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Mariss Jansons is a survivor. In 1995 he was tapped as the Pittsburgh Symphony's music director, only to suffer a severe heart attack onstage while conducting his other orchestra, the Oslo Philharmonic. A second attack struck five weeks later. After a dramatic personal rebound, he went on to raise the artistic profile of Pittsburgh to new heights. Then, last fall, as the orchestra was facing a $3 million deficit and talks of bankruptcy, Jansons donated $100,000 as a challenge grant to attract new donors. Now, as he is preparing to leave Pittsburgh and become music director of Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the orchestra appears to be on solid footing. He joins us today for a conversation about his dynamic career. Also on the show, the pianist Jenny Lin, who has earned a growing reputation for her adventurous programming and charismatic stage presence. She gives a live performance in the WNYC studio.
Additional Resources:
» A Mariss Jansons biography
» Jenny Lin's Web site