Previn and the Pittsburgh
Renowned composer, conductor, and pianist Andre Previn welcomes one or more musical guests for conversation and performance, either accompanied by Mr. Previn on piano or in concert with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Produced by WQED and syndicated nationally on PBS, the series was notable among musical performance programs for its deft camera work and editing. The episode The Music That Made the Movies was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Music Direction.
Seasons
1. Mozart as Keyboard Prodigy
Air Date: 1977-02-27
Previn discusses Mozart's life and genius, performs his "C-Major Sonata for Four Hands" with Patricia Prattis-Jennings, then conducts the symphony in "piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor".
2. Concert of Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky
Air Date: 1977-03-06
Previn conducts the symphony in Stravinsky's "Firebird", and soloist Horatio Gutierrez plays Tchaikovsky's "Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Minor".
3. The World of Stephen Sondheim
Air Date: 1977-03-13
The award-winning Broadway composer-lyricist talks about his craft and the state of today's musical theatre. Cast members of the London revue "Side by Side by Sondheim" perform three of his songs, including the Grammy-winning "Send In The Clowns".
4. Creating an Impression
Air Date: 1977-03-20
Previn and guest Thomas Hoving, director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, examine the Impressionistic movement and its influence in music. Previn conducts the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in examples of what they discussed: Debussy's "Afternoon of a Faun", Ravel's "Daphnis and Chloe", and others.
5. Oscar Peterson
Air Date: 1977-03-27
Jazz pianist Oscar Peterson joins Previn at the keyboard for a lively two-man show of conversation and music reflecting on Peterson's career and the creation and improvisation of the jazz sound.
6. Why a Rehearsal?
Air Date: 1977-04-03
As television cameras observe an actual Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra rehearsal, Previn explains the importance of the rehearsal process.
7. Isaac Stern
Air Date: 1977-04-10
Violinist Isaac Stern joins pianist Andre Previn and cellist Michael Grebanier of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for an intimate program of chamber music and conversation.
8. Concert of Brahms and Prokofiev
Air Date: 1977-04-17
Previn conducts the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra as they perform "Symphony No. 2" by Brahms and "Classical Symphony" by Prokofiev.
1. The Music That Made the Movies
Air Date: 1978-03-26
Composer John Williams, who wrote the music for Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Star Wars, joins for performances of Star Wars Suite and music from Adventures of Robin Hood, Henry V, and The Blue Max.
2. A Feast of Walton
Air Date: 1978-04-02
Composer Sir William Walton is honored with a performance of his oratorio "Belshazzar's Feast", which includes baritone John Shirley-Quirk, the Penn State University Chorus, and the Pittsburgh Symphony.
3. An Evening with Comden and Green
Air Date: 1978-04-09
The musical comedy team of Betty Comden and Adolph Green join for reminiscences of their movie musical days in Hollywood. Classic material includes Bells Are Ringing, On The Town, and Singin' In The Rain.
4. Two Concerti
Air Date: 1978-04-16
With principal pianist Patricia Prattis Jennings of the Pittsburgh Symphony, Previn performs Mozart's "Concerto for Two Pianos in E-Flat". The orchestra is joined by Korean violinist Kyung Wha Chung for the violin concerto of Sir William Walton.
5. A Gathering of Players
Air Date: 1978-04-23
Isaac Stern, Pinchas Zukerman, and Nathaniel Rosen, principal cellist for the Pittsburgh Symphony, join Previn in an informal setting for some chat and music-making, including Mozart's G-Minor quartet for piano, violin, viola, and cello.
6. Alpine
Air Date: 1978-04-30
Previn conducts the Pittsburgh Symphony in a performance of Richard Strauss' Alpine Symphony, then examines some of Strauss' musical themes and discusses their use in a lecture-demonstration at the piano.
7. Dame Janet Baker
Air Date: 1978-05-07
Dame Janet discusses her artistic career with Previn, who accompanies her in a performance of the song cycle she commissioned him to write.
8. Brahms' Requiem
Air Date: 1978-05-14
The 70-minute-long requiem features the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, soprano Barbara Hendricks, and baritone Ryan Edwards. An informal talk by Previn, revealing his deepest feelings on the piece, follows in this expanded 90-minute season finale.
1. Mistress of Jazz / Jazz Great Ella Fitzgerald
Air Date: 1979-04-03
Ella Fitzgerald discusses her career, from Chick Webb to the big bands to the song books of Gershwin and Cole Porter and beyond. and sings some old favorites with her combo.
2. Movie Music
Air Date: 1979-04-10
Composer John Williams premieres his new "Superman Suite", Miklos Rozsa conducts the Pittsburgh Symphony in his "Ben Hur Suite", and Previn conducts film scores from Psycho, The Seahawk, and Now Voyager. Previn, Williams, and Rozsa talk about the relationship between composers and movie producers in the old - and new - days of Hollywood.
3. Itzhak Perlman
Air Date: 1979-04-17
Violinist Itzhak Perlman performs the Sibelius Violin Concerto with the Pittsburgh Symphony, then talks with conductor Andre Previn.
4. Nathaniel Rosen
Air Date: 1979-04-24
Cellist Nathaniel Rosen, the first American to win the Tchaikovsky Competition since Van Cliburn, is featured soloist in Richard Strauss' "Don Quixote". Rosen also performs a movement from the Prokofiev Cello Sonata, accompanied by Previn on piano, and talks about his experience in Moscow.
5. Yehudi Menuhin
Air Date: 1979-05-08
Violinist Yehudi Menuhin performs chamber music with Pittsburgh Symphony cellist Ann Martindale Williams and Previn.
6. Carmina Burana
Air Date: 1979-05-15
Pittsburgh Symphony and Penn State University Choir perform the concert favorite, Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana" - a lively piece set to medieval poems.
7. Benjamin Britten
Air Date: 1979-05-22
This tribute to English composer Benjamin Britten features concert tenor Robert Tear and French hornist Barry Tuckwell soloing in "Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings", and also includes the ballet suite "Prince of the Pagoda". Previn, Tear, and Tuckwell reminisce about the composer.
1. Perlman: Cool and Classic
Air Date: 1982-10-06
A candid close-up on the making of a jazz record, this special features violinist Itzhak Perlman, Andre Previn on piano, Shelly Manne on drums, Red Mitchell on bass, and Jim Hall on guitar playing original music by Previn.
2. Rachmaninov
Air Date: 1982-11-03
Pianist Horacio Gutierrez joins Andre Previn and the Pittsburgh Symphony for a performance of Rachmaninov's Third Piano Concerto from Heinz Hall, and a humorous chat about the composer's thoughts and problems with his 1909 masterpiece.
3. The British Festival
Air Date: 1982-12-15
Highlights from Pittsburgh's city-wide festival honoring British music and arts in the fall of 1981. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma joins Previn and the Pittsburgh Symphony to perform Sir Edward Elgar's "Cello Concerto". The Symphony also performs the final movement of the Second Symphony of Sir William Walton. British composers Oliver Knussen, John McCabe, and Sir Michael Tippett also appear.
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Rating
8.0/10
Release Date
1977-02-27
Episodes
26 (4 seasons)
Status
Ended
Cast
Production Companies
WQED