Composer Peter Boyer and Pittsburgh Symphony Associate Conductor Andres Franco stopped by Afternoon Classics with Anna Singer to talk about Boyer's piece "Ellis Island."  

Pianist Inon Barnatan makes his Heinz Hall debut playing Rachmaninoff’s First Concerto with the Pittsburgh Symphony and Maestro Long Yu.  He tells Jim Cunningham what sort of a guy Sergei Rachmaninoff was.  He shares why he loves living composers like Alan Fletcher, the former head of CMU Music, and how how he started with music in Tel Aviv. You will hear about his work in La Jolla with the Chamber Music Festival he now runs.  Other things of note - he took an Uber to get to Pittsburgh from Akron and enjoyed the ride, and he knows very few people named Inon!

Long Yu makes his debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony the weekend of January 25 2019, Listen to his conversation with Jim Cunningham where he remembers his admiration for the Pittsburgh Symphony as a student in China, discusses the beauty of music by Qigang Chen and whether it fits with feng shui principles. Long Yu expresses his love of Rachmaninoff and Dvorak and what they reveal about their nationalities.  Maestro Long shares his thoughts on the Cultural Revolution in China, his grand concert in Beijing at the Forbidden Palace in October 2018 with Carmina Burana to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the DG company with the Shanghai Symphony, talks about his world premiere this Spring in New York with YoY o Ma and Wu Man, and suggests ways we can bring together people from the East and West.   

Behzod Abduraimov returns to Heinz Hall to play the Rachmaninoff Second Piano Concerto. He’s never seen David Lean’s Brief Encounter or The Seven Year Itch with Marilyn Monroe being wooed by the Rachmaninoff. But he has heard Eric Carmen sing the main melody.  Behzod lives in Tashkent and Kansas City, has a jam packed schedule, and he took a few days off to visit Cancun. He’s played at the Hollywood Bowl three times and loves the Van Cliburn and Rachmaninoff recordings of the Second Concerto. Lots more in this interview with Jim Cunningham.

Jim Cunningham speaks with Conductor Markus Stenz, who is the Principal Guest with the Baltimore along with his work in Cologne and as Chief of the Netherland Radio Orchestra. His Pittsburgh Symphony debut program is centered around the piano with Behzod Abduraimov playing the Rachmaninoff Second Piano Concerto, with an American premiere of the Sunken Cathedral by Debussy arranged by Colin Mathews, Ferrucio Busoni’s Lullaby and the Poem of Ecstasy by Scriabin. Stenz discusses his extensive work with Hans Werner Henze and offers his thoughts for the new year 2019.

Pittsburgh Symphony pianist Patricia Prattis Jennings talking to Jim Cunningham  looking back on her amazing career delving into why the Pittsburgh Symphony is raising $200,000 for a new Steinway grand.  She remembers the 1964 3 month of Europe sponsored by the US State Department with stops in Athens and Iran. Describes working with Steinberg, Jansons, Previn, Maazel and many of the great nights of music she took part in.

The Music Director of the Erie Philharmonic and Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra Daniel Meyer conducts Pittsburgh Symphony Highmark Holiday Pops through December 23rd at Heinz Hall. He provides scoop on Santa, Doug LeBrecque from broadway, violinist jenny Oaks Baker, the Mendelssohn Choir, the snow machine, a new arrangement of the Hamlisch Chanukah Lights with cellist Adam Liu and Rodrigo Ojeda pianist and the good cheer generally. Maestro meyer also has highlihgts of upcoming concert in Erie and Greensburg with holiday plans for a four year old and Mrs. Meyer, Mary Persin, Vice President of Artistic Administration for the Pitsburgh Symphony.

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Principle Trumpet talks to WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham about the recent PSO Holiday Brass Spectacular, which took place at Heinz Hall on December 5th, 2018.

Jim Cunningham interviews the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra guest violinist playing the Korngold Concerto.

Conductor Yan Pascal Tortelier runs through the latest Pittsburgh concert with Berlioz Roman Carnival Overture, the Korngold Concerto with Simone Lansma in her Heinz Hall debut and the Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances. He loves Iceland and his work there, describing the hall as a landmark gem. He reiterates his affection for Pittsburgh and the Orchestra along with sharing memories of his famous father cellist Paul Tortelier and the amazing BBC broadcast box set of his Dad’s work which he plans on giving as a holiday gift. Holiday memories of Christmas in France too in this conversation with Jim Cunningham.