@theSymphony
John Lithgow - Dec 3, 2009
Actor John Lithgow talks about Mozart's Requiem, as he narrates a recreation of Mozart's funeral mass with the PSO. He also talks about his books and songs for kids, the TV series Dexter and Third Rock, his Broadway roles, and more.
Sa Chen - Nov 25, 2009
The Chinese-born pianist talks about Sichuan food, Tchaikovsky and his Concerto #1, her first American Thanksgiving, her career development, Germany, and meeting Van Cliburn as a medalist at his namesake competition.
Chee-Yun - Nov 6, 2009
South Korean violinist Chee-Yun talks about working with conductor Marek Janowski, the special qualities of the Mendelssohn E Minor concerto, and about her recent guest appearance on HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm."
Jean-Yves Thibaudet - Oct 30, 2009
The French piano soloist talks about the concertos of Saint-Saens, buying his trademark red socks at the Vatican, and his interest in jazz pianist Bill Evans, Duke Ellington, jazz clubs, Parisian restaurants, and Gershwin. He also mentions future Khatchaturian and Liszt projects.
Marek Janowski - Oct 29, 2009
Janowski talks about Halloween, Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique, his recordings "in concert" with the Pittsburgh Symphony for the Pentatone label at Heinz Hall, Saint-Saens' Piano Concerto #2, and the future of the arts in Germany at a time of financial crisis.
Leonard Slatkin - Part 2 - Oct 20, 2009
The Pittsburgh Symphony's Principal Guest Conductor talks about making a little "symphony" of Samuel Barber's "perfect" little pieces; Copland's El Salon Mexico and dances from "Rodeo," John Williams as the 20th century's most influential composer, and getting speeding tickets in the expansive landscapes of the American West.
Richard Danielpour & Angela Brown - Oct 16, 2009
PSO Composer of the Year Richard Danielpour talks about "A Woman's Life, written for soprano Angela Brown and the PSO with texts by Maya Angelou. Danielpour and Brown talk about their work with each other and with Maya Angelou on this new song cycle.
Leonard Slatkin - Part 1 - Oct 16, 2009
The Pittsburgh Symphony's Principal Guest Conductor talks about Richard Danielpour's "A Woman's Life" and his work with the composer, the seldom-heard music of Peter Mennin, old-school Sibelius, and Slatkin's provocative blog.
Andres Cardenes - Oct 1, 2009
To open the PSO season, and his final year as Concertmaster, Andres Cardenes talks about Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations, Poulenc's Sinfonietta, and performing for world leaders at the G20 Pittsburgh Summit.
Manfred Honeck - Part 2 - Jun 9, 2009
The PSO Music Director examines how Mahler devloped his monumental Symphony #2, from its origins as a tone poem to a symphony with chorus on the scale of Beethoven's Ninth. Honeck talks about Mahler's place in Viennese culture, and the philosophy behind his "Resurrection" symphony.