Conductor Bernard Labadie and pianist Jan Lisiecki discuss their debut program with the Pittsburgh Symphony including Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto, the Rigel Symphony No 4 and the Haydn Symphony No 98. Both fill us in on their Canadian origins and Maestro Labadie describes his amazing return to active musical life following a battle with lymphoma.

The British conductor who leads the Halle Orchestra talks about his career, his knighting by the Queen lunch with Prince Charles and his love for Sir Edward Elgar’s Music and the First Symphony which he conducted with the Pittsburgh Symphony.

Jennifer Higdon, former composer in residence with the Pittsburgh Symphony, talks about her work time in Pittsburgh, her Grammy win with the Viola Concerto, why her opera "Cold Mountain" has been a sold out instant hit, what she is writing now, and how Fred Rogers shaped her world view and composing philosophy.

The Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony, Robert Spano, talks about his 17 years there and his work as Music Director of the Aspen Music Festival, along with a discussion of the role of the conductor.  He also talks about his program for the Pittsburgh concert with Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique, Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, and the world premiere of the Tuba Concerto by Jennifer Higdon.

Pittsburgh Symphony principal Tuba Craig Knox talks about the Jennifer Higdon Concerto and the world premiere at Heinz Hall March 16 and 18 with Robert Spano conducting. Also everything about the instrument he plays and the mouthpiece made just for him with his name on it. About the former Pittsburgh Symphony tuba star Arnold Jacobs, the Center City Brass Quintet, teaching at Curtis Institute and much more.

Jim Cunningham caught up with Yefim Bronfman about 45 minutes before the pianist went onstage to play the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3 with Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Manfred Honeck discusses this weekend's concerts featuring Prokofiev's Symphony No. 5, the Janacek Sinfonietta, and the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 2 with Benjamin Grosvenor.   He also talks about how the recording of the Bruckner Symphony No. 9 went last week.

Benjamin Grosvenor makes his Heinz Hall debut this weekend with the Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 2.   He talks with WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham about the piece, his performance at the Proms and much more.

Pittsburgh Symphony Music Director Manfred Honeck runs down the special features of the concerts beginning February 23 with Beethoven’s Third Concerto played by Yefim Bronfman and Bruckner’s Ninth Symphony and the recording being made for Reference Recordings plus a live WQED-Fm broadcast.    Maestro Honeck explains why you should support WQED-FM, acquire a copy of the Shostakovich Fifth Symphony which won a Grammy award and reveals why helium balloons were floating around his Maestro Suite.

David Bennett performs with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra this weekend in a concert titled "From Swing to Rock."   He stopped by WQED-FM to chat with Anna Singer about the concerts.