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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.