PSO Music Director Manfred Honeck talks about combining Gustav Holst's "The Planets" and "The Elements," a PSO-commissioned suite by five Pittsburgh composers that represents the five classical elements. Maestro Honeck also previews the PSO's free Music for the Spirit concert on Feb. 13, 2014 in East Liberty.

French pianist Helene Grimaud returns to play the Piano Concerto #1 by Johannes Brahms. Her new recording of both Brahms concertos has been released on the Deutsche Grammophon label. Ms. Grimaud is nearly as famous for her work as a naturalist as she is for her music – she co-founded the Wolf Conservation Center in upstate New York in 1996. She spoke in the Regency Room at Heinz Hall about her two careers.

PSO Music Director Manfred Honeck talks about a program of Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms featuring pianist Helene Grimaud, and about a benefit concert he will conduct organized by PSO musicians to support music education.

PSO Resident Conductor and self-professed John Williams "fanboy" Lawrence Loh talks about the selections he chose for Pops concerts featuring a few lesser-known excerpts from Williams' movie scores as well as the hits. He also tells Jim Cunningham about some extra stage trappings that pump up the fun factor for these concerts.

Grammy-winning soprano Hila Plitmann talks about her part in the final movement of "Darkness in the Ancient Valley" by Richard Danielpour, a work co-commissioned by the Pittsburgh Symphony and which honors the plight of the Iranian people. She also mentions her husband Eric Whitacre's work on a new musical, and her appearance in a production of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels.

PSO Guest conductor Christoph Koenig waxes philosophical about Haydn's "Philosopher" Symphony, Richard Strauss' Nietzsche-inspired "Also Sprach Zarathustra," and Richard Danielpour's "Darkness in the Ancient Valley," a tribute to the plight of the Iranian people. Koenig also gives an inkling of what to expect in the PSO's first "Behind the Notes" concert.

The PSO welcomes The Tallis Scholars, founded and directed by Peter Phillips. While celebrating its 40th anniversary season, the choir performs an a cappella program of Renaissance sacred music and two motets by Bruckner at Heinz Hall to complement Bruckner's Symphony No. 4 "Romantic" conducted by Manfred Honeck.

Austrian pianist Till Fellner's PSO debut on Thanksgiving weekend features Beethoven's Piano Concerto #4 with Manfred Honeck conducting. Fellner talks about the details he discusses with Honeck, about recording Beethoven for ECM, and his interest in the use of music by film director Luis Bunuel.

Frequent Pittsburgh Symphony guest conductor Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos talks about the US premiere of the Symphony #6 by Spanish-born Pittsburgh composer Leonardo Balada. The symphony was inspired by the Spanish Civil War. Frühbeck, now 80, shares memories of working with past legends Nathan Milstein, Joaquin Rodrigo, and others.

Charlie Humphrey, Executive Director of festival presenter Pittsburgh Filmmakers, talks about the four opening night films on Nov, 8, a fourth theater joining the festival, local films and film makers, microcinema, the return of the Alloy Orchestra for silent film screenings, and more.