@ the Symphony

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.

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.

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.

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.  

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.  

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.  

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.  

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.      

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.   

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.  

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.  

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.    

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.    

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.    

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

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.

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.  

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.  

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.  

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.

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.

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.      

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.    

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.   

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.  

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.    

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.  

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.

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.  

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.       

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.  

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.  

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.    

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.   

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.   

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.  

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.  

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.  

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.       

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.

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.   

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.  

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.

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.