Voice of the Arts

Three members from Unity Brass Quintet, horn player Barbara Folb, trombone player Joe Williams, and tuba player Russ Pedersen, spoke about their upcoming performance for Bach, Beethoven, and Brunch at Mellon Park on Sunday, July 7th at 10:30 am. Their eclectic program is tailored for the outdoors, with pieces from Bach’s time period all the way to the 1970’s. Blue, jazz, rock, and Bach, it’s perfect for a summertime brunch concert at Mellon Park. Barbara, Russ, and Joe all share their stories of joining the Unity Brass Quintet, and how they all got started with the instruments they now play. Visit https://www.unitybrass.net/ to learn more!

This Sunday’s (6/30) City of Pittsburgh Bach, Beethoven and Brunch concert features the Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh. WQED-FM’s Bryan Sejvar spoke with conductor and Artistic Director Edward Leonard and Executive Director Andrew Swenson about what people can expect this weekend. Plus, they mention some highlights of the upcoming Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh concert season.

Mezzo-Soprano, Amanda Crider, discusses with Anna Singer about her upcoming performance in Resonance Works La Donna Del Lago as Malcolm. This opera, which will run on June 28th and June 30th at the Charity Randall Theater on University of Pittsburgh’s campus, is the first to be performed in the United States since 2015. Amanda highlights the challenges and joys she faces in the pantsuit role of Malcolm, and what she hopes to bring to the stage. Visit https://www.resonanceworks.org/la-donna-del-lago to learn more and find tickets!

Associate Producer for La Donna Del Lago, Robert Frankenberry spoke with Anna Singer his role in producing this opera for the first time since 2015 on American soil. Robert highlights his job as an associate producer, and the intricates into creating subtitles from scratch for this opera. See La Donna Del Lago June 28th and 30th at the Charity Randall Theatre on the University of Pittsburgh’s campus. Visit https://www.resonanceworks.org/la-donna-del-lago to learn more and find tickets!

Mezzo-Soprano, Timothi Williams, spoke with Anna Singer about her upcoming role as Elena for Resonance Works in the opera, La Donna Del Lago. This opera, which will run on June 28th and June 30th at the Charity Randall Theater on University of Pittsburgh’s campus, is the first to be performed in the United States since 2015. Timothi discusses her two big arias in the opera, as well as the challenges in having the orchestra behind her on stage. Visit https://www.resonanceworks.org/la-donna-del-lago to learn more and find tickets!

Conductor Brian Worsdale checks in live from Leipzig, Germany at the statue of Johann Sebastian Bach outside the Thomas Kirche where Bach is buried. The Three Rivers Young People’s Orchestra is on tour in Europe with concerts in Jena, Leipzig and Dresden, Germany plus a visit to Prague.

The first of the many Italian operas based on the works of Sir Walter Scott, La donna del lago (The Lady of the Lake), features another operatic rarity: a heroine with agency, who – spoiler alert! – does not die! Filled with dueling high notes and coloratura fireworks, this story of love, loyalty, (and lochs!) in the Scottish highlands is a unique bel canto experience not to be missed! Resonance Works presents Rossini’s “La donna del lago” Friday, June 28, 2024 at 8pm and Sunday, June 30, 2024, at 3pm at the Charity Randall Theatre, Oakland. WQED-FM’s Anna Singer spoke with Conductor Maria Sensi Sellner, Stage Director Eve Summer and Javier Abreu about the production.

Curator of Performance Events at the Frick Pittsburgh, Catio Amorose, spoke about their upcoming Summer Fridays at the Frick concert series that starts the evening of Friday, June 14th, with three more on July 12th, August 2nd, and August 23rd. Catio highlights the featured musical guests on the big stage, including Vocal Confluence on June 14th, and Cello Fury on August 2nd. This free event will also have food trucks, a musical instrument ‘petting zoo’, fresh beverages from the Frick Cafe, and much more fun for the whole family. Caito also discusses some upcoming events in October that will continue the musical evenings into the fall. Visit https://www.thefrickpittsburgh.org/ to learn more.

Pianist James Iman presents his new CD James Iman: Album III at PYCO in Wexford at 6 pm Friday, June 14 with a concert featuring the Alban Berg Sonata Opus 1. It’s a CD release party with refreshments and a chance to have the new disc autographed. James talks with Jim Cunningham about the new recording which features the Alban Berg Sonata, Morton Feldman’s Last Pieces, Betsy Jolas’ B for Sonata and Klaus Huber’s Ein Hauch von Unzeit II. James explains why he loves this music, even when so many have branded Arnold Schoenberg and his student Berg as the composers who single handedly led the world of music down the wrong path. Plus a discussion of riding a motorcycle and tattoos. Visit Facebook to learn more about the event!

Pittsburgh based clarinetist, Janice Coppola, and keyboardist and singer, Laura Daniels, talk about their group KleZlectic which will be performing at Mellon Park on June 23rd at 10:30 AM as a part of the City of Pittsburgh’s Bach, Beethoven and Brunch series. Bring out your picnic blankets and come here some local Klezmer music! Janice and Laura discuss what Klezmer music is, what they will be playing on June 23rd, and other concerts they have coming up throughout the end of the year. They also play two pieces live in WQED-FM’s studios: Bai Mir Bistu Schon by Sholom Secunda, and Sumkinda Frailach by Janice Coppola. Visit janicecoppola.com to hear more of KleZlectic’s music, and find the full calendar for Bach, Beethoven and Brunch at www.wqed.org/fm/brunch

Director of Horticulture at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Ben Dunigan, talks about their new summer flower show titled, Under The Sea. This new exhibition that runs until September 8th features more topiary’s than usual, animatronic sharks, giant clamshells, and so many flowers! Ben talks about the different kind of flowers in this show, including some easter egg ones with names that match the sea theme. Ben also highlights the Fairchild’s Challenge this summer that features sculptures by students across the Pittsburgh area of real or imaginary sea animals. Visit https://www.phipps.conservatory.org/ to find tickets and learn more about this fun exhibit!

Communications Manager with the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD), James Santelli, spoke about their new on-going program, Summer Staycation, running until the end of August. This program offers over 100,000 free admissions to some of Pittsburgh’s favorite attractions, like the Heinz History Center and the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium. All you need is a Allegheny County library card and a RAD pass reservation. James walks WQED-FM through how to make a reservation, why this program was created, and how it is different from the RAD Days in the fall. James also highlights a new RAD grant given to Allegheny County Libraries for new computers to ensure equal access to all across the county. Visit https://www.radworkshere.org/pages/rad-summer-staycation to learn more about the program and reserve a RAD pass reservation.