From June 6-9, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performed Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh.  The concert began with a world premiere of a piece from American composer Jonathon Leshnoff's Double Concerto for Clarinet and Bassoon that featured the PSO's very own Principal Clarinet Michael Rusinek and Principal Bassoon Nancy Goeres. WQED live broadcasted the event, and during intermission, Jim Cunningham was able to speak with Maestro Manfred Honeck, soloists Michael Rusinek and Nancy Goeres, and CEO and President of the PSO Melia Tourangeau.

Pittsburgh Symphony Music Director Manfred Honeck visited the QED morning show with Jim Cunningham to talk about the four performances and recording session of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony beginning June 6th at Heinz Hall and the live broadcast on Friday night at 8pm. He discusses the world premiere of Jonathan Leshnoff’s Double Concerto with Michael Rusinek and Nancy Goeres Principal Clarinet and Bassoon. There is a family update and talk of how the concerts he gave in the Netherlands went last week.

Composer Jonathan Leshnoff has the world premiere of the Concerto he’s written for Pittsburgh Symphony Principals Michael Rusinek, clarinet and Nancy Goeres, bassoon. Can you tap your foot to it?  He thinks you can and tells Jim Cunningham  his composing story so far from Brunswick, New jersey to Towson State in Baltimore. Why is he third only to John Williams and John Adams on the list of most often performed American composers? Some ideas are discussed.  There is also an edited version of this interview with video on Youtube and Vimeo.

Pietari Inkinen makes his Heinz Hall debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony conducting the Pittsburgh premiere of the Sibelius "Pohjola’s Daughter," the Tchaikovsky Fourth Symphony and the Third Concerto by Prokofiev with pianist Beatrice Rana. In this conversation with Jim Cunningham recorded in the Dorothy Porter Simmons Regency Rooms with the Friends of the Pittsburgh Symphony, Maestro Inkinen talks about the program and Finnish musical life and culture including making small talk and the perfect sauna.

Beatrice Rana makes her Pittsburgh Symphony debut playing the Prokofiev Third Piano Concerto. Talking with Jim Cunningham, she describes her musical life to age 26, shares her thoughts about the Prokofiev Third, talks about her Warner Classics recordings of the Goldberg Variations and concertos by Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev, her appearance at the Hollywood Bowl, how she makes her sauce for pasta and whether Italians are exactly as portrayed in the Federico Fellini film Orchestra Rehearsal.  

Pittsburgh Symphony Violinist Jennifer Orchard of the Clarion Quartet has the story on their May 30th concert at the Gerald Lee Morosco Architects office in East Liberty. Shostakovich is part of the plan.

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performed at Geffen Hall in Lincoln Center on Sunday, May 19. With guest pianist Till Fellner, the orchestra performed Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 and Mahler's Symphony No. 5. WQED was there to speak with several musicians including violinist Marta Kruchkovsky, principal contrabasoonist Jim Rogers, and principal french horn Bill Caballero. There is even a special appearance from television star Alec Baldwin.