@ the Symphony

Rudolf Buchbinder talks with Jim Cunningham about playing all five Beethoven concertos in a single weekend at Heinz Hall October 26th and 28th 2023. He says it is not a big deal, that Beethoven and Mozart did it all the time even though it has never been done in Pittsburgh since the 1967 concerts of Rudolf Serkin and William Steinberg at the Syria Mosque. Buchbinder discusses his love for Beethoven and where he feels his presence in his favorite city Vienna. Does he know who The Immortal Beloved was and what is the key to his nature are among the topics. Love is the answer! Plus, thoughts about his most recent recording for DG Soiree de Vienne and all the Beethoven Sonatas recorded in a few days at the Salzburg Festival for live ORF broadcasts. The importance of radio, having Frau Buchbinder, Agnes, along for the ride, his admiration for Pittsburgh, and the good summer at his Grafenegg Festival all turn up along the conversation path.

Pittsburgh born rapper Frzy returns to WQED where he won an Emmy award for his “Wont You Be My Neighbor” video joining Christian Kriegeskotte who has composed the orchestral score for an evening of Frzy fun at Heinz Hall with Moon Doh conducting November 8. DJ Solo and Frzy’s The Faculty with singers and more mark the 50th anniversary of hip hop in style. Frzy talks about the positive flow of his message with Jim Cunningham.

WQED-FM’s Jim Cunningham spoke with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Vice-President of Artistic Planning Mary Persin about tonight’s (10/18) PSO360 concert as Pittsburgh Symphony musicians take center stage for an intimate evening of music in collaboration with the landmark Pittsburgh Violins of Hope community project.  She also talks about upcoming PSO concerts she’s looking forward to and about the special Violins of Hope concert taking place in November.

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Associate Conductor Moon Doh stopped by the QED Morning Show to talk about the concerts he’s conducting this weekend called “Disney: The Sound of Magic.”

Pittsburgh Symphony Associate Conductor Jacob Joyce joins Jim Cunningham and Erin Lynn, Director of Audience Experience, to speak about the Disrupt concert “Ludwig Grooves” with Manfred Honeck conducting Beethoven’s Seventh and the John Adams “Short Ride in a Fast Machine.” The Transformation Fizz cocktail and mocktail can be taken in to the concert hall. Arrive early for fun with the photo booths and optional wigs, art from the Carnegie Museum, Attack Theater Dancers and Jacob Joyce revealing special features of the music. Will Maestro Honeck wear sneakers?  A relaxed vibe with music making at the highest level.

WQED-FM’s Jim Cunningham interviews Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Music Director Manfred Honeck, guest soloist Helene Grimaud and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra President and CEO Melia Tourangeau during intermission of our live broadcast on Friday September 29th, 2023.

WQED-FM’s Jim Cunningham had a chance to interview Helene Grimaud at Heinz Hall before she plays the Schumann Piano Concerto this weekend with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.  She talks about the concerto, her love of playing in Pittsburgh and if she celebrates Halloween.

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra opens its 2023-2024 Mellon Grand Classics Season this weekend with music by Gabriela Ortiz and Sergei Rachmaninoff, with Helene Grimaud playing the Schumann Piano Concerto.  Music Director Manfred Honeck stopped by the QED Morning Show to talk with Jim Cunningham about the concert, the Gala with Renee Fleming and much more.

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra musicians John Moore and Neal Berntsen discussed with Jim Cunningham live on air during WQED-FM’s fall funder about the Musicians of Steel 5k Run and Walk on September 30th at 10am in Millvale. 100% of the race entry fees go towards the PSO Musicians Care Fund that is a non-profit that support local community and school programs that have lost funding. They also talk about the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s newest CD featuring Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony. Visit https://www.musiciansofsteel5k.com to learn more.

Superstar soprano Renee Fleming sat down with Music Director Manfred Honeck in the Fifth Floor dressing room to talk about their Pittsburgh Symphony “Now is the  Time” Gala concert at Heinz hall September 23, 2023 recalling Renee’s first years in Indiana, PA and Ridgeway. Manfred Honeck answers the question – is Renee Fleming a diva?  Renee discusses her Kennedy Center honor at the end of the year with Dionne Warwick, Queen Latifah, Billy Crystal and Barry Gibb. Jim Cunningham asks about her series of Imax ‘Cities that Sing’ live to theaters concerts with Paris and Venice. Renee Fleming mentions her work with Andre Previn in “Streetcar Named Desire” and his last music, “Penelope.” They run down the concert program with 4 Black Dances by  Carlos Simon, John Kandar’s “Letter From Sullivan Ballou,” La Boheme by Leoncavallo, “Till There Was You” from the Music Man, and Andrew Lippa’s “The Diva.”

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Assistant Conductor Moon Doh stopped by the QED Morning Show with Jim Cunningham to talk about the “Summer Shorts” series of concerts the orchestra is doing this summer.

The Music Director of the Pittsburgh Symphony runs down the concerts of March 7 with Lang Lang playing the Saint-Saens 2nd Concerto and March 10th and 12th with Franz Schmidt’s Fourth Symphony for the first time at Heinz Hall, along with Emanuel Ax playing Chopin’s Second Concerto . The weekend of March 17, 18 and 19, Manfred Honeck conducts his personal version of the Mozart Requiem which will be recorded for the Reference label with narrator F. Murray Abraham and soloists with the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh.