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Pianist Yulianna Avdeeva - Oct 10, 2013
Chopin Competition gold medalist Yulianna Avdeeva makes her Heinz Hall debut in Chopin's Piano Concerto #21, nicknamed "Elvira Madigan." The Moscow-born pianist talks about the aria-like quality of the famous slow movement, performances elsewhere with PSO music director Manfred Honeck, her experiences in Warsaw at the Chopin Competition, and her training in Moscow, Zurich, and Lake Como, Italy.
David Stock - Oct 1, 2013
The Pittsburgh Symphony begins its "Year of Pittsburgh Composers" with the Symphony #6 by David Stock, who founded the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble in 1976. Mr. Stock describes his process and some traits of his Symphony #6, and talks about his first five symphonies, as well as his use of Jewish themes. He also recalls fellow composer Phillip Glass's early years as a composer for Pittsburgh's public schools and as a cab driver in NYC. Stock's Symphony #6 will be featured on the PSO's opening weekend with Orff's Carmina Burana.
The Complete Anne-Sophie Mutter - Sep 11, 2013
Jim Cunningham's complete interview with superstar violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter at the Lucerne Festival. Mutter talks about her collaboration with Honeck and the PSO, her new Dvorak CD with Honeck and the Berlin Philharmonic, and news of her former husband, Andre Previn.
Yuja Wang - Jun 7, 2013
Pianist Yuja Wang talks about Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto #1, which the 26 year-old superstar plays for the Pittsburgh Symphony's season finale weekend with the orchestra led by Manfred Honeck. Wang also talks about fashion, her upcoming CDs, how she spends her limited free time in New York, and more.
Manfred Honeck on the PSO's season finale - Jun 5, 2013
Music Director Manfred Honeck talks about two big Russian works that close the season: Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto #1 and Shostakovich's Symphony #5, and the tiny pianist, Yuja Wang, who plays the concerto. Honeck also speaks about recent conducting debuts in New York and elsewhere, and the PSO's next European Tour starting in August.
Yan Pascal Tortelier - May 20, 2013
Guest conductor Yan Pascal Tortelier talks about his program including Elgar's tone poem "In the South (Alassio )" and Ravel's "Rapsodie espagnol" and recalls his own recent trip to southern Italy with his mother. Tortelier also talks about his relationship with the Pittsburgh Symphony and working with pianist Valentina Lisitsa on Grieg's Piano Concerto.
Nicola Benedetti - May 10, 2013
English violinist Nicola Benedetti returns to Heinz Hall to play the Tchaikovsky concerto, She talks about why she and audiences never tire of this piece, recalls her unforgettable first performance of the concerto, and about her latest CD, The Silver Violin, which takes Erich Wolfgang Korngold's music from the golden age of Hollywood as its inspiration.