Fresno Philharmonic

The Fresno Philharmonic presents a concert dedicated to the music of composer Johannes Brahms this weekend, and Maestro Theodore Kuchar joined us Friday to talk about the composer and guest artist Noah Bendix-Balgley. From the technical brilliance of his concerto for violin, to the grand scope of his Symphony No. 1 in C minor, to the popularity of his Hungarian Dances, Kuchar discusses the many reasons why Brahms remains a highpoint in the classical repertoire. 

This Saturday the Fresno Philharmonic will perform a special concert in remembrance of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The centerpiece of the evening will be a world premier of a piece by composer Serouj Kradjian, "Cantata For the Living Martyrs." 

Pianist Antonio Pompa-Baldi is in Fresno this weekend on an unusual mission: performing the complete cycle of Beethoven piano concertos over three concerts with the Fresno Philharmonic. The concerts will take the listener through Beethoven's musical evolution from his early works to the famous Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor." 

This Sunday the sounds of Spain and Latin America will fill the William Saroyan Theatre in downtown Fresno as the Fresno Philharmonic presents a concert titled Bolero. Featuring music by composers like Astor Piazzolla (Tangazo), Joaquin Rodrigo (Concierto de Aranjuez), and Ravel (Bolero) it's a multi-continental tribute to the romance and rhythms of a fascinating culture. The concert features a performance by guitarist Charles Ramirez with Rodrigo's beloved ma

This weekend the Fresno Philharmonic brings local audiences a truly unique concert – one that mixes sounds of "East and West," featuring pipa soloist Wu Man. The Chinese native will perform the Concerto for Pipa and Orchestra by Academy Award winning composer Tan Dun, who is best best known in the U.S. for his score for the film Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. The orchestra will also perform two symphonies by Beethoven.

Pianist Orion Weiss is one of the most acclaimed artists of his generation. His visits Fresno this weekend to perform with the Fresno Philharmonic for a concert titled "I Got Rhythm" which features music by Gershwin, Ravel and several Latin-American composers, including Marquez, Fernandez and Revueltas.  In our interview, we talk to Weiss about his career, working with his former teacher Emmanuel Ax, and about performing the music of Gershwin and Ravel. 

Pianist Inon Barnatan joins us at Valley Public Radio to talk about his new CD of works by Franz Schubert, and about his upcoming performance in Fresno, in the debut concert of the Fresno Philharmonic's 60th anniversary season. Barnatan will perform Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 2, a rarely heard work by the Russian master. In this interview we discuss Barnatan's career, his beginnings in classical music as a young child in Israel, his approach to the recording studio, and much more.

The New York Times called Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Martinez “compelling, elegant, and incisive." She performs this weekend with the Fresno Philharmonic, in a concert titled Russian Romantics. She will be the featured soloist performing Rachmaninoff’s  Piano Concerto No. 2. She recently joined us to talk about her career, her upcoming performance and more.

As violinist Elena Urioste tells it, when she was just two years old, she knew she wanted to be a violinist, after seeing Itzhak Perlman perform on a broadcast of Sesame Street. Now as a star artist in her own right, she travels the world sharing her musical gift with thousands, including here in Central California. 

Guest conductor and clarinetist Carl Topilow joins us in-studio to talk about Saturday's "Home for the Holidays" concert with the Fresno Philharmonic. Local theater icon Dan Pessano also joins the conversation as he will perform a reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas" with the orchestra. 

Two years ago, then 16 year-old violinist Chad Hoopes made his debut with the Fresno Philharmonic and Maestro Theodore Kuchar. Now a senior in high school, the Ohio native returns to the Central Valley to perform with the Fresno Philharmonic this weekend, performing Lalo's Symphonie espagnole.

In our interview, we talk to Chad about his development as an artist over the past two years, Lalo's famous work, his Stradivarius violin, and his upcoming plans after he graduates from high school. 

Mezzo-soprano Kelley O’Connor has received international acclaim performing with the world’s premier orchestras and conductors, premiering exciting new works, and breathing new life into familiar favorites.