@ the Symphony WQED Multimedia

WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Music Director and composer Michael Daugherty backstage immediately after the world premiere of Daugherty's "Songs of the Open Road," during our live broadcast on Friday June 7, 2024.

Pittsburgh Symphony Principal Oboe Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida and Principal Horn William Caballero have joined pianist Rodrigo Ojeda to record Three Rivers Trios on the Crystal label released May 27. The disc features two pieces written for them: Chris Massa’s Scenes From Chautauqua Lake and Eric Ewazen’s Three Rivers Trio along with several other first recordings of the Mozart trio for oboe horn and piano arranged by Eric Naumann from the Quintet k. 407, Robert Kahn’s Serenade, and Heinrich Molbe’s Air Arabe. Cyndy and Bill will give the world premiere of Michael Daugherty’s Songs of the Open Road on Friday June 7th with Manfred Honeck conducting the Pittsburgh Symphony. They give a road map for the piece and talk about how the commission came together complete with a visit to the Lucille Ball Museum in Jamestown New York, the Big Sur, Continental Divide, Sleeping Bear, Desilu, Blue Ridge and Key West.

Jim Cunningham spoke with pianist Benjamin Grosvenor who plays the Liszt Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra this weekend. Benjamin talks about the piece, his latest recording projects, and more.

Vasily Petrenko returns to Heinz Hall to conduct the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra this weekend. He'll conduct Dukas' "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," Tchaikovsky's Manfred Symphony and Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1 with soloist Benjamin Grosvenor. Jim Cunningham talks to him about the program, his latest projects and more.

WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with this weekend's Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra guest conductor, Stephane Deneve. He's conducting music of Ravel, Poulenc and the Gershwin "An American in Paris." He talks about program, working in St. Louis, if he ever sees Leonard Slatkin in town, and if he is a classical radio fan.

Pianist Cedric Tiberghien plays the Ravel Piano Concerto for the Left Hand this weekend with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. It's his Heinz Hall debut. WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham got his thoughts on the Ravel concerto, his interests outside of music and more.