@ the Symphony

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.