Yuja Wang Liszt Sonata B minor

[@tostentwo]

I am teaching in China and out of the apartments in the evening you hear kids playing the piano everywhere. I teach a couple of 8 year old girls on the weekends. They started singing notes together one day. I asked what it was and the chanted Rachmaninoff like it was the latest rapper. This isn't unusual here. I played a video of Yuja Wang to a class of 8th graders and you could have heard a pin drop. Never criticize places you haven't been to. There are always surprises. And for heaven sake, don't make a contest out of everything. Learn to just enjoy the good in what you've been blessed to experience. That is enough.

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

Like chess in Russia?

[@Anonkontello]

You don’t have to be a chef to know food tastes like crap. (Although I actually did like this performance).

[@franksmith541]

I have over 150 CD's of classical solo piano music and piano concertos, and only one by an Asian pianist - Yundi Li. The best pianists will always be the non-Asians, like Hamelin, Matsuev, Bronfman, Grosvenor, Delucchi, Grante, Pollini, Berezovsky, Maltempo, the late Kocsis, Ullen, Kimura Parker, Watts, Sokolov, Lisiecki, Trifonov etc...As can be seen from my list, the best are predominantly male. Asian pianists mainly play with no passion for, or understanding of the music - with a few exceptions, like Yundi Li. They are player-bots who practice ten hours a day, and Yuja Wang is no exception. She is nothing more than a machine in skimpy clothes.

[@timothybolshaw]

@@franksmith541 You may have a lot of recordings but, if you believe Yuja is just a robotic pianist, you have absolutely no musical appreciation. Yuja is invited back time and again by the top orchestras like the Berlin Philharmonic because they know outstanding musicians when they hear them. Yuja is not all about technique. Indeed, outside of some of her encores, she eschews superfluous virtuosity. What is important is understanding the composition and being able to produce a compelling interpretation of it (as Yuja does here). One of the all time great conductors was Claudio Abbado. Friends persuaded him to listen reluctantly to Yuja once at an impromptu music gathering, and he invited her on the spot to open the Lucerne Festival with him. (She was quite a bit younger than in this performance, about 21 I think.) Abbado had great respect for Yuja's musical instincts, and pushed her to take the lead in the interpretations of the pieces they performed together. The results were memorable. If you want to learn, watch and listen to kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2W3qoRvbK-WqJI and observe how Abbado gets the very best out of the young Yuja and the orchestra. Abbado was a genius in his way, as Yuja is in hers. [You are correct, though, that Yundi Li is a fine pianist.]

[@Anonkontello]

@@franksmith541 Ah yes, racism.

[@ytubejat]

Words really are insufficient to say how great this performance is. Suffice it to say her first appearances at Verbier blew the roof off the place and generated a torrent of applause from audiences, critics, and fellow artists alike. We are so lucky to have this incredible talent playing for us today.

[@Blueboyo1]

With regard to music critics, I once heard a wise man say that writing about music is like dancing about architecture. As the years have passed that has seemed more and apposite - never more so than when reading through some of the inane internet coments and criticism about Miss Wang.

[@syourke3]

I saw her perform the Rach 3 last year in New Zealand and she was fantastic. Just brought down the house. She’s a treasure.

[@comment6864]

@@Blueboyo1 Excuse me.. who is she performing for if not an audience?? And you are saying that audience is not allowed to criticize or express their displeasure, or preference for another?? This makes no logical sense at all.

[@thesupermegagood]

@@Blueboyo1 You are listening to idiots, not sages. Language (words) is a means of communication and a way to transmit thoughts. Of course, if there are no thoughts, then you can dance (about architecture).

[@jean-pierrehedouin4774]

@@thesupermegagood on parle d'un genie pas de langage

[@bettechamberlin4160]

She exudes the passion of Liszt's Sonata in B minor through her whole body. Her face remains calm. Incredible artist.

[@pauliberg3492]

Younger or older..Yuja Wang is a super pianist.Talent beyond words.She MAKES MUSIC.SHE IS MUSIC..MUSIC LIVES THROUGH HER FINGERS.BRAVO.

[@comment6864]

Just a lot of very fast bing bing bing, i don't know about music

[@TomCloyd]

@@comment6864 I would agree: You don't know about music. Pathetic, actually, your comments. Her sensitivity in the slow and quite passages is what seals the deal for me. That is real musicality.

[@pablopicca553]

Brava!

[@mikedaniels3009]

The day Yuja decides she wants to wean herself off sheet music and wants to learn smthg new from eg Stephanie Trick and friends, the day she learns to play ad lib & BY EAR jazz, pop, boogie, stride...anything, THAT day she will become music. Until then she'll remain a virtuoso performer, aka a sheet music robot dependent on sheet music. No hard feelings. That's the way the cookie crumbles.

[@borisjaulmes5773]

@@mikedaniels3009 This is the proof that you don't really understand Romantic music. No hard feelings either. I totally understand what you say about her, and the famous cliché of "the sheet music robot" playing classical music, though. 2 things about that : 1) There is a fact you seem to ignore: You simply CANNOT play a work like Liszt's Sonata with no feelings. Err, let me correct: You could, but you will never hear so in a concert room. There are PLENTY of feelings and sensitivity in this interpretation, even if I see what you say, some parts are uselessly fast (like the coda), and some other uselessly slow, but I can't, and YOU can't either, deny the feelings in this. 2) The day when she will play Jazz, Pop, Boogie, and all that stuff, may never come. And there are PLENTY of good reasons for this, excluding she being a feelingless robot: for instance, maybe she's just not into this. Like me, maybe she's a huge fan of Romantic (Chopin, Rachmaninov) AND heavy Metal :) But no jazz of any kind. So, to sum up, your comments and feelings are personal and respectable. But don't say she's not making Music. 'Cause it's factually false.

[@fredrickroll06]

I had always thought that Liszt composed only to show off his virtuosity - until I heard Michele Campanella play this work in Locarno many years ago! He led me to the realization that the B Minor Sonata is a very profound work of philosophy in music! This is exactly what wonderful Yuja Wang demonstrates!

[@jean-loupcourtier8109]

A great version of the Liszt sonata. She is one of the greatest pianist of all time..Youth, energic musicologic..

[@lemu7738]

je l écoute sans arrèt! trop impressionnante!

[@esejsnake1503]

@@lemu7738 Do you know the Alfred Cortot version?

[@agustinsiebert4948]

@@esejsnake1503 and the kristian zimmerman version

[@billjurgenson6267]

I agree completely with you on all counts

[@IgnatzKolisch]

I only know her from KZbin, but I think I'm won over. I'm a fan, big time. Not just from this video, but from other videos I've seen in the last few months. She's the real deal. All-time great material, in my very humble opinion. She's in studio-Zimerman-greatness territory in this LIVE - LIVE!!!! - performance. Unbelievable.

[@timjennison5135]

This made me cry in so many places. Such sensitivity. So moving. Brava Maestra Yuja. Thank you for uploading

[@freeqwerqwer]

It's 6:30am in the morning on 1-31-15 and my eyes are heavy and about to drop asleep and I decided to give Ms.YW a little hearing on Liszt famous B minor sonata before I crash but she woke me up with astonishment. To my great surprise she'd given new meaning to this piece, as if this were a new classical piece. Her rendition is original, unlike the hackneyed playing from other circuit pianists. Her sense of space is formidable. I was so used to the highly emotional, macabre, and pensive interpretation by Horowitz which, to me, is a gem with its great story telling .... but the dexterity, clarity, nimbleness, and splendid colors from this young pianist is unparalleled. She is in a class by herself. What sublime talent. Horowitz has an idiosyncratic spin but that is expected of an octogenarian. This young gal hasn't beared a lifetime of travails. She is still in her optimistic years, not her cynical years yet. A true talent discovery!

[@xcandomath897]

SURE ! Yaja gives NEW LIFE to Liszt , at least other 50 years of longevity . I LOVE YAJA :D

[@capblood3046]

***** Your critiques bullshit? Indeed... Self realization is the beginning of mental healing for you maybe....;_

[@eastcastleg9799]

xcando math it is yUja

[@xcandomath897]

eastcastle g have thought about it 5 months , yes I'm sure this is a MASTERPIECE , I mean the whole stuff , YAJA included :D :D

[@dr.johnbrunn1550]

I have to agree - I had never heard her play this before either, but had to hear it all the way through once it started. Few performances of this piece flow as seamlessly as this one.

[@albertpeckham8708]

The passion that is evident in this interpretation is astounding. It is over the top and most exciting. Thank you.

[@jorgelaguerenne]

Yuja Wang is a masterful interpretation of Liszt. I congratulate widely. Arguably he is playing Liszt who, out float your temper ... Bravo! Bravo!

[@polskapianist]

this is one of the most romantic and profoud pieces of music i have ever heard.To me when he wrote it he was deeply in loved with a women and her with him. I know thathe was married ,and i do not know wheather he wrote it to his wife or someone else.Yuja brings it all out in the open and this is a fabulous and poetic and profound interpretation of this piece..Yuja you are one of my favourite pianists of our time.Thank you.

[@charliekim2939]

I wonder if anybody can top this performance. Not even Yuja herself today. Hauntingly beautiful (and breathtaking) playing. Her look is haunting, too.

[@palpalonpalpalon]

zimerman.

[@tibele1000]

My imagination went soaring. That's all I could ask of any composer or performer. My deep gratitude to both in this video.

[@andresgunther]

For me this is the best interpretation since Martha Argerich's monumental studio performance for DG in 1971. What makes the whole thing almost spooky is that when Martha Argerich made her recording she was 29 - 30 years old... and Yuja is 19 or 20 here. Both interpretations are very different, though. Where Martha Argerich puts fire, energy, and a dazzling speed, Yuja Wang puts her hallmark elegance (although paired with great energy) and an insight that goes well beyond her age. The term "Sonata" is a misnomer. This work is rater a "Symphonic Fantasie" for piano, the style is very free and leaves a wide field open to interpretation by pianists, as was intended by the composer. (BTW: Liszt wrote a similar work for organ "Fantasia and Fugue on the chorale 'Ad nos, ad salutarem undam'" in his later years).

[@music-lover8915]

Can't agree with more. You mentioned two greatest female pianists of different generation who is an alive concert pianist master now.

[@epicaunleashed8764]

If this and argerich were, for you, "The Greatest Interpretations" then you simply have bad taste. Zimerman and Horowitz are just so,so,so,so,so,so fucking far ahead that it's not even funny.

[@ack7956]

​@@epicaunleashed8764 I was unimpressed with Zimerman. He did some things which I preferred to Yuja's performance, but Yuja's performance is far more enjoyable to listen to as a whole. Horowitz was also good, but my favorite that I've listened to has been Yuja's recording here.

[@epicaunleashed8764]

@@ack7956 I think you're trying to prove some point. Either to me or to yourself, bc Wang makes a tremendous amount of mistakes, and a lot of her performance in non-uniform and sloppy.

[@ack7956]

​@@epicaunleashed8764 I don't think the (very few) mistakes detract from the musical quality in any way. In fact, I think the colorful dissonances add some spice and realism to the performance. This is a real human, playing real music, using their real emotions. It's a deeply touching performance, one that's never been matched for me in terms of its character and interpretation. And what you're hearing as "inconsistency" or what-have-you is known as rubato, which has become quite a dirty word for some reason. Yuja's rubato is exquisite, and gives this piece the life it is so often deprived of in many performances, like with Zimerman's. Zimerman shamefully rushed through some of the most musically profound moments of this piece, but Yuja gave the piece adequate time to breathe and tell its story. Zimerman's performance is monumental in its own right, don't get me wrong, but to me it doesn't even compare.

[@ronwalker4849]

THERE ARE JUST NO ADDECUATE WORDS OF PRAISE AND ADMIRATION FOR THIS CYCLOPEAN FEAT OF MUSICAL BRILLIANCE YUJA DEMONSTRATES HERE. ONLY THE FINAL NOTES OF TRISTAN COME CLOSE TO THE DIVINITY OF THIS MUSIC. I AM GRATEFUL TO HAVE HEARD THIS IN MY LIFETIME.

[@thebananatuna]

Ron Walker Amen to you.

[@matthewvarney6214]

I agree

[@amgx9670]

*adequate*

[@zennabella1676]

YULA WANG IS OUT OF THIS WORLD. HER TALENT IS FANTASTIC. I JUST BOUGHT HER CD WITH SONATA IN B ON IT. ITS ON TRACK 9, 10 AND 11, ITS SO LONG. I PLAY IT AT LEAST ONCE A DAY NOW. I ALSO BOUGHT THE SHEET PIANO MUSIC BUT I DONT KNOW IF I AM GOING TO BE ABLE TO LEARN IT, THE MUSIC IS VERY DIFFICULT. MAYBE TOO DIFFICULT FOR ME. I ONLY GOT TO 5TH GRADE WHEN I WAS A CHILD LEARNING TO PLAY THE PIANO THEN I QUIT. I GOT BACK INTO PLAYING THE PIANO IN MY LATE 50S BUT TOO MANY YEARS WENT BY WITHOUT PLAYING.

[@pauliberg3492]

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT--- THERE IS BUT ONE YUJA-- ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE.

[@zennabella1676]

AGREED.

[@fredrickroll]

Liszt didn't need to orchestrate his greatest masterpiece - Yuja Wang just did it for him.

[@thebananatuna]

fredric kroll ha ha.....you’re right for sure!

[@chezbe]

Absolutely overrated performance

[@pleasecontactme4274]

@@chezbe hmm i don't think so. it's as good as a lot of other ones.

[@pleasecontactme4274]

it's really not even close to any of his true masterpieces

[@pleasecontactme4274]

@A SEVENTH? NO? ah k

[@alansparx3127]

Lucky audience. Yuja plays. I am grateful. More beauty in the world that needs it so much.

[@jellis333j7]

When I was growing up it was the Jewish pianist now it’s definitely the Asian pianist. This is a great performance with color and nuance . Her technique is tremendous.

[@bessiewilliams7871]

Enjoy her playing thank you.

[@olafdouwesdekker6056]

I thought I knew the piece. Today this performance was played on BravaTV and from the start I was frozen, fascinated and moved by this incredible pianist. Happy to have found it also on youtube. I knew of Wangs existance, how a great musician she is, we visited two of her concerts in Amsterdam, but up to now I missed her Liszt-sonata. Can't wait to hear 'Vallée d'Obermann' by her magic hands. Or Brahms's Haendel-variations. Let her play and listen to almost whatever she plays.

[@comment6864]

I've heard better

[@hochang927]

She really is enjoying playing as we enjoy listening her performing.

[@lisztnet]

My favorite pianist, i always agree with her, specially here she displays beautiful pianissimo.

[@TomCloyd]

She shows us what music is truly about. The music is playing her. It's the final level of musicianship, and she has it in spades, as they say.

[@tmws1]

This audience had no idea how fortunate they were to experience this.

[@ludovicusix23]

I do not get tired of listening to the 2 minutes from 15:00 to 17:00 in a loop ... Pure happiness !

[@ack7956]

It's such a monumental climax, and Yuja Wang brings it to life in such a brilliant way, no other recording I've heard really sells it quite like this one does imo.

[@alextischer2008]

@@ack7956 Agreed, even the unbeatable Argerich sells the moment short.

[@DCJL333]

Phenomenal! Thanks for posting this stupendous performance by one of the greatest pianists ever! Yuja's passion and powerful display of all the nuances of the colors within this almost impossible piece are a testament to her spirit's ability to soar and shine as the musical master who she is! Liszt would be thrilled to witness her dynamic interpretation.

[@ramonbacardit7982]

It's just incredible!! all that emotion and technique! just perfect. Thank you for posted it

[@aalb1970]

Definitely one of the best pianists of her generation.

[@CruceEntertainment]

I have buried myself in Chopin for the last many years, and now poking around a bit with Lizst, and what I love about Lizst is that he was Chopin’s contemporary, and wrote amazing stuff that Chopin would never have written. It’s truly unique!

[@stefanbernhard2710]

And to think chopin died at only 39

[@johnryskamp2943]

At least Nixon lived to 80. You can't complain.

[@xelaphilia]

@@stefanbernhard2710 schubert at 31, mozart at 35, Mendelssohn at 38

[@stefanbernhard2710]

@@xelaphilia wowwww

[@zennabella1676]

CHOPINS MUSIC IS VERY NICE TOO BUT FRANZ LISZT IS AT THE TOP IN MY OPINION. YULA WANG PLAYS THIS SO VERY WELL, SO MUCH EMOTION IN SOME PARTS WHICH REALLY STAND OUT. I BOUGHT THE CD OF YULA PLAYING THIS AND I PLAY IT AT LEAST ONCE PER DAY. I WONT PLAY IT TOO OFTEN OR I WILL TIRE OF IT. I WANTED TO LEARN THIS MYSELF, I BOUGHT THE SHEET MUSIC FOR IT BUT I DONT THINK IM GOING TO BE ABLE TO LEARN IT. THE MUSIC IS TOO HARD FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND. I MAY LEARN ONE OR TWO PAGES IF IM LUCKY AND THAT WOULD BE ABOUT IT.

[@zuluhippy]

A real achievement of creative beauty, second to none!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@gergelykiss]

This is probably the best live performance of The Sonata I have ever heard. And I can't think of many studio recordings that are comparably passionate and original, either. Stupendous, gripping from beginning to end. Keeps the listener on the edge while playing on the edge herself. The couple of jumbled moments are made easily insignificant by the genius interpretation of the whole. Thank you!

[@thebananatuna]

Gergely Kiss you’ve said it perfectly. Absolutely perfectly.

[@hopewang9171]

this is such a beautiful interpretation, shocking, absorbing, so real, just love it.

[@mariorobertogomez9181]

Excelente performance e impecable interpretación. ¡Maravilla Yuja Wang!!

[@i-told-you-sodear1526]

I am floored by this master pianist.

[@1sydneyman]

...just AWESOME!!!!! Bravissimo young Lady!!!!!

[@PhukIT1865]

I wonder from where she gets her motivation. I just love her, like a snake she waits and pounces on her prey [the piano], truly amazing. It's not her fault she happens to be so beautiful. God how I long for another Steinway piano in my life

[@zennabella1676]

HA HA, THAT SOUNDS FUNNY WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT YULA WAITS TO POUNCE ON HER PREY LIKE A SNAKE. SHE PLAYS AMAZINGLY. I THINK FRANZ LISZT WOULD BE THRILLED WITH HER PIANO PLAYING AND HOW MUCH EMOTION SHE PUTS INTO THIS TUNE, ABSOLUTLEY AMAZING.

[@alexdimopoulos769]

3:20 this, my fellow musicians, this, is the music of the gods...the most epic and greatest theme of all!!! You can even see it in the face of Yuja Wang, who certainly has nailed the voicing

[@sethjeppson5680]

One of the best parts of the sonata for sure!

[@franksmith541]

I have over 150 CDs of classical solo piano music and piano concertos, and only one by an Asian pianist: Yundi Li. The best pianists will always be the non-Asians, like Hamelin, Matsuev, Bronfman, Grosvenor, Delucchi, Grante, Pollini, Berezovsky, Maltempo, the late Kocsis, Ullen, Kimura Parker, Watts, Sokolov, Lisiecki, Trifonov etc...As can be seen from my list, the best are predominantly male. Asian pianists mainly play with no passion for, or understanding of the music - with a few exceptions, like Yundi Li. They are player-bots who practice ten hours a day, and Yuja Wang is no exception. She is nothing more than a machine in skimpy clothes.

[@alexdimopoulos769]

@@franksmith541 Well many of them are as you describe, they play like robots, or they only play putting a show on them and not on the music. I don't think Yuja Wang is on that level, but she is definitely less expressive or original than other pianists. I suppose we agree that we don't have any racist bias against Asians here right?

[@james.housego]

@@franksmith541 I'm just curious, but are you a musician yourself? Or just listen to classical music

[@shawnwilliamson9267]

I didnt learn the whole thing, but i learnt it until there just to be able to enjoy the epicness of this theme

[@roxyroux77]

This performance must join the pantheon of greats (despite a minor memory glitch at c.26:40...after all this is live & unedited). Magnificent musicality and bravura technique...and she makes it look as easy as a Mozart minuet! I noticed the same with her Rachmaninoff 3rd...amazing talent! Thanks for the beautiful posting.

[@astrud8910]

I can't believe this

[@JeromeMainguet]

Si Franz Liszt était toujours parmi nous, il se sentirait au Paradis avec cette sublime interprétation de sa Sonate par Yuja Wang ! Peut-être l’appellerait-il à le rejoindre là-haut… Mais le Paradis est une fiction, donc profitons ensemble ici bas de cette merveille qu’est Yuja !

[@syourke3]

The Kingdom of Heaven is within. Heaven is bliss.

[@catherinejones9396]

A brilliant performance of this absolute cow of a sonata by a younger concert pianist!! Thanks Yuja and to Ed for downloading it back in the day.

[@jsh31425]

Love her articulation of the secondary voices in the fugue. Never heard that before!

[@rigel48]

Whatever the work and for any interpreter there will always be someone to find it's too much this or not enough that. Yuja Wang has a huge talent, a prodigious technique and plays this work with conviction and feeling.

[@ernestomatalsol6807]

Yuja es una joya y un privilegio vivir para escuchar la esencia de su belleza.

[@jesusfernandezgarcia9449]

"Escuchar la esencia de su belleza". Que gran frase.

[@leonardmerkowitz6174]

2

[@anatolyspencer2730]

My favorite female pianist of all time by far. 2nd favorite overall. This is also the second best interpretation, closely following Yundi Li. I was blessed to see her play live at the Hollywood Bowl.

[@syourke3]

I have to smile when I watch this beautiful young lady tame this magnificent beast-monster music. I’m sure that somewhere, Liszt is smiling, too. Magnificent!

[@zennabella1676]

SOME GREAT WORDS FROM YOU. YES, IF LISZT HASNT BEEN RE BORN YET AND HE IS STILL IN SPIRIT HE WOULD BE DELIGHTED WITH YULA WANG. HE WOULD BE SO PROUD OF HER.

[@davidpatrickallen4653]

Stunning! She lives the music.

[@zennabella1676]

SHE SURE DOES.

[@TheNeonPiano]

I’m you sure like capitalizing your letters!

[@johnnyenglish6099]

incredible yuja! fire, finesse, fantasy, and form

[@thebananatuna]

Yes, you said it PERFECTLY.

[@michaelschefold3299]

Simply the best interpretation of this great masterwork I've ever heard.

[@franksmith541]

Hamelin's performance of it is at least five tifivebetter.

[@cyrillepiano364]

Horowitz 1949

[@ulfwernernielsen6708]

@@cyrillepiano364 Liszt sonata with CUT ???? Horrible!!!!! When I first heard this in album Horowitz complete Liszt recordings I thought: A disk must have broken, but when I heard the 1946 performance with the same cut It was clear for me that Horowitz planned this cut. It is like putting a moustache on Mona Lisa .

[@leavesofchange]

I’m not musically able AT ALL- and I absolutely love this, can’t tell you why, it just makes me feel wonderful

[@pauliberg3492]

Whether younger or more mature-- there is only one YUJA WANG .. BRILLIANT . AND BEST OF THE BEST .

[@robhudson9342]

A brilliant performance of an astonishing composition that is still seemingly eons ahead of its time over a hundred years after its inception... No matter who I'm around while watching a great performance of this sonata, no matter how macho I try to be, I always end up crying buckets during the opening chords of the Andante Sostenuto (which begins at 12:44 in this recording)... In my best attempt at an humble opinion: if you truly love music of all varieties, from Baroque to hip hop, and if you know anything about Liszt's life, then there might be something terribly wrong with you if a truly skillful and passionate performance like this doesn't bring you to tears... But I'm just one dumbass dude spewing his musical opinion on a youtube video... *Sips another mouthful of tear-filled whiskey and soda*

[@organboi]

Really?

[@dreameugene]

Absolutely superwoman. Amazing and breathtaking performance; no words can do justice. Simply listen and enjoy.

[@raoultak]

I have always loved Argerich's & Horowitz' interpretation on this sonata, but now.......... So very genuine this is ...... she is a genius. And her technique is without handicaps whatsoever. I wonder, how is this in heavens name possible?

[@organboi]

Really, but she has many technical issues in this performance. She misses a great many notes. That's not acceptable in today's high standards, especially.

[@daniela.harris9052]

Try Brendel!

[@pianosenzanima1]

Have you guys ever heard of Cziffra?!

[@raoultak]

@@organboi A great many notes missed? No, not more than other top pianists.

[@raoultak]

Missing a note or two is not an issue in technically difficult music. It happens all the time, even with Horowitz. The issue is the music, and here that is really superior.

[@deeforty5409]

This is a great performance considering Yuja is still young. So despite a wrong note here or there, this IS played with great passion, more than some well-known pianists. Bravo!!!

[@kgiven100]

She is simply at peace with this sonata; Yuja shows no fighting with the instrument for control.

[@greggygreg775]

An incredible talent. One of the best improvisers and modern classical pianists in this era. Her dynamic technique is a force to be reckoned with. Bruce Lee on the piano! :-)

[@organboi]

Improvisers? You don't understand music fully. This is not jazz. This music is written down by the great master Liszt. You can't improvise on it.

[@nihilistlemon1995]

Except Yuja Wang plays for real and Bruce Lee never fought

[@davemdevon.5423]

@@nihilistlemon1995 , Bruce Lee had his own Kung Fu school fort many fights and invented that style of fighting he was the first to do the really high kicks

[@nihilistlemon1995]

@@davemdevon.5423 Gee you really don't help the image that Bruce Lee fans are 90% children or retards

[@nihilistlemon1995]

@@organboihe was likely referring about her Mozart impro

[@carlottavaleri1971]

Non ci sono parole per definire questa perfezione: grazie Yuja mi fai credere in Dio...

[@stephenrivele6427]

Powerful, profound, poetic, exquisite.

[@kr61ab67]

A great and passionate interpretation. Liszt wanted this for sure, not academical o technical perfection.

[@billjurgenson6267]

I have heard the sonata several time live including Horowitz and Gilels. Leaving studio recording aside, only Gilels opened my mind to this fantastic composition - and that was live. He played the Chopin sonata before intermission and the Liszt after and it floored me. I never was - still am not - a big liszt fan. I do find his very late works good, though. This live performance by Yuja is second to none, my favorite by far. As for the missed notes? who cares? She explains every level of this very complicated composition so clearly that everyone should be able to see its genius. Her sense of breathing, of space betwwen notes, of actually listening to her instrument while playing in absolutely perfect. She never play against the instrument, she lets it sound...

[@Davidfooterman]

@@billjurgenson6267 Horowitz, the great virtuoso, doesn’t quite capture the atmosphere of the B minor like Cziffra or Richter do. It’s that raw, earthy, gypsy thing. Though he definitely wasn’t Hungarian, Richter had incredible sensitivity within that powerful frame. It feels as though he could understand almost any style or era of music. And Cziffra - well, you can see the power there in his hands; what a fantastic naturally gifted pianist he was!

[@Davidfooterman]

@@billjurgenson6267 I lived in Philly, in The Philadelphian, a large apartment building (once the biggest in the U.S.) on Pennsylvania Avenue literally just down the road from Curtis, where I had neighbors who worked and played piano and other instruments at Curtis. I used to play Beethoven cello sonatas with a (cellist) friend. I wish I could turn the clock back and work on the Rach and Chopin sonatas with him. IMO, the opening of the Rach is one of the definitive tests of intonation for the cellist; it’s absolutely intolerable to my ear to hear it played out of tune! I don’t mean to sound superior, although I’m sure some dumb troll is going to kill a good conversation by replying with some insulting BS. One lives in hope; but it’s such a privilege to live in this internet age and be able to reach people, ad hoc, with whatever hedonistic thoughts and recalls about music happen to come to mind. I’ll put up with ‘trollic’ morons for the sake of this musical “connectedness”. We owe the techies so much for this resource!

[@Davidfooterman]

@@billjurgenson6267 Gilels was really great. I think he was sometimes cast into the shadows by his great contemporary, Richter, but it was often not justified. Gilels was also a great ensemble musician . I heard him play the Beethoven cello sonatas with Rostropovich: every bit as good as they were with Richter. I would like to have heard the trios, which were played with Leonid Kogan, I think. Having said all that, it is easy to romanticize too much and discount the quality of performances by contemporary artists. For example, Yuja playing with Gautier Capucon: they’re great performances, no question about it!

[@aifide]

Ottima performance. Un giusto mix di virtuosismo ed interpretazione. Considerata la giovane età, direi molto buona nell'insieme la performance. Con buona pace di coloro che criticano senza sapere niente di tecnica pianistica ed interpretazione. Tra parentesi, io sono un pianista.

[@marcsmith7789]

Magnificent performance and interpretation.

[@javindo]

Such horrible comments on such a wonderful performance, if you don't enjoy it bugger off!

[@costelconstantin4845]

What horrible comments?

[@javindo]

@@costelconstantin4845 My comment above was from 6 years ago so I imagine they have either been downvoted or removed since. I seem to recall it was a lot of people complaining about her style/clothing/"robotic" playing. It's nice to revisit and see a different vibe in the comments, and to be reminded of such a great performance!

[@zennabella1676]

IVE BEEN READING THROUGH SOME OF THE COMMENTS AND SO FAR ALL HAVE BEEN NICE THANK GOODNESS. THIS MUSIC IS OUTSTANDING.

[@davewalker9926]

Holy of holies, this is an amazing performance. Diverges from the traditional interpretation in amazing ways. I love the base As that she adds too. I love that! Like Pletnev and Gould, Yuja adds enormously with her interpretations.

[@HelenaWilliams8696]

Pianist Wang executes a unique Liszt sonata in this presentation. Though, I'm not too familiar on how the artist should interpret the full emotions of Liszt sonata, Wang is a superb virtuoso at the piano. Great credit to a young talented pianist and a promising future 'Horowitz' expressionist.

[@Aiden057]

Outstanding. I'm so glad that we're able to hear this most gifted artist here on youtube.

[@tamvionsr3999]

Howmuch could these people like yuja improve us and make the earth the most wonderful planet ❤️❤️❤️

[@SteadfastDV]

yes, and such as brilliant Dudamel, but there are inimical forces in high places also at work. Problems are surely not with true artists! Such a comfort.

[@gerontius3]

This for me compares very well with Earl Wild, my favorite Liszt pianist. Glorious tone which she nevers "plays through." At 27.58 she just lets the piano "ring" - a bit shorter than Wild does but its is very effective and most pianists don't. It's a wonderful effect. This is a very romantic view of the piece and for me quite superb.

[@bloodgrss]

Earl Wild was a wonder. Yuja is a worthy heir...

[@lemu7738]

wonderful interpretation!

[@1027372]

Qué bueno es disfrutar de las composiciones de un virtuoso del piano como Liszt en manos de otra virtuosa como Yuja, que va despegando por momentos y vuela hasta los dominios de la bella Euterpe para seguir deleitándonos con su magia desde allá. Yuja + Liszt = excelente binomio.

[@hannibal202BC]

A spellbinding performance, love it!

[@jacksonpalmer9114]

Excellent left hand voicings. She played this AND Cziffra's lightning fast arrangement of "Flight of the Bumblebee" in the same concert. I really hope that the audience appreciated the absolute insanity of what they just witnessed!

[@andyanderson9824]

Absolutely, pure genius.

[@nrosen8794]

Again, Ms. Wang shows the true musical structure because she has the strength, ability and courage to make the climactic moments come alive.

[@hermannschaefer4777]

Well, heard this interpretation for the first time today. I'm used to Howard's recording and many others, prob. heard 50 different recordings and live performances. So yes, I know this piece very well. And - esp. regarding her age then - this performance is one of the better ones. I miss some fine emphasizes of eg. Howard, but I like it much more as e.g. the boring recording of Hamelin or the - for me - way to clear version of Hough - have all on CD. Yes, this piece prob. gets better the older you are, but this piece also represents the quintessence of (dark) romantic piano music. And this woman not only plays this piece as good as possible (for her abilities), she also feels the music in her soul. And - as it is a live recording!! - I am very sad to not have been in the audience.

[@rmac1042]

Amen!

[@gerd-uwedastig4213]

Besonders fulminant und "modern" das Fugato bei 20:24. Liszt als Vorläufer von Prokofiev ein neuer Aspekt - großartig!

[@danyariv-weisbuch7543]

a great musician , presenting the works in such a convincing way! i enjoyed; without 'specialist' opinions

[@gianlucapieri8676]

Brividi!!! Meraviglia! E’ il suo pezzo, intensa, meravigliosa e tecnica prodigiosa.

[@louiserestall3742]

...absolutely beautiful.

[@coojonathan]

A beautiful interpretation!

[@meredith218461]

She has much to say here given her young years. Another few years should see her producing one of the great performances of this iconic work.

[@ronl7131]

Love YW precision & voicing…and her infectious visible passion & joy as she performs….

[@NOSEhow2LIV]

Yuja has had affinity for Liszt since always,she plays instinctively,this works well here.In the first section we get,for once,the true note values of the imperious theme0.50.She holds back to give full weight to all the drama of the first part.QuasiAdagio is among the best i've ever heard,truly intimate,never rushed,only passionate where demanded.Part3 is less satisfying:she succumbs to the temptation of the bass B(22.14)and has a Boulez moment later but recovers well.Overall,a great LisztBm!

[@andyanderson9824]

How I wish I could have been part of that audience. Surely an unsurpassed performance. Little wonder Yuja is classed Best in the World.

[@marcelocabrera257]

POR DIOS QUE ES BELLA ESTA MUJER Y TOCA EL PIANO CON UNA HABILIDAD UNICA UN ABRASO DE CHILE

[@DavidGorenPrivate]

Wow.......! Wow. I heard Martha Argerich performing this so expressive bipolar disorder sonata, so many times in the past, till I had her engraved in my neurons... I decided to give Yuja Wang a chance, initially assuming for less... After seconds I immediately realized how wrong I was... At these levels, it is not about accuracy and speed, it is about the blueprint of your unique soul... While Martha lets all the devils drive her a bit beyond any human being's limits, Yuja does it with her elegance and control... I cannot avoid mentioning the divine facial expressions of Yuja, which express the emotions of the music in such a gentle and lovely way... You can both hear and see the music... It is a celebration for both the ears and the eyes... It is very deep waters here which are so stormy and turbulent down below, but because of the depth, all you see is just an elegant glimpse of what goes inside echoed on her face... Wow. Love, David Goren

[@williamhernandez2888]

I believe that every Artist can give there own interpretation and touch, she play this one and to me was amazing 😃

[@Godewig]

Great rendition, fine video. Very impressive.

[@houseofbeeswax]

I'm now a fan of Liszt! Adore Yuja Wang's gift! Just heard her play the Kruetzer Sonata with Joseph Bell! Superb!

[@mattduncan6]

Seems people care about wrong notes, quite frankly I have heard missed lines in theatre, stumbling in opera, who cares !! Thank goodness someone is prepared to put the time in to keep this piece alive. Mr. Beethoven is quoted as saying something along the lines of , who cares about wrong notes, lack of vision is unforgiveable, maybe the audience should agree with him. He's better known than any of us !!

[@comment6864]

Compared to Zimmerman's this sounds very sloppy and all slurred. Wouldn't pay to go see this, too student-like.

[@organboi]

But there are TOO many missed notes. That's the issue. To those who know the piece, it is very distracting. Notes are there to be played correctly, otherwise, where is the piece? Missing a few notes here and there over the course of an entire piece is fine, or little smudges, but she really missed a whole lot and messed up a whole section in the third movement. It's just too much. Normally she doesn't miss any notes, so I don't care at all about it. I just won't listen to this performance.

[@thebananatuna]

Matt Duncan you’re absolutely right. Wrong notes are not a sin.

[@TheNeonPiano]

The quote was “a wrong note is insignificant, but to play with passion is inexcusable.

[@nickkor667]

Лист это как лакмус для пианиста. Все становится ясным с первых аккордов. И тут все видно .Потому так верно передаются все нюансы произведения. Даже по дыханию видны ощущения при игре Юджи и это весьма показательно. Привет из Киева.

[@pendanticismsquared]

This Lady's talent is unquestionable, she made more mistakes than SHE can cope with. Not an artistic matter. Yuja understands the piece! (Her repertoire is already double mine!) Look forward to at least two or three performances over her long career to come. I'm a big Pollini fan (so is Yuja), he found this Sonata at 57ish! Give the Lady time.

[@ustwoalberts]

god, imagine some of the sceptics here coming to dinner. .."Alas, the potatoes were not quite correctly placed on the plate'' . . . .

[@luisacoimbra7319]

Yes! "Monsieur Parmentier will never cooked like this!!!" You explain it nicely

[@ack7956]

Despite how beautifully and tastefully cut they are, the minor imperfections blind them to the heart in this presentation...

[@642forlife]

Impressive! Liszt Music fits Yuja Wang very well.

[@dvamateur]

Okay, I've played keyboards on and off for 25+ years. I thought that I have about a millionth of musical skill of the likes of Yuja Wang and Hiromi Uehara. When I am seeing this, it feels barely like a billionth or a trillionth.

[@fas2gsx]

Andrew Piatek I love both of them

[@dwc503]

She was so young when she decided to take on this war horse. So many elements and nuance she interpretated through the piece were very good. There were a few spots that got away from her a bit. I would love to see her do another recording in a few more years when she has more life experience to incorporate into this piece.

[@JordanMetroidManiac]

That's REALLY good, in every way.

[@JeromeMainguet]

Absolument superbe ! Yuja était déjà un génie .

[@IgnatzKolisch]

What stuns me about this, is that it was live. And it's so close to the version of my favourite living pianist, Krystian Zimerman, in the legendary recording that I have and have listened to so much. Zimerman infamously took dozens of takes to get the recording (I've seen the number of takes he required given to be over 70!!), but this live Yuja Wang performance is SO CLOSE, and it's LIVE. IT'S LIVE. And it's close to matching the hyper-perfected, over-taked recording by the great Krystian Zimerman. Absolutely staggering. My pick of Zimerman as my favourite living pianist is based on studio recordings, not live performances on stage. But I don't actually own any Yuja Wang recordings, so I can't fairly compare them in that regard. But if this is what she can do live, in front of an audience, without being able to cancel, retake, start over..... wow... WOW. WOW!!!!

[@vitocortesi9389]

Fantastic Yuja and wonderful Liszt's sonata!