Tuesday Musical Club’s String Ensemble will be in concert next Tuesday!
Director of the ensemble, Jennifer Cowles McGinley, talks with Anna Singer live about the upcoming concert. Jennifer talks about the concert’s program, which includes Bach’s Art of the Fugue, a Schubert Trio, movements from Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 7, and much more. She also reflects on her third year conducting the ensemble, after she initially took over as substitute for Paul Kreitzer.
Jennifer also highlights her musical experience as a Julliard violinist, who is now deeply passionate about chamber music. The string ensemble has high standards for a community group, but is full of community and compassion. Jennifer encourages more people to join Tuesday Musical Club because of its long history in Pittsburgh and inclusiveness.
You can hear Tuesday Musical Club’s String Ensemble perform on Tuesday, April 29th at 1 pm at Rodef Shalom’s Levy Hall.
Visit https://www.tuesdaymusicalclub.org/events/public/article/tmc-string-ensemble-in-concert/5864/c15/ to see the program.
There is a new glass art exhibition coming to the Pittsburgh Glass Center. “To Hold…” by Lauren Kalman, explores the negative space in glass left by an imprint of a body.
Visual artist Lauren Kalman, and Marketing Director of the Pittsburgh Glass Center Paige Ilkhanipour, talk about the upcoming exhibit. Lauren talks about how her idea for this exhibit first started in 2019 with clay. Paige talks about bringing new artists to the Center through their Idea Furnace, which targets non-glass artists. Paige highlights how Lauren works with a team at the Glass Center to create this exhibition. The Center brings the glass expertise, and Lauren brings the ideas.
Lauren also talks about the casting process to create life-sized casts of her body to help mold the glass. She currently teaches at the Wayne State University in Detroit, and looks forward to the semester ending soon. Paige highlights the Glass Center’s two recent expansions, including the newest that opens up additional exhibit space a block from the Glass Center. They hope to showcase student work, and offer more resident space for artists.
You can see “To Hold…” at the Pittsburgh Glass Center from May 2nd to August 3rd. There will be a free Hot Jam on May 2nd, with a live demonstration. Lauren will also be available to talk to during the exhibits opening reception on May 2nd.
Visit https://www.pittsburghglasscenter.org/events/ to learn more.
Celebrated opera singer and long-time vocal instructor at Duquesne University, Claudia Pinza, first began teaching in 1974. This Saturday, they will honor her with performances and a plaque dedication.
Her son, Samuel Bozzola, talks with Anna Singer live about his mother’s unexpected transition to opera teacher. He talks about her running a summer program in Italy for young singers, supported by major opera professionals, and hosted by an opera radio show for decades. He also shares how she founded Duquesne University’s Opera workshop, which is now a respected program with full productions each year.
As a daughter of famed singer Ezio Pinza, she already had deep roots in the operatic world long before teaching. Samuel reflects on her sacrifices, especially ones she made for her family. He also highlights her influence on his own life, as he now teaches Italian and lectures on opera-related topics.
You can hear Claudia Pinza’s Opera Workshop perform selections from three of Benjamin Britten’s opera’s. The tribute concert is this Saturday, April 26th at 7:30 pm at PNC Recital Hall.
There will be a plaque dedication and brief remarks at intermission.
Visit Duquesne Music to learn more and find tickets.
Pittsburgh Opera concludes its 2024-2025 Season with a world premiere – “Woman with Eyes Closed” – April 26th through May 4th at the Bitz Opera Factory. The role of Mona was written for Meredith Arwady. She talks about being a contralto; knowing the composer Jennifer Higdon; and finally seeing the opera come to the stage after 6 years in development.
Pittsburgh Opera concludes its 2024-2025 Season with a world premiere – “Woman with Eyes Closed” – April 26th through May 4th at the Bitz Opera Factory. Stage Director Kristine McIntyre talks about staging this world premiere, along with how to stage an opera with three different endings!
Pittsburgh Opera concludes its 2024-2025 Season with a world premiere – “Woman with Eyes Closed” – April 26th through May 4th at the Bitz Opera Factory. Pittsburgh Opera General Director Christopher Hahn talks about how the opera came to be; the excitement of ending the season with a world premiere; and working with the composer, Jennifer Higdon.
Pittsburgh Opera concludes its 2024-2025 Season with a world premiere – “Woman with Eyes Closed” – April 26th through May 4th at the Bitz Opera Factory. Audrey Welsh sings the role of the Curator. She talks about her role, the difficult music, and the excitement of being in a world premiere.
Pianist Yevgeny Sudbin has recorded over 25 albums, including Beethoven Concertos with Osmo Vanska and the Minnesota Orchestra. He’s recorded beloved masterpieces from Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff and lesser known gems by Nikolai Medtner.
Yevgeny discusses with Jim Cunningham about his newest CD releasing on May 9th. “Scriabin: Vers La Flamme” features work by Alexander Scriabin.
Yevgeny describes “Vers la Flamme” as drawing the audience toward a flame, increasingly getting hotter until the cosmos blows up. He describes the Fourth Sonata as so hot and erotic you can’t easily describe the action on the radio.
Yevgeny talks about Scriabin’s influences, such as Chopin. Was Scriabin Russian? Not really even though the Soviets claimed him as their own sending cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin into space with a recording of the Poem of Ecstasy in the cockpit.
Yevgeny Sudbin has never been to Pittsburgh, as he likes to be close to home in London. He’s on his way to serve as a judge at the Van Cliburn Competition and he shares some of the thoughts learned from his teachers Murray Perahia, Leon Fleisher, Stephen Hough, Claude Frank and Stephen Kovacevich.
You can find Yevgeny’s “Scriabin: Vers La Flamme” on the BIS label online.
Prime Stage Theatre is closing one season, and already thinking about the next!
Producing Artistic Director Wayne Brinda, and PR Director Lawrence McCullough, talk about the end of their 2024-2025 season. The season closes with a production of Twelve Angry Men, directed by Shane Valencia, who is a practicing attorney in Pittsburgh. This 90-minute performance is in real time, as a group of twelve jurors try to decide a boy’s fate.
Wayne highlights some activities around the production, including a historical look at trials with teaching artist, Rebecca Godlove. This free event at the Carnegie Library allows people to examine famous trials where jurors played a crucial part.
Lawrence talks about the staged reading of his original work “Freedom House: Giving Life a Second Chance” on May 5th. The play tells the story of how Freedom House EMS was founded in Pittsburgh in the 1960s. He hopes to gather feedback after the performance to help produce a full version next January.
Finally, Wayne gives a sneak peak at Prime Stage Theatre’s next season, which includes all world premieres!
You can Twelve Angry Men at the New Hazlett Theater from May 2nd to 11th.
Visit https://primestage.com/productions/twelve_angry_men/ to learn more.
Film Pittsburgh is presenting their Jewish Film Festival (JFilm), the one that started it all!
Director of Programming, Paul Sloop, talks about this year’s lineup of films during the festival. Opening night features “Midas Man” a biopic about Brian Epstein, the so-called ‘Fifth Beatle’ who managed the Beatles into stardom. Paul highlights the film, and talks about the 60s themed cocktails and cookies that will be available before the film.
Paul also shares some of the notable films in the festival this year. He talks about the Charles Grodin documentary, which celebrates the Pittsburgh-born actor’s career and activism later in life. Closing night has a double feature of crowd favorite “Matchmaking” and its new sequel, “Matchmaking 2”.
Paul also talks about the virtual offerings for this year’s festival, which includes 6 of the films being shown in person. He emphasizes the impact of in-person viewing, but hopes the virtual showings offer more flexibility and accessibility.
There will also be filmmaker Q&A’s, local expert discussions, and a live demo of a card game! Paul hopes everyone comes out to this festival, due to the diverse appeal of its films.
You can see JFilm at the Oaks Theater from April 24th to May 4th.
Visit https://filmpittsburgh.org/pages/jfilm to learn more.
Have you ever stayed up all night? Probably in college, but have you ever done it to experience art?
Well there is an event in Pittsburgh for just that!
Originally started in 1998 in Lawrenceville, Art All Night Pittsburgh is hosting its 28th season this month! Poohbah Lisa Fucciarelli, volunteer team lead Liz Janco, and newest member of the planning committee Marisa Golden, talk about the upcoming 28th Art All Night. They talk about the history of the event that grows each year and is always in a new venue. This year, it is in a donated and soon to be redeveloped space on the North Shore.
They also talk about all of the activities and art the audience can experience over the course of 22 hours. There will be interactive installations, live painting, performance art, music, stand-up comedy, poetry, and graffiti art. The event ends with a sales of the artwork created on-site by over 1,000 artists. There will also be children’s art up for bid.
Lisa explains what the Poohbah title means, and Liz and Marisa highlight the events musical activities, including a marching band! All three emphasize the importance of accessibility and empowerment in the arts. They hope everyone will come to see Pittsburgh’s unique artistic spirit at Art All Night Pittsburgh.
You can see the 28th Art All Night at 929 Beaver Avenue from April 26th at 4 pm until April 27th at 2 pm. It is completely free to attend.
Visit https://www.artallnight.org/ to learn more.
City Theatre ends its 2024-2025 season with a buddy comedy about two friends during the rise of LeBron James’s career in Cleveland.
Director of the show and out going Co-Artistic Director at City Theatre, Monteze Freeland, talks about the production. Two strangers meet and bond over their love for the Cleveland Cavaliers during the course of 12 years. In the backdrop, LeBron James’s start in Cleveland, transfer to Miami, and back again to Cleveland for a championship win. Monteze talks about first reading the play, and partnering with the Cleveland Playhouse to bring this play to life.
Monteze talks about the reception this show received in Cleveland, and how he hopes Pittsburgh audience’s embraces the story. He also highlights City Theatre’s upcoming 51st season, which features three world premieres, the return of the Young Playwrights Festival, and a production in a new space downtown. Though Monteze is transitioning to work with Alumni Theater Company, he will continue to cheer on City Theatre’s work.
Lastly, Monteze emphasizes the amazing design team he worked with for this production. He hopes in the future to work with all of the wonderful creatives again.
You can see City Theatre’s King James on the South Side from April 19th to May 11th.
Visit https://citytheatrecompany.org/play/king-james/ to learn more.