Yuja Wang - Prokofiev: Piano concerto no.2 op.16

2015 Zurich, Swiss
Yuja Wang / Lionel Bringuier / Tonhalle Orchester Zürich

[@rmac1042]

I’m an 81 year-old jazz pianist and composer and in all my years in music, I’ve never heard a performance of the cadenza in the 1st movement played so brilliantly! Simply astounding! Simply put, in my humble opinion, Yuja Wang is a genius with not only astounding technique but she is sensitive and emotional in passages of any work-not just this one! Incredible artist!

[@tommartin8700]

Yes. GENIUS!

[@emilioarvizu3533]

Horacio Gutierrez is better

[@antoniopanameno6355]

Prokofiev was the composer, so he was the genius!

[@tommartin8700]

@@antoniopanameno6355 It takes two to tango!

[@meredith218461]

She gives a superb account of this fiercely challenging work. Having said that I recall attending a live performance of this concerto given by a young Ashkenazy during the mid 1960s in London, his mastery was simply awesome. In my opinion this performance by Yuga Wang is equally stunning.

[@rgarlinyc]

Absolutely wonderful. As ever! 👏👏( Yuja Wang could just practice her scales and I would still sit at her feet and gaze at her, utterly enthralled! 💞💕)

[@serlal-s3b]

Qu'on ne me dise pas que ce n'est pas physique de jouer ce concerto! On voit qu'au moment de saluer, elle est quasi-épuisée! Quelle maestria! mille bravos!

[@kathng8354]

Amazing.wish life beautiful like classic music . ❤❤❤

[@jurrasicpig2426]

Even as powerful as she is, after finishing this piece, she looked stressful and exhausted.... that's a sign of how technically impossible for human being this piano piece is. Marvelous!

[@Angel333piano]

She has it all memorized too omg

[@andre1214g]

At 27:38, something reminds me strongly of the theme from Bernard Hermann's Fahrenheit 451. Guess who plagiarized who. 😊

[@ABCCBAAAAAABC]

12:50 sheet music magically appears on the piano.

[@hansjuergenkohlhaas871]

Obviously the video was edited, with a brief clip from the stage rehearsal, for whatever reason.

[@ABCCBAAAAAABC]

@@hansjuergenkohlhaas871 Obviously, I don't really believe that it is magic. Just wanted to point out the unexpected occurrence.

[@TreasureX7]

I just watched a fascinating thriller.

[@paulmoon3347]

I believe this concerto is to do with his close friends suicide

[@DariusSarrafi]

Prokofiev wrote a lot of beautiful things but he also occasionally committed musical diarrhea. This is one such occasion! Simply too many notes on the piano. No break!

[@daveluttinen2547]

This is one of the finest recordings of Prokofiev 2 I have listened to. She brought out some phrasing that I had not heard before and while this is quite a technical piece with fireworks gymnastics it is also terrifically musical. Ms. Yang brought new dimensions that are appreciated. jmho.Bravo!

[@themajortec9]

Couldn’t have expressed my inner most thoughts any better ! ❤

[@paulmoon3347]

Wang

[@paulmoon3347]

Oh my god..f****g hell😮

[@suppiahpakrisamy7328]

O

[@Smudgie]

I wish classical crowds would give the full throated roar of a heavy metal crowd after a performance like that. Polite applause and the odd "Bravo" always seems so insulting.

[@charles.e.g.]

I have heard Yuja perform this concerto at least a dozen times, and they were all wonderful. But this performance is so phenomenally inspired, that it leaves me speechless. Absolutely stunning. ❤

[@NINOABSNABSN]

At 10:20 a brilliant orchestration. The frantic strings and solid brass. Yuja is always the same, hyper-speed of interpretation and perfect clarity of notes.

[@katsan88]

Takes your breath away

[@thatdude3827]

0:38 I. Andantino-Allegretto 11:50 II. Scherzo (Vivace) 14:16 III. Intermezzo (Allegro moderato) 20:50 IV. Finale (Allegro tempestoso)

[@dion1949]

Thanks, I needed that.

[@greengreen3961]

Amazing performance. Thank you to all musicians. You guys make earth more beautiful. Thank you to Yuja Wang. What a wonderful display of virtuosity. Bravo 🎉🎉🎉

[@Desireyso58]

CADENZA at 6:00 Stunning! Yuja Stands Out and Owns this Concerto!!! I Love Her!!!

[@gailhausmann1329]

Beautiful performance! .. Yuja can play anything with her "Magical Fingers...... Such a moving piece... Great orchestra as well... Thanks for posting. 🙏😄

[@jsfriedberg]

Words cannot do justice. Kudos to Yuja Wang / Lionel Bringuier / Tonhalle Orchester Zürich!!

[@rousygetmey5617]

Завораживает, восхищает глубиной исполняемых произведений, виртуозностью игры и своей красотой.

[@syu28639]

No one deserves the insane genius title in classical music more than Prokofiev.

[@NoferTrunions]

I'm 71, Prok to me is Prokofiev, The Destroyer, he mutates classical forms every chance he gets. The result is exquisite since the connection with the original form is still apparent. Those that followed wanted nothing of that connection - it's chaos I say! just rearranging Prok's rubble! Prok's convolution of repeated patterns is diabolical to memorize and play - it defies muscle memory.

[@Pseudify]

I think Prokofiev understood the pianoforte better than anyone. Its percussive nature, dynamic limitations, dynamic possibilities, peculiar mechanics, and so on. He seems to be alone in this regard. Where other composers seem to compose music that can be played on a piano, Prokofiev composed with the piano’s limitations and possibilities first and foremost in mind.

[@1trschaefer78]

My favorite of the Prokofiev Piano Concertos. So dramatic! And so difficult! She plays it divinely.

[@deborahfogacaminicz8090]

Simply wonderful! This concert has a dense and stormy atmosphere that the great pianist Yuja Wang interprets with energy and total control of emotions.

[@lenamcginnis5168]

Please check out Yundi Li most fantastic performance ever Coda the best

[@markknego5743]

I discovered classical music a few years ago after a lifetime of being a jazz, rock, world music fan. Then I found Yuja Wang. I have never heard anything this beautiful, majestic and engaging in my life. What an extraordinary, beyond human talent. I cannot get enough. Thank you, Ms. Wang.

[@Sweet_Jazz]

She poured her soul into this one. Special performance by a special talent.

[@paulmoon3347]

I was a classically tutored pianist. I don't know how on earth Ms Wang can do what she does. Always such clarity. Amazing in every way ❤❤

[@robertwalker3591]

I love this performance!! Yuja is so in tune with the orchestra. Timing, intonation, expression and all of those things. Phenomenal!!! 💖💖💖

[@michaelschefold3299]

This was one of the best renditions of the piano concerto with the most difficult cadenza. Some years later together with Berliner Philharmoniker under the baton of Paavo Järvi she played it even better...this one is by far the best rendition ever. ❤❤❤

[@falamimire]

I agree-I have all her renditions (at least I think so!🙃 The ones with Charles Dutoit are also good.SO is the Paavo rendition but the LA audio rendition is overwhelming-(a pity it is not with video).Each of these has a "best" part . This one shows the prchestral members-including the conductor- enjoying it-not merely playing their part. And what lovely dress.

[@michaelschefold3299]

@@falamimire The one with Dutoit she played at Verbier was very good...especially the camera-work during the insane difficult cadenza!

[@falamimire]

@@michaelschefold3299 Absolutely!

[@thepianocornertpc]

What is the score doing in/on the piano at 12:50? I wasn't there at the start of the 2nd.movement. Also the color grading of that particular moment is different from the rest of the video. Explain genius.

[@barryutub1]

@@thepianocornertpc There were three concerts during this set in Zürich. 10, 11, and 13 September 2014. One was obviously videoed and a second was probably covered with video cameras as backup. The video editor probably grabbed a wide shot from the backup video at that moment, and it looks like Yuja had a score on the piano during that concert. Note that in all wide shots without the score with the piano's single leg showing, there is an electrical cable behind the wheel. In the shot with the score on the piano, there is no wire behind the wheel. It was obviously a shot from a different concert from this set, or from a short pre-concert rehearsal.

[@tedtombling2770]

I was there! As always, a live performance of this quality is worth the money.

[@norwalltino]

From heaven down to the face of this planet into our hearts, such an art endeavor enhancing us back to heaven, perfect circle, the leading star: Yuja Wang💫💫💫

[@DIOULASSO]

What poetry!

[@lenamcginnis5168]

Yundi Li in Germany fantastic even better Please listen to it thanks

[@Kingsofoblivion]

Beautifully said.

[@naphtanaptha]

at a loss for words... pianist, conductor, orchestra - breathtaking altogether. one of the if not the best recordings ive heard

[@falkeprophet]

This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard

[@Felix-po1yy]

Should have made the room cooler, everyone on stage is sweating. Yuja gets completely drenched😅, towards the end you could see sweat constantly dripping off her chin and wet hair

[@denisjaricot762]

if there is one thing is the world you need to follow is YUJA

[@marcusanthonyPOV]

This is now the definitive version.

[@impromptube7111]

definitely the best interpretation of this concerto. THE BEST❤❤❤❤❤

[@walternicolich895]

My god, Yuja at her best. ……magnificent

[@walternicolich895]

I listened to this concert a number of times, and each time …….genius……but GENIUS, THANK YOU YUJA.

[@curtkuhns]

I am not trained in music, but I am an engineer. At times I could swear that her fingertips are breaking the sound barrier. -Curt Kuhns

[@MADHIKER777]

Magnificent Wang! Tell me that this woman is not an athlete! She has the body of a gymnast and the heart of an artist and combines those traits to perform keyboard gymnastics!

[@jibbig3137]

L'impression qu'elle dépasse la vitesse du son....j'en pleure

[@Usefulmusic]

I'm exhausted.

[@luismiguelfontes]

A truly piano workout! I loved it! Yuja is s genius ❤

[@ОльгаСобакина-с7ц]

She is the Best Pianist!!!! Perfect in the All)

[@johnfrobin]

Yuja Wang goes beast mode with the cadenza. It’s absolutely terrifying, exhilarating, and beautiful. Jaw-dropping. I wonder whether they needed to rebuild the piano after that. Of course, the rest of the performance was superb, too.

[@WillemFritz]

I don't think I've heard anything so mesmerising. Genius!

[@BritinIsrael]

That 1st. movt. cadenza! Yuja Wang is from another planet. Sheer technical brilliance. The whole concerto is Prokofiev after he's taken his insanity steroids. ( and i mean that in a positive way). What an absolutely amazing composition. Prokofiev has to be one of the all time greats of the 20th Century.

[@Desireyso58]

I Love YUJA WANG!!! Graceful, charm, sweet, funny, BEAUTIFUL, and So Talented Lady!!! The Stunning Cadenza it's performed just Flawless!!!

[@gerardbegni2806]

Absolutely outstanding rendering of this second concerto. It is quite difficult to find the right style, as here

[@matinsajad5449]

this is the first time i listened to prokofiev concerto my way of poor worthless naive composing will change after this i think (i wrote this because if some day i became someone who can compose something unworthless maybe ill see this comment again and remember the first time i heard prokofievs concerto)

[@creationfied]

13:40 they are having fun with it lol

[@aziragoramo]

WHERE DID HER PROKOFIEV 2 WITH BERLINER PHILHARMONIKER GO?????

[@johnnj3858]

A master piece, I'm far from an expert, this was mesmerizing.

[@j.p.bumstead1174]

This was my first time hearing/watching this concerto. What an astounding and demanding piece of work for anybody to play as a soloist, and with such a disciplined and willing orchestra. The conductor worked with great sensitivity, and Ms. Wang was stellar. It is also great fun to watch her face play the part as her fingers travel over the keys.

[@michaellaconte8338]

Awesome orchestra music and awesome pianist ❤

[@raggajagga8648]

Очень женственная интерпретация, на контрасте после Луганского особенно заметно. Мой любимый концерт у Сергея Сергеевича.

[@paulmoon3347]

That's a very bizarre comment

[@waynejohn8]

Totally, totally wonderful. Well done.

[@drsandor]

Yuja you are a fantastic talent.

[@Guiruci82]

With her decidedly quirky sense of humor, she'll appreciate your feedback. She will tell you: "I'm happy, thank you so much for your comment." 12:30

[@Alex-u2m7x]

Having studied pianists playing over 180 piano concertos I must say I am stunned and absolutely struck by the complexity and insane variety within this 32 minutes of otherworldly intensity and challenge. Both Sergei Prokofiev and Yuja Wang are at the top in their respective positions in the music world. If I was cast to a desert island I would only need this one recording to get me through ! !

[@antoniofurnari9558]

Un magnifique Prokofiev joué par la splendide pianiste Yuja Wang 👏👏👏👏.

[@ronl7131]

Inimitable YW. Precision, touch,& strength

[@daisverrisson7167]

This has to be my favorite interpretation of this extremely difficult concerto. Phenomenal technique and majestic virtuosity! Thank you so very much for this splendid performance.

[@50custodio]

Sempre magnífica sensibilidade e brilho espetacular. ❤

[@j.r.1210]

Of course the performance here is superb, remarkable. Yuja Wang is the master of this fiendish concerto, and the orchestra is wonderful as well. But the technical quality of this video also deserves mention. The sound is great, and the photography -- let's call it cinematography! -- is beautiful. No doubt Prokofiev is enjoying the show.

[@jormalaitala3740]

I feel that this amazing lady lives for music.

[@Doozy_Titter]

She must have had a teacher work with her on this. It's much better than all her previous performances of this concerto, wow

[@TitiLatulipe]

Trop bien ! Seconde moitié de la cadence | 08:55

[@markallen2536]

She literally becomes the music😮

[@nicolehourcade]

She is breathtaking 😮😮😮😮😮

[@iancarr962]

Incredible

[@notkenhung]

this was such an experience, thank you 😊

[@tigranbabasyan4045]

Diva, majestic, victorious! Divine gift to humanity.

[@walternicolich895]

POWERFUL AND BEAUTIFULLY PLAYED

[@loveispatient0808]

And beautifully dressed!🎉😊

[@ChalumeauLOL]

Beautiful performance! 😁

[@jaimebondoc5619]

Glorious

[@katsan88]

I need to see this exact concerto live before I die!

[@PhilippeColpaert]

Sa cadence est phénoménale, elle est la seule à donner le sentiment de panique que nécessite cette oeuvre, bravo Yuja ❤

[@karespratt5131]

Prokofiev suits Yuja well 🔥

[@JanSlack-y2x]

I'm 70 but I'm gonna dance this song

[@tonyventura4605]

Fantastic!

[@olyaddewo2379]

My favorite Russian piece ever

[@art7695]

Brava at max level. What to say more❤

[@mikesierra8156]

Quelle beauté!

[@riccardobattistini6926]

it's really hard for me to understand Prokofiev, there are some harmonies that do not resonate with me. if someone had something to say to introduce me to this composer it would be much appreciated

[@AinSoph73]

My pleasure - I think I should say first that much of the genius of Prokofiev is in those harmonies that don't resonate with us. They never seem to fully resonate no matter how much we listen but they give the music an edge that can be more satisfying than less dissonant music. I've generally found the following movements and pieces to be accessible for new listeners; the recordings on youtube are top quality: 1. Scherzo from Piano Sonata #2 (Gary Graffman) 2. Symphony #1 (Claudio Abbado) 3. Third movement of Piano Sonata #4 (Nikolai Lugansky) 4. Piano Concerto #1 (Yuja Wang) 5. Third movement of Piano Sonata #7 (Yuja Wang) 6. Piano Sonata #3 (Martha Argerich) 7. Violin Concerto #2 (Janine Jansen) Hope you enjoy...Prokofiev rocks

[@riccardobattistini6926]

@@AinSoph73 thanks a lot, I really appreciate your advice

[@maaikedam4909]

To add onto @AinSoph73, Prokofiev’s ballets are what really got me into his music, and in my opinion are a lot less dissonant but still have the Prokofiev vibe that makes all of his music special to me. Romeo and Juliet and Cinderella are the most famous probably and my favorite.

[@riccardobattistini6926]

​@@AinSoph73thanks to you and @maaikedam4909 I'm starting to slowly appreciate his works, especially this concerto to which I'm particularly paying attention. for now, I'm still not as fond of this as I am to my beloved Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Beethoven and many others, but I think it will take some time. I'll also try to play some of his music, as a classical pianist

[@AinSoph73]

@@riccardobattistini6926 you made my day

[@jorgegalvez9025]

Yuja, eres simplemente un portento musical, de una calidad interpretativa excelsa, combinas una técnica perfecta con una intuición musical que te acerca magistralmente a la intención y el discurso musical del autor de este concierto maravilloso!

[@ВиталийРаздоров]

Да, техника, конечно потрясающая, из ряда вон выходящая, наконец этот концерт достойно исполнен во всём блеске. Но как была сыграна самая первая тема! Вот где гений этой пианистки. Действительно, и поразительный пианизм но и духовная зрелость и попадание в точку.

[@acevaptsarov8410]

So so so many chills... What a piece... And what a performance. Jaw dropping and also so emotional too! Height of music right here!

[@docbailey3265]

Dreamlike and desultory, enigmatic and enervating, something for everyone.

[@pasqualetamburrelli5237]

date un Oscar a questa ragazza!

[@ioannisraissis7394]

T-H-E PIANO QUEEN 🎹👑🥇🏆❤️💯 Y-U-J-A W-A-N-G AND T-H-E " GODDESS HANDS " OF Y-U-J-A W-A-N-G...🎹👑🥇🏆❤️💯 MAXIMUM RESPECT... MAXIMUM HIGH ARTISTIC TECHNIQUE PLAYING STYLE MAXIMUM SUPER ACCURATE MAX+SPEED...AND.. MAXIMUM R-E-A-L-L-Y, ORIGINAL, PURE , HARMONIOUS + SWEET M-E-L-O-D-Y THERE IS NO EQUAL.... NO ONE LIKE YOU...🎹👑💯❤️🥇🏆✌️🙏🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@juliahegyi6272]

Wow😮❤

[@gunwookim4047]

This is so good

[@湯本康二-n1w]

エレガント、以上。

[@raymondtakacs1325]

I always said what Prokofiev’s piano concerto no.2 really needs is to be played in 100 degree heat.

[@federicofielitz7673]

Yuja Wang para mi la mejor pianista del mundo sin dudas. UNICA.

[@borisbrinkmann]

Da sind ja wieder schon die ersten 2 Holzbläsertöne nicht zusammen - kein Wunder bei dem Nicht-Auftakt. Warum nicht mal mit einem vernünftigen Dirigenten?

[@Usefulmusic]

[Google translation] The first 2 woodwind notes aren't together again - no wonder given the non-upbeat. Why not with a sensible conductor?

[@m.moonsie]

Literally getting goosebumps during the cadenza up to when the orchestra joins again.

[@Obuchnyichelovechek]

Пиздец 👏👏

[@NoferTrunions]

Is it me, but does anyone hear fragments of No. 3 throughout? In many cases just 2 notes in the same context? No. 3 is just so iconic with it's sounds and themes.

[@paulmoon3347]

The melody of the 4th movement is so desolate and empty. I'm crying now

[@geofffreeburn868]

Juja is pure genius

[@NoferTrunions]

Her ability to memorize itself is a marvel. Read somewhere she maintains 10 (or 20?) memorized concertos at any given time.

[@MontyGumby]

this was long time ago

[@Beaneumann]

do you know when this is from?

[@mandyheart8754]

@@BeaneumannI believe 9/11/04

[@JA-zs7fw]

@@mandyheart8754 summer of 2014

[@mijoree]

Aufgenommen am 11. September 2014 in der Tonhalle von Zürich (und nicht in Wien wie fälschlischerweise angegeben!).

[@MontyGumby]

@@mijoree danke