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.

Principal Flute Lorna McGhee performs Mozart’s Flute Concerto No. 1.  And Manfred Honeck conducts Mozart’s Overture to Idomeneo and the Symphony No. 9 by Schubert.

Principal Flute Lorna McGhee performs Mozart’s Flute Concerto No. 1.  And Manfred Honeck conducts Mozart’s Overture to Idomeneo and the Symphony No. 9 by Schubert.

The Music Director of the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, Matthew Mehaffey, talks with Jim Cunningham about the "Promise of Light" concert running December 10th through the 18th in several  venues starting at Westminster Presbyterian Church in the South Hills and ending at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, downtown. All are free, Wear your mask, please register in advance so they know you are coming.  It’s a wide ranging program with a celebratory mood and a hopeful theme with poetry by Robert Frost, Mary Oliver and Ogden Nash plus singing about winter, the solstice and the holidays. Music by Carol King, Dolly Parton, Randall Thompson, Eriks Esenvalds and Melissa Dunphy. Matthew talks about his work at the University of Minnesota where he is a full professor, the challenges of the pandemic time and the specifics of the program.  For complete details on the presentations check out themendelssohn.org website. 

Dana Bishop-Root, Director of Education and Public Programs, talks with Jim Cunningham about the holiday celebration at the Carnegie Museum of Art. The trees in the Hall of Architecture in their 60th anniversary year lit and adorned with handmade ornaments, the Neapolitan Presepio in its centuries old tradition, how to shop local and make your own ornament, pick up the new Collection Handbook published on the occasion of the Museum's 125th anniversary, the Friends and Family photo studio, the Out of Office Party and concerts by the River City Brass on November 27th, Roger Humphries and RH Factor on December 4th, the Mount Ararat Baptist Church Ensemble on December 11th and December 18th has Hugo Cruz and the Caminos. Plus, the art in the galleries including Elizabeth Murray who is linked with the Pittsburgh Symphony's recent performance of Prokofiev,  Art from Sara Greenberger Rafferty, Sharif Bey and much more with the theme of being together this season. Dana discusses her long association with the Braddock Carnegie Library as part of her thinking about connecting with the wider community.

Opera star returns to Pittsburgh for a recital on Sunday November 21st, 4pm at Pittsburgh Opera headquarters.  Rolando was a Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist in 1998-1999.  WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with him about his time as a resident artist, his upcoming performances, and how he is a huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan!!