July 5, 2020: Bob Lauver and his furry friends perform all eight parts in this arrangement of the brilliant “Fanfare pour précéder La Péri” as the grand finale to our Bright Spot series. Thank you to all, both near and far, who have followed our Bright Spots over the past sixteen weeks.
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Bright Spots
Start your day with regularly posted "Bright Spots"— videos posted on weekday mornings with music and insight from PSO Musicians and special guests, self-produced by our musicians.
See all Extraordinary Measures Videos →
July 4, 2020: Seeing Rhian Kenny stand to play the piccolo solo in John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever” has been a highlight of Pittsburgh Symphony summer concerts since 1991. Rhian shares her very first memory playing that solo, and incidentally marks her 30th year of summer parks concerts with the PSO.
July 3, 2020: Our intrepid viola section came together digitally to tackle the highlights of the viola repertoire, arranged by retired member Paul Silver. Can you name all 18 of the pieces featured?
July 2, 2020: "Right now we're very far apart, but music helps us feel closer together." Bronwyn and Rhiannon Banerdt combine their voices digitally.
July 1, 2020: We can guarantee you've never heard Mahler's Symphony No. 1 like this! Jim Rodgers demonstrates how he uses a looping pedal to build this one-of-a-kind performance of the "Frère Jacques" theme from the third movement.
June 30, 2020: What section of the orchestra is a part of every concert, briefly appears on-stage, but is never heard? Principal Librarian Lisa Gedris gives a behind-the-scenes look at how our two librarians prepare for concerts.
June 29, 2020: Kyle Mustain and Deanna Badizadegan put a unique spin on Mozart as they kick off our final week of Bright Spot posts. If you’re walking near Heinz Hall, you might just hear them performing for their neighbors!
June 18, 2020: The Pittsburgh Symphony flute section-- Lorna McGhee, Jennifer Steele and Rhian Kenny share music filled with solace and joy for these uncertain times, coming together virtually to perform Bach's Sinfonia No. 9 from his Three-Part Inventions.
June 17, 2020: You’ll do a double take with today’s Bright Spot: violinist Ellen Chen-Livingston serves as her own accompanist in a beautiful performance of Massenet’s “Méditation” from Thaïs. Special thanks, as well, to super producer Jim Nova, trombone.
June 15, 2020: The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's OTPAAM fellow Shantanique Moore, flutist, shares a sparkling performance of the finger-twisting Caprice No. 5 by Niccolò Paganini. Hear more from Shantanique in our “Lift Every Voice” program, available for for streaming now.
June 10, 2020: Horn player Bob Lauver and his student Bryce collaborate on a duet by Otto Nicolai, showing us that we can still continue teaching and learning even when we cannot be together.
June 8, 2020: Principal Oboe Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida is spending time looking back at past repertoire, and performs an excerpt from Johann Wenzel Kalliwoda's "Morceau de Salon" to kick off this week.
June 3, 2020: "There's a snake in my boot!" Principal Percussionist Andy Reamer, his pal Woody, and their psychedelic vibraphone share a groovy tune in today's Bright Spot.
June 1, 2020: Mark Houghton performs "The Hunter's Farewell" by Felix Mendelssohn, harnessing the French horn's history as an outdoor hunting instrument. We're sure Mark's neighbors don't mind a bit of outdoor practicing!
May 28, 2020: Flutist Jennifer Steele shares one of her favorite works by C.P.E Bach. While it is in a minor key, her dog Sparky still thinks it’s the perfect music for getting outside and looking for the sunshine.
May 27, 2020: Violinist Kristina Yoder turns to her well-loved copy of J.S. Bach's Violin Sonatas & Partita's for inspiration, performing the Adagio from his Violin Sonata No. 1 in G minor.
May 25, 2020: We offer this music in honor of the countless service members who died while bravely serving our country. As we reflect on the freedoms we enjoy due to their sacrifice, we honor those who never came home and the loved ones they left behind. Thank you to all who serve at home and abroad.
May 22, 2020: Fred Rogers believed that performing and sharing music is a powerful way of giving and showing kindness. On the 143rd day of the year, we joined the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in spreading the message of kindness through 143DayinPA.
May 21, 2020: What do James Taylor, Bing Crosby, Neil Young, and Jeffrey Dee have in common? They’ve all recorded renditions of “Oh Susanna” by Stephen Foster. Principal Bass Trombone Jeffrey Dee shares his take on this classic by “the father of American music” (and Pittsburgh native!) Stephen Foster.
May 19, 2020: Co-Principal Bassoon David Sogg pays tribute to composer Alexander Vustin and all artists we've lost in the pandemic with this performance of Vustin's "Weeping" for Solo Bassoon.
May 18, 2020: Violinist Marta Krechkovsky shares Debussy's shimmering Clair de Lune to start your week with a beautiful moment of peace.
May 14, 2020: Bassist Jeffrey Grubbs and wife Tania share their love of jazz and performing together, plus an original composition by Tania as we fly into the weekend.
May 13, 2020: Assistant Concertmaster Huei-Sheng Kao shares a delightful Bach Gavotte to brighten your day.
May 11, 2020: We start this new week with the ultimate elephant in the room! Bassist Aaron White and special guests share this gem from The Carnival of the Animals.
May 8, 2020: James Rodgers PSO Principal Contrabassoon, shares how his music teacher changed his life. From ALL of us at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, THANK YOU TEACHERS! Thank you for all the time, effort, love, support, inspiration, and knowledge that you so generously share with your students. You make a tremendous difference every day!
May 7, 2020: A breath of fresh air from Italy as Clarinetist Ron Samuels reinvents the term one man band with this creative reimagining of Mendelssohn's "Italian" Symphony.
May 6, 2020: Joen Vasquez (Acting Associate Principal Viola), shares a musical postcard from sunny Spain, here in his own colorful arrangement of Manuel de Falla's The Three-Cornered Hat.
May 5, 2020: The PSO Clarinet section is off to the races with Stravinsky's Three Pieces for Solo Clarinet. For the first leg of the Clarinet Relay, Victoria Luperi (Associate Principal Clarinet) shares the first movement. Second Clarinet Ron Samuels is next with the second movement. And Principal Clarinet Michael Rusinek takes us to the finish line with the final leg of the relay and piece.
May 4, 2020: May the Fourth be with you! PSO Horn Player Robert Lauver multi tracks a clever spin on Strauss's Till Eulenspiegel to cure your case of the Monday morning blues.
April 30, 2020: The family that plays together stays together. Violinist Andrew Fuller and Violist Laura Fuller share a Bach Duo--- be sure to watch all the way to the end!
April 29, 2020: Tatjana Mead Chamis, Acting Principal Violist, brings joy with Max Reger's Solo Suite for Viola.
April 27, 2020: Violinist Jeremías Sergiani-Velázquez shares a rare gem that has been a favorite since childhood—the beautiful Paganini Cantabile and Waltz.
April 23, 2020: Violinist Irene Cheng celebrates today's Take Your Daughter To Work [At Home] Day sharing Gluck's famous Melody.
April 22, 2020: Principal Harp Gretchen Van Hoesen in Sweeping the Garden in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day.
April 20, 2020: A ray of sunshine to start your week with cellist Karissa Shivone together with her husband Thomas.
April 17, 2020: The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Violinist Jennifer Orchard plays "Long, Long Ago" together with her daughter. Be sure to watch to the end for a special surprise.
April 15, 2020: Associate Concertmaster Mark Huggins shares a wonderful bonbon by Fritz Kreisler and LouLou the cat makes a special cameo appearance.
April 14, 2020: PSO Trumpet player Chad Winkler shares a Baroque gem, Bach's Brandenburg #2, to add some sparkle to your day.
April 13, 2020: Clarinet + Canada + Contest= Principal Clarinet Michael Rusinek's Extraordinary Measures.
April 10, 2020: "We Are Family"—Music Director Manfred Honeck dusts off his violin to make music with three generations of the Honeck Family.
April 9, 2020: This Bright Spot is "All About That Bass" with Acting Principal Bass Brandon McLean sharing the double bass variation of Haydn's 31st Symphony.
April 8, 2020: Violinist Susanne Park and cellist Charlie Powers are together apart, both with each other and all of you. They share the Aria from Bach's Goldberg Variations to brighten your today.
April 7, 2020: Music from our own "Mr. Rodgers' Neighborhood"—Mozart's Bassoon Concerto played here by Principal Contrabassoon James Rodgers to brighten your day.
April 6, 2020: Principal Cello Anne Martindale Williams sharing a piece near and dear to her heart, Elgar's Salut d'Amour.
April 3, 2020: "And tomorrow the sun will shine again...", the first line of Morgen! ("Tomorrow!) by Strauss played here by Alexi Kenney.
April 2, 2020: This Bright Spot features the lyrical sounds of Principal Tuba Craig Knox in Massenet's Mediation from Thais.
April 1: 2020: Hot off the press! Name that tune! Principal Percussion Andrew Reamer brings a smile with this “Bright Spot.”
March 31: 2020: Violist Erina Laraby-Goldwasser shares the beautiful second movement of the Stamitz Viola Concerto.
March 30, 2020: Principal Trumpet Micah Wilkinson performs the theme from Finlandia by Jean Sibelius.
March 27, 2020: Noah Bendix-Balgley (Berlin Philharmonic, Concertmaster) with, the Gigue from Bach's E Major Partita.
March 26, 2020: Our Bright Spot today features violinist Ellen Chen-Livingston and her daughter on the Leclair Sonata for Two Violins Op. 3, No. 5.
March 25, 2020: Will Chow shares the Allemande from Bach Cello Suite No. 6.
March 24, 2020: Our Principal Flute Lorna McGhee in a Sarabande by Johann Martin Blochwitz (1687-1742).
March 23, 2020: Christopher Wu, Violin, on bringing his instrument to the delivery room and "Amazing Grace."
March 20, 2020: Music Director Manfred Honeck introduces "Extraordinary Measures": connecting with you through the orchestra's sound, spirit and passion.