@ the Symphony
Insights and anecdotes from musicians, dancers, artists, actors and directors, as well as audience response.
Episodes
April 29, 2025 • 29 mins
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 ...
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April 11, 2025 • 9 mins
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 sh...
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April 11, 2025 • 13 mins
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 Orchestr...
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April 11, 2025 • 13 mins
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.
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March 7, 2025 • 5 mins
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.
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March 7, 2025 • 18 mins
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.
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March 7, 2025 • 9 mins
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.
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February 20, 2025 • 9 mins
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 docume...
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February 20, 2025 • 14 mins
Pianist Emanuel Ax talks with Jim Cunningham about Mozart's 25th Piano Concerto, which he will play February 21st and 23rd at Heinz Hall.
He also discusses his return next year to play Brahms' First Concerto with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, his tour with clarinet Anthony McGill from the New York Philharmonic, and his tribute to Sir Andrew Davis in Toronto. Emanuel also highlights his favorite Mozart pianists, and his projec...
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February 20, 2025 • 20 mins
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 Ma...
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February 13, 2025 • 7 mins
Violinist Maria Duenas shares her thoughts on the Saint-Saens Third Violin Concerto with Jim Cunningham. She plays it February 14th, 15th and 16th with Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony. She is delighted to return to Pittsburgh on the very day her new 2-cd set on DG with all the Paganini Caprices is released on cd, download, vinyl, and special edition with Polaroid photos for fans. Is she doing anything romantic for Valent...
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February 13, 2025 • 21 mins
Composer Carlos Simon talks with Jim Cunningham about his "Four Black Dances," which Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony will record for the Reference label on Valentines weekend 2025 along with the Dvorak New World Symphony. He also speaks about his Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson music written for Sandra Seaton’s play as performed in Pittsburgh with Pittsburgh Opera and Washington DC. What he’s working on next and his adm...
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February 3, 2025 • 28 mins
Maestro Elder talks with Jim Cunningham in the lobby of the Fairmont Hotel downtown Pittsburgh about his Pittsburgh Symphony concerts of January 31st and February 2nd, 2025 with principal Oboe Cynthia Koledo de Almeida playing Vaughan Williams Oboe Concerto, Pohjohla’s Daughter by Sibelius, and the Shostakovich Symphony No. 15. What does it all mean? The William Tell Overture quote, Wagner, and self reference along the way. Even wi...
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January 22, 2025 • 16 mins
Maria Duenas talks with Jim Cunningham about her new 2-cd set with the complete Paganini Caprices and related caprices, one a world premiere by Gabriela Ortiz. Also the Jordi Cervello Milstein Caprice. It's to be released on Valentines Day, when she returns to Heinz Hall to play the Saint-Saens Third Concerto with Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony. She discusses her award winning recording of the Beethoven Concerto with M...
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January 20, 2025 • 18 mins
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra cellist Charlie Powers, and Dr. Mark Meyer of UPMC joined WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham on the QED Morning Show to talk about the next "Shoulder to Shoulder" concert with doctor and pianist Dr. Barry Coutinho. The concert takes place on February 5th at the Herberman Conference Center at the UPMC Conference Center at Shadyside Hospital. The concert features Charlie and other PSO Musicians joining Dr. Couti...
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January 17, 2025 • 2 mins
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performed Samy Moussa's "Elysium," Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 with pianist Janice Carissa and conductor Osmo Vanska. WQED-FM broadcast the concert on Friday January 17, 2025 live! Jim Cunningham spoke to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Classical Music Critic Jeremy Reynolds to get his initial thoughts on the concert, as well as some of the other art...
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January 17, 2025 • 18 mins
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performed Samy Moussa's "Elysium," Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5. WQED-FM broadcast the concert on Friday January 17, 2025 live! During intermission, Jim Cunningham spoke to the pianist Janice Carissa, who was making her Heinz Hall debut; guest conductor Osmo Vanska; and composer Samy Moussa.
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January 17, 2025 • 11 mins
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performed Samy Moussa's "Elysium," Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 with pianist Janice Carissa and conductor Osmo Vanska. WQED-FM broadcast the concert on Friday January 17, 2025 live! Jim Cunningham spoke to PSO Violinist Louis Lev and PSO Contrabassoonist James Rodgers prior to the concert to get their thoughts on the program.
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December 5, 2024 • 29 mins
Jim Cunningham sat down with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Music Director Manfred Honeck to talk about this weekend's concerts. The program includes Reena Esmail's "REImember;" Faure's "Cantique de Jean Racine", arranged by Manfred Honeck; Brahms' "Schicksalslied;" Hailstork's "Lacrimosa" and Faure's "Requiem." The concert features the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and soloists Jeanine De Bique and Joshua Hopkins.
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November 15, 2024 • 10 mins
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Classical Music Critic Jeremy Reynolds stopped by the WQED-FM location after the live broadcast of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on November 15, 2024. He gave a glowing review of the orchestra, Lorna McGhee and conductor Jacob Joyce. PSO President and CEO Melia Tourangeau also stopped by to speak with Jim Cunningham about the concert; the orchestra trying to get out into more communities and upcoming c...
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