Tracking Yuja Wang’s Heartbeats During Her Rachmaninoff Marathon | Carnegie Hall

On January 28, 2023, pianist Yuja Wang joined The Philadelphia Orchestra and conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin at Carnegie Hall for a once-in-a-lifetime, all-Rachmaninoff marathon that featured the composer’s four piano concertos plus his “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.” Throughout the performance, Wang-along with Nézet-Séguin, members of the orchestra, and concertgoers in attendance-wore devices to track their heartbeats.
Unprecedented and insanely demanding, Wang made history. These five pieces include two-and-a-half hours of music, 621 pages of score, and more than 97,000 piano notes.
To this day, Rachmaninoff’s virtuosic compositions captivate like few others, and these world-class artists ensured that the music was as heartily felt as it was technically astounding. Together, they answered a singular question: What happens when Rachmaninoff's music touches your heart?
00:00 - Introduction
01:07 - History of Sergei Rachmaninoff at Carnegie Hall
01:28 - Yuja Wang on Rachmaninoff
02:45 - Analysis of the performance data
08:32 - Yuja Wang's heartbeat before and after
08:55 - Yannick Nézet-Séguin's heartbeat data
10:03 - Synchronicity in Yuja Wang and Yannick Nézet-Séguin's heartbeat
11:37 - Case Studies
12:54 - Final Conclusions
Editor’s Note: This performance marked the first time in Carnegie Hall history that Rachmaninoff’s four piano concertos plus his “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini” were performed on a single program. It was not the first time in history this has ever been done.
Carnegie Hall’s mission is to present extraordinary music and musicians on the three stages of this legendary hall, to bring the transformative power of music to the widest possible audience, to provide visionary education programs, and to foster the future of music through the cultivation of new works, artists, and audiences.
Learn more at carnegiehall.org.
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[@PiergiorgioWilson]

The greatest four hours and ten minutes of my life were spent in Carnegie Hall that day.

[@user-yj1jt8bw6s]

I can’t even imagine!

[@HappyGoLuckyPanda]

Jealous!

[@carnegiehall]

We're so honored 🥰

[@erickfreitas6577]

@Alias4-mr3ysidiot…

[@leonardfischbach9217]

you should get out more often.

[@sudharmansitaraman8377]

But wait, the audience just hit the jackpot here. Listening to Yuja play anything is a privilege, but all 4 Rach concertos plus Rhapsody on a Theme or Paganini? That is just insane. Add Philadelphia Symphony to that, too. Absolutely mind blowing stuff.

[@MozartEstLa]

I listened to her Rach 1 and 2 on separate occasions. Hopefully I'll see her 3 and 4 someday, the 4th concerto being my favorite. It is wonderful to see her play, even the orchestra is visibly glad to play with her

[@josswindsor8288]

Respeto tu postura que el concierto 4 en sol m es tu favorito de hecho durante muchos años disfruté de ese tormentoso y agitado concierto una fabulosa versión del genialísimo pianista italiano Michelangelo Benedetti PERO en la misma grabación en el catálogo explica la olvidada obra y sus circunstancias decía que este concierto supone un retroceso en la carrera del compositor ruso o sea que es la oveja negra respecto a sus 3 hermanos restantes. A mí no me desagrada pero tengo muy claro que no tiene la riqueza melódica ni la complejidad de cualquiera de los 3 restantes El orden de prelación de los 4 conciertos es más que EVIDENTE y los he escuchado más veces que las 9 sinfonías Beethovenianas y es este: Concierto num 2 en Do menor op.18 Concierto num 3 en Re menor op.30 Concierto num 1 en Fa#menor op.1 Concierto num 4 en Sol menor op.40

[@MozartEstLa]

@@josswindsor8288 completamente subjetivo. Nada en el mundo de la música es evidente

[@josswindsor8288]

Hay ciertas Realidades como por ejemplo que la 9a o 7a sinfonías de Beethoven son más grandes que la 2 y 4 de Brahms por ej

[@josswindsor8288]

Es como decir por qué hay colonias mucho más caras que otras pero siempre dentro de los gustos claro o personas más guapas que otras que de hecho ganan mucho más dinero triunfan en sus relaciones sociales el cine ka moda la TV etc mientras que las que no son tan guapas viven con mucha modestia y sin triunfar plenamente por decir algún ejemplo

[@Apex_Piano]

“I could sleep playing Rach 3” -Yuja Wang 2024

[@federicogermani1088]

​@@leonardfischbach9217 hater :P

[@dark6.63E-34]

@federicogermani1088 I find this hate she gets really eerie. I'm 100% sure it's rooted in sexism in sad boomers.

[@leonardfischbach9217]

@@federicogermani1088 Yes indeed, I do hate the glorification of the ABSENCE of talent, even when it dresses like a streetwalking toothpick.

[@Vlek]

@@leonardfischbach9217 well ya sure proofed the sexism point huh

[@leonardfischbach9217]

@@dark6.63E-34The greatest pianist of all time in my estimation is Martha Argerich. You should go over and introduce yourself to her artistic mastery. YW should not even be allowed to turn pages for Argerich; so lacking in talent as she is.

[@GSHAPIROY]

Is it a coincidence this video was put out on Rachmaninoff's birthday?

[@isaiahtricemusic]

No

[@carnegiehall]

😉

[@MurderBong]

@@carnegiehall😂

[@rawleywilson4752]

Very difficult to put into words just how insane it is to do something like this. Yuja is so amazing

[@carnegiehall]

Agreed🤩

[@leonardfischbach9217]

Not.

[@ZozoOriginal]

She sure is inspiring others! Like myself.

[@SoftKitty0930]

Fun fact, a marathon burns around 2600 Calories on average, with pro atheletes being more efficient and burning less energy. So Yujia quite literally did a marathon in the Carnegie Hall. Congrats, you are so amazing!

[@maskaraid4763]

How many laps of the Carnegie Hall is that?

[@obedmaldonado6303]

No matter how difficult and emotional the section is, the orchestra always manage to be dead calm.

[@danieh65]

Lmao that’s because they’re all on beta blockers.

[@katherinepettus5132]

Any music teacher worth anything teaches you to pay attention to the sound/color/etc., not the feelings.

[@Shiryuu4]

As a musician, I believe this might be because playing in an orchestra is simply very relaxing. Obviously, being a soloist is always fun and great, but it tends to be a very different experience. There's just something so cozy and fulfilling about being one nearly indistinguishable cog of a greater machine that makes some fantastic music happen for an hour or two. It really feels like the responsibility is carried by everyone at once rather than individually.

[@LangKuoch]

Okay, this is an incredible set of data and whoever’s idea this was needs to win some sort of award. Kudos to everyone who worked on this video!

[@katrinat.3032]

I’d like to see how much our heart rates sync up ie. Does the audience’, the orchestra members, Yannick’s and Ms Wang’s

[@denizerkan4711]

Agreed!

[@speedyx3493]

I'm like 10 minutes into the video and I've only just realized that this is an official Carnegie Hall channel. It feels almost strange to watch a classical music video from a channel of a big, prestigious venue that's as well done as this one. Most are just an older gentleman talking for 40 minutes straight but this one looks like something a normal KZbinr would do. I'm absolutely loving the fact that there are people in the classical music industry who understand how marketing works and who are trying to make it more mainstream and appealing to a larger audience.

[@lorenzo7642]

I did my thesis on this field. Physiological synchrony, the rate in which physiological data (HR in this case) changes at the same time, can tell us about engagement and enjoyment. Rach 3 cadenza at 12:16 shows such instance. You can see this as an objective proof that people really enjoyed it. Taking a quick glances at the graph at 3:23 I'd also say that the performance was amazing: Synchrony between performers can also be indicative of the quality of the performance. But this is hardly a surprise, we have masters at work.... It will be an interesting paper to read about if they decide to publish a study on this.

[@rotsu2108]

that sounds so cool!!

[@nmrenyi]

I love Yuja, not only for her music, but also for her personality, so sincere and charming!

[@antoinepetrov]

And, let me guess, for her dresses.

[@nmrenyi]

@@antoinepetrov Haha her dress is also charming, but that’s not the point

[@funnyuser2796]

Don't forget about her bows 😂

[@nmrenyi]

@@funnyuser2796 Absolutely hahaha!

[@Starcraftghost]

Yuja is a beast! She’s an athlete when she plays. Her outfits made sense because she needs to move, not too encumbered with fabric, and allow her skin to breathe… like athletes. You can tell that she’s so comfortable and enjoys the music.

[@farid7000]

This is such a great video and of course a historical moment in the history of music! Thank you everyone who played their part in this incredible experiment. Yuja, you are a diamond ❤ I had a chance to sing with a choir at Carnegie a few years ago. Performing on the same stage that had hosted Rachmaninov and many other wonderful musicians made me feel extremely lucky and honored. Thank you Carnegie Hall!

[@medicitv]

Our heartbeats throughout the video: ❤📈📈📈📈

[@mcprevec]

Please please let this video be a sign that you will release a dvd with her playing this marathon.... pretty please.

[@TucsonBillD]

It’s already out on her label (DG).

[@mcprevec]

@@TucsonBillD oh thank you! Must have missed it... is true I haven't checked DG for some time... thanks

[@johntoshirorainford1726]

@@TucsonBillDonly the cd I have never seen the a dvd release of this performance?

[@DBruce]

Great work @carnegiehall -fantastic to see a Classical Music institution making a youtube video that's innovative & fascinating (and also, most surprisingly, not at all cringe!) - actually makes you feel better and more excited about the music rather than embarrassed. 💯

[@gerontius3]

I don't think this tells us much. I was at the concert and it was absolutely stupendous, Yuja was magnificent and YNS got a superb Ormandy-like sound from the orchestra - just GORGEOUS. What happened during the Rach 2 early on was a guy collapsed, the concert was halted for a half hour while he was taken to Columbia for heart work. I was happy to hear before the Rach 3 that he was OK. But I think THAT'S why Yuja's heart rate increased after the early part of Rach 2. It was a very unnerving occurrence and it must've been scary. The show went on. But at a higher heart rate. Of course YNS heart rate correlates with physical exertion - no surprise - and he is the antithesis of Reiner (I bet his heart rate barely moved when he conducted!). No surprise either that heart rate goes up with volume which is usually related to emotional climax - certainly in Rachmaninoff. Take the end of the Poem of Ecstasy - of course your heart is racing. Maybe it is news to people that listening as well as performing is a physical act - at least for those who really are listening as opposed to just hearing................

[@AdrianTangMusic]

Interesting insight!!

[@ianmac2963]

Thanks for this info ... most pertinent

[@explosions484]

As both a pianist and an engineer, this is such a cool idea. And just from personal experience, I would guess that with passages like the black page, Yuja knew it was a 'difficult' spot so she practiced it so often and well that she could quite literally do it in her sleep. Whereas less often performed, or more melodic passages will always require more emotion and thought, and thus higher heartrate. And now excuse me while I go try to find a recording of this concert because both Rachmoninoff and Yuja are incredible, but especially together.

[@Pearlylove]

This was really interesting for me a a nurse! Also for me as a patient, who had very unstable blood pressure, vasculitis and Borrelia in the nervous system - I could not listen to happy or sad, only calm tones - any emotion turned up my blood pressure and intensity of symptoms - in this video I was shown this principle in a very concrete way, it was very special.

[@MiScusi69]

One of the best pianists who's ever lived!

[@lopezlopez7132]

Who Rachmaninoff or Yuja?

[@MiScusi69]

@@lopezlopez7132 both

[@ghamoz]

Il migliore pianista in assoluto di sempre, bisognerebbe clonarla

[@Fomites]

​@@ghamozYeah, make lots of copies and I'll take one home 😎💕

[@lopezlopez7132]

@@MiScusi69 agreed

[@UchihaNoMadara]

5:02: Not 233% higher than her resting heart rate, but 233% of her resting heartrate.

[@jaimeochoa7256]

She is a phenomenon! A gift to the Classical music world...❤

[@5kyfall2017]

Very cool analysis. Need more technology combined with music

[@raymondtakacs1325]

For Our the Love of Music, our hearts cannot lie. Classical music is my favorite music because those unplugged instruments were designed to touch us deep inside like no giant concert speaker ever could. String instruments go right to my core. Century old instruments and the songs designed around them will never go out of style as long as we have beating hearts. ❤

[@Chopin-Etudes-Cosplay]

13:55 Nahre Sol 🙌🏻

[@kimchin9740]

woah!! i wonder why she's there

[@MiScusi69]

Very cool!

[@antoinepetrov]

She's cool, but why is she on there?

[@MiScusi69]

@@antoinepetrov Exactly what I was thinking

[@stevenho660]

@@kimchin9740I bet it’s the graphics. The visuals in her book are imho very good. They get the point across quickly.

[@yuriluciano806]

awsome video!!!!

[@rowanus7159]

What an amazing video!! Thank you for posting

[@LAURHofficial]

Beautiful video all the way around.. thank you so much 🥹❤

[@cindylynch4502]

Fabulous!

[@nogoogleplus]

This is so cool, awesome job on the video and experiment!🙏

[@shumiatcher]

It was extraordinary- merci !

[@fricek]

This is awesome!! Thank you Yuja!

[@texanfrog1750]

great vid!

[@lindacox3062]

Yuja your playing always makes me so happy and humbled to hear you and your talent.

[@icesusie]

Vert interesting analysis! I really enjoyed this video. Thanks! 🙂

[@sfuta2005]

This was soooo cool. Thank you for this.

[@pascalpoussin1209]

BRAVO !!!

[@clarencechanxy]

Brilliant insightful video! More…

[@armleth9015]

Wow, thanks for the video, very interesting! we need more content like that!

[@davidcottrell1308]

She is truly amazing!

[@_soulflower]

This is so cool too see! She’s so skilled playing such physically demanding concertos all at once!

[@shishudesu]

Fascinating! Seeing those heartbeat measurements move together in sync at the end made me tear up. Amazing work.

[@georgehahn2979]

A totally monumental exhibit of virtuosity. BRAVO!

[@davidcooke]

Absolutely fascinating!

[@paulescudero9973]

Absolutely fabulous!

[@rgarlinyc]

Absolutely astonishing (Yuja Wang) and very enlightening (her heartbeat tracking)! Thank you immensely Carnegie Hall!

[@xiaosquared]

Such a cool experiment on such a monumental legendary performance ❤

[@Nokyai]

Yuja was absolutely incredible! It was unimaginable for any pianists would attempt or commit to do what she already did in 1 go! 🤯 Her extraordinary talents, artistry, and energy were exceptional. It was so cool to see the heatbeat data behind her and Yannick's performance too. That was such an eye opening and interesting analysis. I would love to see more study like this in the future. Thank you, @carnegiehall, so much for your great work!

[@marcychristoff219]

Phenomenal idea!!👏🎶

[@aziragoramo]

this is a great content\!!!!!!

[@fluffernutter9420]

This is so cool. Totally blow away

[@johnchessant3012]

So cool!

[@mehmedcanozkan3268]

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH! ALSO HER PERSONALITY OMG

[@thewitt55]

Fascinating!!!!!

[@baroun]

Absolutely Beautiful

[@saraixchicken]

I love Yuja, she’s so down to earth.

[@ginevracostantininegri4853]

This is so beautiful and interesting! I would have loved for you to explore more data from the audience, in order to better understand how different is the perception of the performer and of the public. Thank you for your work and the amazing video!

[@amaurylopez5558]

She is very unique,outstanding and deserving of all praise,compliments and respect of the best pianists of our time 👍👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🎼🎶🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🤩💫

[@stefaniatoczyskamusic]

I love this!!!

[@maryannarep]

I love variations on Pagani...thanks Yuja!!

[@robertjason6885]

Wonderful vid. Thanks much to all involved.

[@theorangebaron1595]

wow, love the data analysis

[@TimAnders44]

Wait? She played all four Rachmaninoff Piano Concerti plus Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini in one sitting? How is this even humanly possible? 😭

[@feyzaflute]

Such an amazing musician!❤

[@guillemcoll3374]

One of the best videos ive ever seen. AMAZING 👏🏻👏🏻

[@evifnoskcaj]

Very cool!

[@kobusdutoitbosman6240]

…this is an incredibly brilliant excercise in research and comparative analysis…You Guyz did really well I think both the pianist ánd conductor were astounded and pleasantly intrigued, perhaps móre than surprized, by the findings and behavioural patterns indicated and/or coming forth either instinctively or cognitively… Absolutely amazing trip into the vast unknowns…(the brilliance of genial talent all integrated and challenged to the full to ‘nail it’ ‼️) For which you should be sincerely and admiringly applauded ~ ongoingly WELL DONE ‼️🥂✨💫🌟 🪖

[@allisoncheng9693]

I think I would sell my soul to see this performance. Yuja Wang was incredible live at the Kennedy -- I cannot imagine how beautiful it would be to hear her play Rach...

[@papisht3107]

This is so cool

[@sneaklyfox]

this is so cool

[@aziragoramo]

OMG i didn't know they were going to do this!!!

[@gerhardmuller1196]

This is incredible!!!!!! Will the recording of this performance ever be released?

[@Eyiba07]

JUST WOW!!!😊

[@adamfstewart81]

Saw her in San Francisco - what a treat! Once in a generation talent!

[@archinsoni1254]

I love Yuja Wang.

[@James_Baggott]

Incredible experiment! Rachmaninov has always been my favorite composer and Yuja, of course, my favorite pianist (let's be honest...person). I couldn't make it but ironically was in New York that week and there definitely was a certain energy encapsulating Carnegie. What a mic drop on the realm of music - rather, she could have picked the Steinway up and dropped it after, had she wanted. As a pianist, yes, always wear a tracker upside down 😉 💐

[@TimelyTimeSeries]

As someone who is a classical music and data science enthusiast, this is legit cool! I hope we have more researches like this on other pianists.

[@dep7311]

April 1 is Rach's Birthday😮. It is April 2 now here. I should have listened to the 4 concertos and rhapsody yesterday😭. Damn, wish I was able to witness her. I even saw a short released the day after showing each bow wearing different dresses. Happy Birthday, Rachmaninoff. Your concertoes were my light🙂.

[@Luke.J.Schneider]

She's AMAZING !! 🎹🎶🎵

[@mathieuberquet3988]

I’ve heard Trifonov and Nézet Saguin last fall in Paris Philharmony, with the Philadelphia orchestra, in Rach 4 and symphonia 2. It was the best musical experience in my entire life ! Yannick is an exceptional talent, the sound he managed to obtain with his amazing musicians is impossible to put in words. Rachmaninov would be so proud and in awe to listen to them. And Trifonov, well…he is one of the best pianist of all time. I can remember having heard those 5 works in two evening at the « Festival de la Roque d’Anthéron » but by different pianists (Lugansky, Hamelin and Guy). Hamelin played the Rhapsodie and then Rach 3, everybody was very impressed at that time. And then, Wang plays all 5 in a row… She has superhuman abilities and stamina. But musically, I prefer by far Russian pianist in Russian music.

[@amirhamra]

Beautiful ! many-classical musicians underrate him , they feel important to criticize . the noble heart is what counts as fantastic Yuja said . Most of Rachmaninov compositions are delicious and deep emotional and that is unique .

[@kieuwong3940]

What a great experiment! If you add in respiratory and EEG for cross correlations, you will see even more emotional responses across the board, and the impact it does for everyone there! She’s one of the greatest pianists alive! Thank you for sharing!

[@UniqueTrash]

WOW

[@tommeier1888]

Good video

[@callumkenmuir2825]

Very interesting study. It all demonstrates what a deeply emotional person Rachmaninoff was, despite his somewhat austere demeanour. Wonderful music, wonderful pianist and orchestra.

[@hanzhang99]

I'm honored to be there to witness history. It was the greatest time spent. I was wondering what Yujia's heart rate was when the incident happened in the audience which caused disruption of the concert, and while she was waiting to restart the 3rd mvmt of Rach 2. Curious if she was a bit nervous or very calm (NOT bothered by the incident in the audience at all) After all, she picked up where she left off and finished Rach 2 seamlessly with the orchestra.

[@Chris-lt7ry]

Didn’t someone literally have a heart attack ? Complete speculation but I wonder if the increase in heart rate from the music is what did it..

[@srmutnuri]

I always wonder what goes on in a musicians mind when performing, and this is a really cool insight! Hope it's done for more composers' works!

[@lopezlopez7132]

Heart beat this, heart beat that... ye, very interesting, really, but the fact that she played those 5 pieces in one concert is another proof that this woman is not from this planet! She is a gift from God!

[@paulkoza8652]

Yuja and Rach were made in heaven.

[@CanadianDivergent]

this is similar to a race car drivers heartbeats. pretty incredible! mine would be 175 bpm from stage fright alone. Lol so if you wanna stay fit play piano at Carnegie hall.

[@GingerJar]

Amazing Yuja & fascinating study. Dispels what we might assume, too. Next attach to the brain for synapses😃 or mri?

[@mrscaterpillarlegs]

Yuja Wang, u will always be famous

[@Cardstacker]

I tried to get tickets to this for months but it was sold out. I hope she does it again at an even larger, more central location in the US.

[@jgerona5]

Regarding premiering all four concerti in a single event, I'd like to note that back in 2019 here in the Philippines, a pianist by the name of Raul Sunico also performed all 4 Rachmaninoff piano concerti. I think it's the first ever documented feat in history. (minus the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini)

[@bsmusicd]

What's missing from this video is that an audience member had a health crisis early on requiring defibrillation. If I had been performing that would've caused my heart rate to spike through the roof! Yuja appeared completely unphased. A once in a generation talent!

[@marugo117]

Wow! This is a great idea 🤩 Very cool and interesting . Is anyone going to submit these results to any journal?

[@jason101other]

There's something very intriguing about Yuja's personality that she keeps me riveted just listening to anything she says

[@nvda2damoon]

Yuja = the GOAT, no doubt.

[@nityaputrini]

wow

[@ienergyeurope]

When Yuja going in the concert hall the audience heart ❤️ beat is on 200! Best in the 🌎

[@olynneshine7014]

interesting❤❤