Cellist Alisa Weilerstein

Cellist Alisa Weilerstein returned to Heinz Hall October 16, 2026 and Sunday October 18 to play the Prokofiev Sinfonia Concertante with guest conductor Juraj Valcuha and the Pittsburgh Symphony. She tells Jim Cunningham about the special features of the music written for Mstislav Rostropovich and how she fell in love listening to it on the radio at age 14.

She is on a huge tour this season traveling across several continents with concertos and her Fragments program which has been part of several events at Carnegie Hall in New York. Alisa has enjoyed her visits to Pittsburgh including the last time she was in town playing music by Joan Tower.

Alisa Weilerstein gives an update on the music making of her family, suggests a great restaurant in San Diego, and a coffee shop she loves as an espresso regular. She is married to the Music Director of the San Diego Symphony Rafael Payare and they spend time in California and Canada where he is also the Music Director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. She still listens to the radio and loves classical radio and NPR. Her Pittsburgh visit also includes a Saturday Pittsburgh 360 concert with audience members up close and personal on the stage. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.