Music Director Manfred Honeck and Vice President of Artistic Planning Mary Persin, sat down with WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham to talk about the Orchestra's 2022-2023 season. They also discuss their upcoming "Concert for Ukraine" performance taking place on Saturday April 2nd at 7:30pm.

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Juanjo Mena

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Guest Conductor Juanjo Mena discusses the Lutoslawski Concerto for Orchestra, Debussy Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun featuring Lorna McGhee and Rodrigo and Concierto de Aranjuez with Pablo Sainz Villegas. He talks with Jim Cunningham about his work in Cincinnati with the May Festival, his recent recordings, and his thinking about the world emerging from a pandemic and immersed in conflict with Russia and Ukraine.

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David Ludwig, Nancy Goeres, Ron Samuels, Michael Rusinek and Philip Pandolfi

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000

David Ludwig has composed the Sinfonia Concertante for two clarinets and two bassoons which receives the world premiere February 18 and 19 at Heinz hall with the Pittsburgh Symphony and Manfred Honeck. The new Dean and Director of the music Division at Juilliard composer David Ludwig sat down with the soloists Michael Rusinek Principal Clarinet with Second Clarinet Ron Samuels, Bassoon Philip Pandolfi, Principal Bassoon Nancy Goeres and Jim Cunningham to talk over the special features and the creation of the concerto, whether they will wear black, the shape of the music and how it was created.

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Michael Daugherty

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performs two world premieres, plus music of Smetana, Schumann and Stravinsky this weekend at Heinz Hall. WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke to composer Michael Daugherty about his brand new piece "Fifteen: Symphonic Fantasy on the Art of Andy Warhol." He also talks about other pieces he's working on, winning multiple Grammy's, and more.

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Reza Vali & Kian Soltani

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performs two world premieres, plus music of Smetana, Schumann and Stravinsky this weekend at Heinz Hall. WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke to composer Reza Vali about his brand new piece ""The Girl from Shiraz" from Persian Folk Songs, which features as soloist, Kian Soltani. Kian also joins the conversation to talk about the Reza Vali piece, as well as playing the Schumann Cello Concerto.

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Manfred Honeck - The Firebird

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Manfred Honeck returns to Heinz Hall to conduct Stravinsky's Suite from "The Firebird," along with two world premieres, and music by Schumann and Smetana. He chats with WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham about this program, what he's been up to since he was last in Pittsburgh, and more.

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Jacob Joyce - PSO Assistant Conductor

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Jacob Joyce, Pittsburgh Symphony Assistant Conductor, makes his Heinz Hall subscription concert debut this Saturday and Sunday January 22 and 23 conducting concertos by Corelli and Geminiani, plus Stravinsky sharing the program with his colleague Moon Doh who conducts Bartok. Jacob explains why he loves baroque music and tells us about his work with the Indianapolis Symphony plus his story so far. He also talks about his work with the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony as their new conductor.

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Moon Doh - PSO Assistant Conductor

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Moon Doh arrived as Pittsburgh Symphony Assistant Conductor just two weeks ago and now leads his first subscription concert at Heinz Hall January 22 and 23. He discusses the joy of Bartok and tells Jim Cunningham that his path from Korea has been winding but wonderful most recently with several appointments in Germany. He has climbed hundreds of steps to the top of Cologne Cathedral in whistling wind and he promised to share lessons in dancing Gangnam Style.

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Richard DiAdamo

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The story of a veteran Pittsburgh Symphony violinist who joined in 1968 under William Steinberg. Richard DiAdamo is admired by his colleagues for his artistry and, more recently since retiring, an heroic struggle with cancer which metastasized to multiple areas and further caused strokes and blindness. He started the violin at age 8 in Philadelphia studying with Armand DiCamillo of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Richard traces his path to the Eastman School of Music, his participation in the Howard Hanson American Music Festivals, study with Joseph Knitzer and Carroll Glenn followed by work at the Taos School of Music in New Mexico. He joined the Syracuse Symphony conducted by Karl Kritz who had emigrated to the US in 1937 first serving as assistant in the early years of the Pittsburgh Symphony. Richard played alongside violinist Louis Krasner who commissioned the Alban Berg Concerto. He founded the Amati String Trio. He won the Pittsburgh Concert Society Audition in 1981. The following year he gave the world premiere of Thomas Janson’s Harlequin for Richard DiAdamo which won praise from critics Robert Croan in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Tim Page who described it as “committed and praiseworthy” in the New York Times following the first New York performance at Symphony Space with David Stock conducting.
Richard DiAdamo remembers his work as a coach of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony and Three Rivers Young People’s Orchestra as well as teaching and founding the strings program at Washington and Jefferson College. He told Andrew Duckenbrod writing for the Post Gazette in 2006 "I am retiring from the symphony but not the violin...I plan on getting up every day and doing my practice. I am looking forward to practicing some solo pieces that I really haven't had the time for." Marvin Hamlisch called him onstage to speak about his retirement plans which included polishing classic cars—a Packard, a Mercedes and Carman Ghia. Among the highlights of his thousands of concerts across four decades were the visit to Rome to play Mahler at the Vatican, the opening of Heinz Hall with Mahler’s Second Symphony and tour concerts with William Steinberg in Japan and Andre Previn at the Musikverein in Vienna.
Manfred Honeck is a fan, checking in regularly. Richard made a rosary for Maestro Honeck which he treasures. Richard DiAdamo does not let his health problems get him down. He continues to inspire his colleagues with an indomitable spirit loving life with his wife Catherine DiAdamo who joins in the conversation with Jim Cunningham.

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Benjamin Grosvenor

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Benjamin Grosvenor returns to Heinz Hall to play the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2. Always a crowd favorite, Benjamin talks about the piece's appeal, handling the Covid pandemic and more in this conversation with WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham.

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Lorenzo Viotti

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Guest Conductor Lorenzo Viotti makes his Heinz Hall debut to conduct music of Verdi, Rachmaninoff, Strauss and Ravel. He spoke with WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham about the concert, knowing former PSO Music Director Mariss Jansons and more.

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Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida and Bill Caballero

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Tue, 7 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Today (12/7) is the Musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's Day of Music. Due to Covid, they were only able to perform live at one location - WQED-FM! Principal Oboe Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida and Principal Horn Bill Caballero stopped by during our Fundraiser to talk about the Day of Music and why you should support WQED-FM. They were also joined by pianist Rodrigo Ojeda to perform three pieces live in the studio.

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James Ehnes

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 3 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Violinist James Ehnes returns to Heinz Hall to perform the Barber Violin Concerto this weekend with Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He spoke with WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham about the piece, his recent recordings, and his love of the Winnipeg Jets hockey team.

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Manfred Honeck and Maria Duenas

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Manfred Honeck returns to Heinz Hall for the Thanksgiving weekend concert of Strauss waltzes and polkas in the spirit of the Vienna New Year’s Day concerts seen around the world and on WQED-TV from the ORF and PBS. This year at Heinz Hall, Maria Duenas makes her debut with the Paganini Violin Concerto No. 1. Maria is 18 years old. She tells her story and describes the special qualities of the instrument she plays. Manfred Honeck remembers his concerts playing the New Year’s Day program in Vienna and suggests the spirit of the program with encores expected. The interview with Jim Cunningham took place in the upstairs rehearsal room in order to record video which can be found on Vimeo.

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Symphony Splendor Holiday House Tour 2021-Jean Horne and Christine Thompson

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Fanfare columnist for the Tribune-Review, Jean Horne, and Christine Thompson, long time member of the Mendelssohn Choir, both have worked tirelessly for the Pittsburgh Symphony Association event Symphony Splendor Holiday House Tour 2021 taking place at a gilded age Shadyside House Mansion the weekend of November 19th. The story of the house and the forty musicians of the orchestra who will perform is discussed with Jim Cunningham. Christine also has details on the upcoming Choir events and Jean reveals at least one secret of her column.

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Behzod Abduraimov

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Pianist Behzod Abduraimov returns to Heinz Hall to make his debut with Juraj Valcuha in the Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 2. They’ve recorded together in Italy for Decca but never given a live concert until Pittsburgh. Is playing with a mask fun? No. Especially during this concerto, which requires heavy lifting but he’s managing. Behzod talks all about Prokofiev and his recent recordings of Rachmaninov’s own piano in Lucerne, Switzerland, where he toured the villa Rachmaninov.

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Daniel Meyer - Pittsburgh Symphony Pops

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 5 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Daniel Meyer conducts the Pittsburgh Symphony Pops Troupe Vertigo concert this weekend at Heinz Hall with Bizet's Carmen, Ravel's Bolero, music by Gimenez, Marquez and an overall Latin Spanish flavor. The acrobatics and the orchestra come together in a way that Maestro Meyer suggest is not to be missed. Daniel also runs down upcoming events on his calendar and why you should drive to the Warner Theater in Erie to hear his orchestra there.

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Kirill Karabits

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Kirill Karabits, born in Ukraine, makes his Heinz Hall debut October 29th and 31st with the Pittsburgh Symphony and Principal Trumpet Micah Wilkinson playing the Haydn Trumpet Concerto and the Anthony Plog Scherzo; plus the Stravinsky Pulcinella Suite and the Tchaikovsky Little Russian Symphony with its Ukrainian folk tunes. He has recorded more than a dozen CDs with standard and rare repertoire including a never before recorded Liszt opera. Now he feels he must spend more time in his homeland, Ukraine. Only a week ago he wasn’t certain if the Covid travel regulations would allow him to make the trip to Pittsburgh, but he is loving it now as you can hear in the conversation with Jim Cunningham recorded in the Conductor’s dressing room on October 28th right after rehearsal.

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Micah Wilkinson

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Principal Trumpet Micah Wilkinson plays the Haydn Trumpet Concerto along with a world premiere of the orchestrated Scherzo by Anthony Plog, Micah’s teacher during his European year of study in Freiburg, Germany. He remembers with pleasure his Haydn performances while touring with his colleagues from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. He didn’t mind the cold at all. In this conversation with Jim Cunningham, Micah discusses his pandemic back porch concerts, his newly published books of trumpet solos, and the music he plays at Heinz Hall October 29th and 31st with the debut of Kirill Karabits.

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Jan Lisiecki

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Pianist Jan Lisiecki returns to Pittsburgh to perform the Grieg Piano Concerto on Friday October 22nd, 8pm and Sunday October 24th, 2:30pm at Heinz Hall. He talks about the concerto, working with Guest Conductor Pablo Heras-Casado, and more in this conversation with WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham.

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Osmo Vanska and Lorna McGhee

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 7 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Minnesota Orchestra Music Director Osmo Vanska returns to Heinz Hall as a guest with Pittsburgh Symphony Principal Flute Lorna McGhee in Kaija Saariaho’s new Flute Concerto "Wing of a Dream" with bird song, extended technique, poetry, exclamations, smiles, guttural sounds and general delight. Jim Cunningham joins the duo masked in the Guest Conductor’s Dressing Room sitting as far apart as possible discussing how the concerto was a hit in its out of town try out in Minnesota. In Pittsburgh, it will appear with Beethoven’s Egmont Overture and the Scottish Symphony by Mendelssohn. Soloist and conductor talk about the premiere in detail and Maestro Vanska accepts congratulations for presiding over the designation as Orchestra of the Year in Minnesota as voted by the readers of England’s Grammophon magazine. He suggests that unlike Mick Jagger budgeting an extra day to visit the Phipps Conservatory, he is all about the music when he’s in Pittsburgh. His last season includes a Sibelius party on New Year’s Eve and after 19 years, he goes out on a high note but promises to return. The Minnesota performance can be seen on Youtube. Pittsburgh will hear the concert October 8th and 10th at Heinz Hall.

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Jean Yves Thibaudet

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

French born pianist Jean Yves Thibaudet has performed in Pittsburgh in at least three visits with Mariss Jansons, Charles Dutoit and Marek Janowsky. He was scheduled for a return when the pandemic hit but promises to back soon. Fom his home in LA, he spoke with Jim Cunningham about his new cd Carte Blanche with 24 tracks of very personal favorites, arrangements, encores, music from the film score for Pride and Prejudice, Pierre Sancan, Morton Gould, Chopin, Couperin. He’s done 50 cds for Decca, so the company said you’ve got Carte Blanche to record what you like and he went to work just this past May at the Colburn School in Los Angeles. Renee Fleming interviewed Jean Yves for the notes and he discusses their work together on a PBS special broadcast just this past New Year’s Eve 2020. Jean Yves has a special memory of playing an encore for Mariss Jansons and he had to include something for his Mom on the play list.

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Helene Grimaud

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Pianist Helene Grimaud returns to Pittsburgh for the Ravel Piano Concerto in G with Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony. She’s just arrived from Los Angeles where she played Schumann with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and a new conductor Marta Gardolinska. She tells us about her new cd from Deutsche Grammophon, The Messenger; how she survived the pandemic and about the 20th anniversary of the attacks on 9/11 at the World Trade Center the same day she played Beethoven at the Proms in London. Plus, she still runs with the wolves and is active in conservation efforts. In order to be socially distanced in Rehearsal Room 2 upstairs at Heinz Hall, Helene Grimaud held the microphone on a long cord while Jim Cunningham shouted.

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Manfred Honeck & Anne-Sophie Mutter

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Music Director Manfred Honeck returned this week for the first full Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra concerts in 18 months to open the Heinz Hall 50th anniversary season with Anne-Sophie Mutter at the Gala on September 16th. Ms. Mutter will be playing a concerto by the Chevalier de Saint George and music by John Williams. She discusses her solo spots and the incredible success of her live Vienna Philharmonic cds with John Williams conducting. She works with John Williams a few days after Pittsburgh in Los Angles at a concert which will play tribute to cellist Lynn Harrell. She remembers her colleague along with Maestro Honeck’s thoughts. Other topics include pandemic reflections; the Mutter Virtuosi with which she will go on tour; upcoming recording plans which include a disc with Manfred Honeck conducting in Prague; why now is the time to belatedly look into African-American composers and other composers who have been long out of the spotlight; the importance of radio to classical music; and much more in this half hour with Jim Cunningham. Recorded at the Fairmont Hotel in the floor 2 restaurant.

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PSO Front Row - Jack Everly

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The Pittsburgh Symphony presents "Hollywood Hits" in a virtual concert found on the Pittsburgh Symphony website from August 23rd at 7:30pm through September 5th - with music from Game Of Thrones, Henry Mancini, George Gershwin and John Lunn's score for Downton Abbey. In his online concert, Jack Everly speaks to the camera in introductory remarks. Maestro Everly is one of America's most widely traveled guest conductors with regular spots at four orchestras and serving as conductor of "A Capitol Fourth" and the Memorial Day US Capitol celebrations with the National Symphony for many years. So is the American orchestra getting as many minutes on TV in 2021? You must judge. He speaks about the broad array of military trumpets that participated in this year's Olympic Fanfare by John Williams, remembers Gene Kelly and Oscar Levant, recalls almost conducting the Civic Light Opera, the challenges of pandemic programs, and the hope of getting audiences back in seats in this July 26, 2021 conversation by Zoom with Jim Cunningham.

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Earl Lee

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Associate Conductor Earl Lee will lead four concerts at Hartwood Acres in July and August for he Summer With the Symphony series. He discuses his programs on July 30 and 31 with violinist Marta Krechkovsky in the Tchaikovsky Concerto, Rossini's Thieving Magpie Overture and Brahms First Symphony. On August 6 and 7, Maestro Lee joins cellist Will Chow to perform the Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations, Mendelssohn's Scherzo From A Midsummer Nights Dream and dances by Brahms and Dvorak plus Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony. He discusses his wife's work as flutist with the New York Philharmonic, studying Mendelssohn in Leipzig, and more in this interview with Jim Cunningham.

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Byron Stripling & Nicki Parrott

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Principal Pops Conductor Byron Stripling leads four concerts at Hartwood Acres in the Summer with the Symphony series. In this conversation with Jim Cunningham, he joins soloist singing and playing bass Nicki Parrott to talk about their favorite jazz singers Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Eckstein and George Benson, Nikki's journey from Australia to the USA, work with Pittsburgh bass superstar Ray Brown, how singers learn to control their breath at a whisper and the program at Hartwood Friday night July 23rd at 8:15pm titled "Songbook and Sunset," Saturday morning July 24th at 11:15am it's "Melodies and Movement" for families, and August 13th and 14th with "Summer and Sinatra." With food trucks!

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Robert Langevin

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The Principal Flute of the New York Philharmonic, Robert Langevin, served as Principal in Pittsburgh for eight years until he was asked to join New York by Kurt Mazur. He discusses his new cd on the Bridge label "La Belle Epoque" with the Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun and Syrinx, Faure Fantaisie and Morceau, Enesco Cantabile and presto, Mouquet Flute de Pan, Widor Suite and Gaubert Nocturne, Fantaisie and Madrigal with pianist Margaret Kampmeier. Robert remembers his years with Lorin Maazel and Mariss Jansons in Pittsburgh and New York, talks about his love of summers at Chautauqua, New York, recordings of Mozart and Nielsen and whether he has bribed the director of Live From Lincoln Center to feature his solos on the PBS New Year's Eve broadcasts. The tradition of French flute playing is explored in detail in this conversation with Jim Cunningham.

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Center Stage - Schoenberg's "Verklarte Nacht"

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Acting Principal Viola, Tatjana Mead Chamis, and violinist Jeremias Sergiani-Velazquez talk about rrecording Arnold Shoenberg's "Transfigured Night" and the musical influences that shape them - including Tatjana in Germany at age 7 winding up in Utah with a slight European accent, studying at Curtis and working with the Philadelphia Orchetra's Joseph de Pasquale. Can either musician tango? Tatjana wants to and Velazquez played in a Grammy award winning tango ensemble but the steps are still a mystery. Jeremias describes his young years in Cordoba, Argentina riding the bus 10 hours to lessons in Buenos Aires, later joining Midori in playing chamber music for refugees in camps and shelters after the earthquake in Nepal and much more in this converstaion with Jim Cunningham.

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Center Stage - Peter Sullivan

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Tue, 6 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Principal Trombone Peter Sullivan speaks about the music he recorded for Center Stage by Casterede and Defaye, his teaching, summer music making at Hartwood Acres and Aspen, his many recordings in Montreal before coming to Pittsburgh, and the current state of affairs with the Pittsburgh Penguins in this conversation with Jim Cunningham.

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Center Stage - Will Chow

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony cellist Will Chow talks about his recording of Zoltan Kodaly's Cello Sonata made Center Stage at Heinz Hall. Will picks a favorite recording of the Kodaly among many. In this discussion with Jim Cunningham he recalls his work with the Pittsburgh Symphony since joining in 2016, an appearance on From the Top with Chrisopher O'Riley, heading out with Curits on Tour during his workk at the Curtis Institute, recording Two by Four for the Cedille label with Jaime Laredo and Jennifer Koh and looks forward to working with fellow Curtis scholar conductor Earl Lee in the Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations at Hartwood Acres this summer.

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Center Stage - Rhian Kenny

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The Principal Piccolo of the Pittsburgh Symphony since 1990, Rhian Kenny introduces music by Nova Scotia's Derek Charke--Lachrymose. Rhian explains her special pride in placing the solo in Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever having recently become an American citizen. She fills us in on her rowing adventure and pandemic year reflection of missing her colleagues as well as the joy she takes in her three daughters in this discussion with Jim Cunningham.

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Jean Horne & Christine Thompson - Symphony Splendor

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Tribune Review Fanfare writer emeritas Jean Horne joins Mendelssohn Choir regular Christine Thompson and Jim Cunningham to speak about the work of the Pittsburgh Symphony Association in creating Symphony Splendor taking place Sunday June 27th from 11am to 5pm. The event features 16 members of the Pittsburgh Symphony and other musical guests performing in 12 glorious and often unknown gardens in Shadyside and Squirrel Hill. The proceeds benefit the Pittsburgh Symphony in a self-guided rain or shine tour with check-in at the Mansions on Fifth - 5105 Fifth Avenue. Jean and Christine tell us we'll see "12 urban sanctuaries that are ablaze with floral fireworks, lavish beds and borders, soothing spaces with splashing water and darting elegant fish. Elegant and informal gardens where wonders never cease including one of the most talked about botanical marvels - a Smithsonian Institution designated garden." For additional information pittsburghsymphonyassociation.org or 412-392-3303.

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Andre Previn

wqedpittsburgh@gmail.com (WQED Multimedia) — Thu, 8 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Former Pittsburgh Symphony Music Director Andre Previn premieres his Concerto for Trumpet, Horn, and Tuba, commissioned by the PSO. He talks about the composition, his impressions of the orchestra, and memories of composers he's worked with in Hollywood (he recalls playing ping pong with Schoenberg) and on the PBS Previn and the Pittsburgh series. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.