Cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan makes his Pittsburgh Symphony debut November 29, 2019 with two pieces - the Nocturne by Edvard Baghdasaryan and the Concerto Rhapsody by Aram Khachaturian, conducted by Music Director Manfred Honeck. He discusses with Jim Cunningham the music; the 360 concert with the audience in the round; his mentor Rostropovich; his earlier visit to Pittsburgh in a snowstorm; chess in Armenia; famous Armenians the Kardashians and Cher; his career to date and much more.

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Music Director Manfred Honeck and pianist Igor Levit sat down after rehearsal on Thursday afternoon in Manfred Honeck’s studio to discuss Mozart and the true Viennese style as heard in the 22nd Piano Concerto.  The piece will be played the weekend of October 18,2019 at Heinz Hall in tour send off concerts.  The Rachmaninoff Paganini Rhapsody will also be heard in Pittsburgh on October 19th, along with opening night on the European Tour on October 25th, at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam on November 4th and at the Bozar Centre in Brussels, Belgium on November 7th. Igor Levit joins the Pittsburgh Symphony to play the Mozart 22nd Concerto in Hannover, Germany on October 28th - the city he settled in after leaving Russia - then on to the Philharmonie in Berlin on October 29th, the Musikverein in Vienna on Halloween, and the Tonhalle in Dusseldorf on November 8th.

Baritone Matthias Goerne returns to Heinz Hall this weekend to perform Lieder of Strauss and Schubert with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.  WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with Matthias to talk abou this weekend's concerts, and performing with the PSO when they are on tour in Europe later this month.

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Music Director Manfred Honeck stopped by the QED Morning Show with Jim Cunningham to talk about this weekend's concerts at Heinz Hall.

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra begins it's 2019-2020 Mellon Grand Classics Season Friday September 19th at Heinz Hall.  The first piece on the program is a PSO co-commission of "Fountain of Youth" by composer Julia Wolfe.  WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham caught up with her at the Hall where she talks about the piece, the influx of women composer's and much more.

Violinist James Ehnes is the guest soloist for this weekend's Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra season opening concerts.  In this wide ranging interview with WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham, Mr. Ehnes talks abou tthe pieces he'll perform this weekend, his thoughts on Pittsburgh and much more.

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's 2019-2020 Mellon Grand Classics season begins this weekend.  Jim Cunningham sat down with Music Director Manfred Honeck to talk about the music on this weekend's program.

Pittsburgh Symphony Principal Viola Randolph Kelly gives his farewell recital at Rodef Shalom Temple on October 29 7pm. In March he plays his final Bartok Concerto with the Pittsburgh Symphony. In this interview recorded September 13, 2019 with Jim Cunningham he has all the details on the recital with pianist John Novacek, Randy remembers his last get together with former Music Director Andre Previn who hired him 43 years ago,  he gives his essential advice to violists and music lovers on how to listen and shares many deeply personal thoughts and reflections.

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Music Director stopped by the QED Morning Show to talk about this Saturday's Gala concert featuring Lang Lang playing the Mozart Piano Concerto No. 24.  He'll also conduct music by Offenbach, Schmidt, von Suppe and more.

WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham recently sat down with long time Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra violist Randolph Kelly to talk about his career, and his future plans, including his October 29th recital,  7:30pm at Rodef Shalom Temple.