@ the Symphony

@ the Symphony

Insights and anecdotes from musicians, dancers, artists, actors and directors, as well as audience response.

Episodes

September 3, 2026 10 mins
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra played their second of two performances at the Elbphilharmonie on September 2, 2026. Manfred Honeck conducted an American-themed concert with Carlos Simon's 4 Black American Dances and Dvorak's Symphony No. 9. Augustin Hadelich played the Barber Violin Concerto, with "Traumerie" by Robert Schumann as an encore. In this Tour Report, CEO of Deutsche Klassik introduces the Pittsburgh Symphony; WQED...
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WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham calls in to the QED Morning Show with Anna Singer live from Hamburg, Germany. The Pittsburgh Symphony plays at the Elbphilharmonie later today for their 2nd concert with Carlos Simon's Four Black Dances; Barber's Violin Concerto with Augustin Hadelich, and the Dvorak Symphony No. 9. Jim talks about last night's concert with Alexandre Kantorow playing the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 and the Shostakovich S...
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In Warsaw, Poland, WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with PSO Principal Horn Bill Caballero and PSO Principal Oboe Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida. They were joined by Roman Markowicz - a Polish-born classical pianist, chamber musician, and long-time music critic based in New York, who says the PSO has never sounded better. Gabriel Czopka, Principal Horn of the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, has known Bill for years and said the Pittsburg...
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WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham calls in live from Hamburg, Germany to the QED Morning Show with Anna Singer. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will play their first of two concerts at the Elbphilharmonie tonight. Jim tells Anna about the Hall where the symphony will play, and talks about the highlights from the Warsaw concerts. He mentions what some of the musicians have been up to as well as Jim's side trip to Berlin. Hosted by S...
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WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham reports from Warsaw, Poland. He spoke with Principal Tuba Craig Knox. Craig talks about how nice it is to perform in a new city (the PSO has not been to Poland since 1989); the audience reaction to their performance and how he was able to see his teacher at the concert. Jim also spoke with Music Director Manfred Honeck who was pleased with how the orchestra has performed the first few concerts of the t...
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Fresh off their concert at the Salzburg Festival, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Principal Flute Nikolai Song and Assistant Principal Bass Michael Banks spoke with Anna Singer live on the QED Morning Show. They talk about the differences between performing in Merano, Italy and in Salzburg; the difference between Pittsburgh audiences and European audiences; and the concerts they are looking forward to. It's exciting for both player...
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August 21, 2026 12 mins
From August 26 to September 10, 2026, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra returns to Europe for a 13-concert tour across six countries and nine cities, the orchestra's 45th international tour in its history. Led by Music Director Manfred Honeck, the PSO will appear at many of Europe's most prestigious venues and festivals, including the Salzburg Festival, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, and the Vienna ...
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Danny Elfman brings a brand-new symphonic project featuring music from his celebrated film career to Pittsburgh! Danny speaks with Jim Cunningham ahead of the concert about the program and his career.

Danny will premiere five new pieces with the PSO, while featuring favorites from The Nightmare Before Christmas, Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice, and more. He talks about working with Tim Burton and violinist Sandy Cameron, as well a...

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Pianist and composer Andrew Kierszenbaum plays music from the hit show Arcane with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra! He speaks with Jim Cunningham about working on the show, classical inspirations, and what fans should expect.

The Music of Arcane is Andrew's love letter to the series and to the world its art, story, and music bring to life. As both one of the show’s composers and a classical pianist, he hopes to tell that st...

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The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra played an all-American program to finish their classical season on Friday June 19th, 2026. It was to celebrate American 250 and featured Manfred Honeck conducting a brand new piece by Michael Daugherty titled "Dancing in the Streets," Jesse Montgomery's "Strum" and Aaron Copland's "Appalachian Spring" which included 10 members of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre on stage during the performance. Plus, Au...
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June 11, 2026 26 mins

Academy Award-winning actor F. Murray Abraham makes an appearance with the Pittsburgh Symphony as the narrator of Aaron Copland's Lincoln Portrait. He speaks with Jim Cunningham ahead of the performances about the piece.

Abraham remembers his Pittsburgh roots, growing up in the Hill District. He praises the "generosity of spirit" that is unique to Pittsburgh. In reference to Lincoln Portrait, he praises Copland's music and emphasiz...

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June 10, 2026 16 mins
On Wednesday June 10th, 2025, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra announced they have renewed the contract of Music Director Manfred Honeck through 2033, which will make him the longest tenured Music Director in the history of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra! WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with Manfred about why he decided to stay with the PSO, even though he's had offers from other orchestras over the years; his great relationshi...
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The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra announced the renewal of Manfred Honeck's contract through 2033 at a Press Conference on Wednesday June 10th, 2026 at Heinz Hall. Speakers included PSO President and CEO Melia Tourangeau, PSO Board Chair Antony Bucci, PSO Concertmaster David McCarroll, Mayor Corey O'Connor, and Manfred Honeck. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collec...
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On Friday May 29th, 2026, WQED-FM broadcast the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra concert live from Heinz Hall. Led by Gemma New making her PSO debut, the orchestra played "Rainphase" by Salina Fisher and "Scheherazade" by Rimsky-Korsakov. Stefan Jackiw returned after more than 10 years to play the Korngold Violin Concerto. Before the concert, WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with PSO cellist Charlie Powers about the concert, as wel...
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May 14, 2026 20 mins
Rising star British conductor Edward Gardner makes his debut May 15th and 17th at Heinz Hall with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Sitting down in his dressing room after a double rehearsal on Thursday afternoon, he told Jim Cunningham about his program with Oliver Knussen's "Flourish with Fireworks," Beethoven's First Piano Concerto and Tchaikovsky's Sixth Symphony. So was the Sixth a farewell to the world? Edward has chosen the...
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April 9, 2026 22 mins
The Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 2 is her favorite but she knows them all. Yulianna Avdeeva brings the 2nd to Heinz Hall with the Pittsburgh Symphony April 10th and 12th conducted by Rafael Payare. Yulianna Avdeeva spoke with Jim Cunningham about the special features of the Second Concerto. It is filled with tricky writing but born in Moscow, Yulianna Avdeeva has special love for the complex composer who returned to Russia with ...
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April 9, 2026 22 mins
Rafael Payare has been a rising star for more than a decade having worked with Gustavo Dudamel, Claudio Abbado, Daniel Barenboim and Lorin Maazel on his way to the Music Director spot in Montreal and San Diego. In his dressing room with the portrait of former Pittsburgh Symphony Music Director Lorin Maazel looking over his shoulder, he tells Jim Cunningham he loved playing the French Horn in the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra, but h...
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March 30, 2026 26 mins

The Principal Guest Conductor of the Metropolitan Opera, Daniele Rustioni, speaks with Jim Cunningham in the Guest Conductor's Dressing Room at Heinz Hall about his program for March 27,28 and 29, with Yefim Bronfman playing the Schumann Concerto, Beethoven's Eroica Symphony and Samuel Barber's School for Scandal Overture. Maestro Rustioni discusses his upcoming concerts, his work in Pittsburgh (including his visit to Carnegie Hall...

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March 26, 2026 20 mins

Piano superstar Yefim Bronfman is a Mets fan. Yefim also loves making his coffee mostly at home in New York when he isn't jetting around China, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Boston or wherever great music happens.  

He spoke with Jim Cunningham in his dressing room at Heinz Hall after rehearsing the Schumann Concerto. He plays March 27-29 with Daniele Rustioni and the Pittsburgh Symphony. It's their first time worki...

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March 13, 2026 24 mins
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Music Director Manfred Honeck, plays Mahler's Symphony No. 2, "Resurrection". WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with mezzo-soprano Kate Lindsey. She talks about singing with Ying Fang before; her thoughts on the music; and this being her very first time in Pittsburgh, even though she grew up in Virginia. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for informat...
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