Fresno Philharmonic

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.