Yan Pascal Tortelier talks about Ravel’s Bolero, Stravinsky’s Petrouchka and Gaite Parisienne by Jacques Offenbach and describes his joy in working with the Pittsburgh Symphony along with news of his latest recording plans with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra.

Locarno Switzerland born pianist Francesco Piemontesi makes his debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony. He shares his first impressions of the orchestra and the city, talks about the Dvorak Piano Concerto which is rarely played because of it’s difficulty, reveals what he is reading (Baudelaire!), whether he hears Swiss cowbells at dawn, playing the alphorn, suggests that Swiss cheese is a national treasure, describes working with Manfred Honeck, Alfred Brendel and Murray Perahia and much more.

Maestro Steve Hackman conducts a mashup of Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony and music by the international hip hop and rap superstar Drake at Heinz Hall March 22 with the Pittsburgh Symphony. He tells us about his pop music and symphonic music Fuse concerts with spreading interest to Europe and around the US, his work in LA and Pittsburgh.

Lahav Shani, 27 year old Israel born conductor and soon to be Chief at the Rotterdam Philharmonic, discusses his Heinz Hall debut with Kurt Weill’s Second Symphony, Charles Ives’ Unanswered Question, Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with Jon Kimura Parker and Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story Symphonic Dances. He describes his work with Zubin Mehta and Daniel Barenboim and recalls his recent concert where played the piano, conducted the orchestra and played the bass on the same program. His favorite book, movie, breakfast treat and sport are revealed too.

John Moore, Pittsburgh Symphony double bass, presents "It’s All About the Bass" for Music 101 at Heinz Hall on February 22nd at 12:30. Less about Meghan Trainor’s worldwide pop hit with that title and more about Dittersdorf and Vanhal. John joins Rodrigo Ojeda for some musical examples. In this discussion, he traces his career from Buffalo to Curtis Institute, San Diego, Honolulu and Columbus before being hired as one the last official acts of Lorin Maazel as Music Director.

Scottish born/London based percussion star Colin Currie makes his debut in the percussion showcase "Veni Veni Immanuel" by PSO Composer of the Year Sir James Macmillan at Heinz Hall February 10th and 12th with the Pittsburgh Symphony and Manfred Honeck. He reveals his favorite book for the plane and the latest interesting movie he’s seen.

Hannah Ishizaki, a junior at Mount Lebanon High School, a violinist and composer, a member of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, and leader of the Montgomery Quartet has already heard several of her compositions performed by Ovre Arts in Pittsburgh. She becomes the youngest woman composer ever performed by the Pittsburgh Symphony with the world premiere of her “City of Bridges” at the Pittsburgh Symphony Fiddlesticks concert conducted by Francesco Lecce Chong on February 18th.  She sat down for a few minutes in the Grand Lobby of Heinz Hall just after a performance for the PSO Friends.