Yuja Wang_Rhapsody on a theme by Paganini (Rachmaninoff)

[@philipvanlidth]

I have avidly listened to every video of her playing that I can find and have not been disappointed once. Her phenomenal technical brilliance is fully matched by her musical taste and understanding of style, and while she does show emotion in her face, she doesn't mug like some performers do. I can listen to her playing all day and it is an absolute pleasure to watch her hands on the keyboard...

[@philipvanlidth]

This was my my first experience of her playing, and she won me over almost immediately. Since then, every new video has confirmed my first impression that Yuja is a goddess of the keyboard and rightly beloved of all who treasure true keyboard artistry...

[@benebacher2470]

She has the best Rachmaninoff interpretations I’ve heard.

[@HolmesLaneGuy]

@@philipvanlidth Evgeny Kissin is better

[@HolmesLaneGuy]

@@benebacher2470 Evgeny Kissin is better

[@Tirelirelou]

Fabulous. My prefered interpretation of this Rhapsody is Trifanov’s under Zubin Metah when he was 20 years old, but Wang’s is a very serious rival.

[@petetotaro9510]

You will never find a more precise piano artist than Yuja Wang, as she has more than paid her dues practicing the keyboard and...having a exceptional talent, looks, displays emotion when playing, and a personality that will not end!

[@martinforrester8249]

You are so right, a shining light for music lovers in the twenty first century. She is so captivating.

[@s.c.1494]

Indeed she is captivating and charismatic just being herself.

[@mrtimemaker]

I thank God I was born in the age of Yuja Wang.

[@ryushev2000]

check out matsuev

[@johnjackson3847]

@@ryushev2000 If you like Matsuev so much, then go watch him yourself and leave the rest of us to enjoy this performance by the pianist of our own choice which is Miss Yuja Wang !

[@nealsandy9441]

There are not enough superlatives in the English language to adequately describe the genius Yuja Wang demonstrates at the keyboard. She is a marvel who plays with such technical dexterity it's hard to fathom. Her youth and her beauty are the icing on the cake. Bravo Yuja. May she continue to wow audiences around the world with her gifts. We are all the richer for it.

[@lovemetu]

Wonderful isn't she !!

[@martinforrester8249]

Bravo, she is classical music for the twenty first century, so captivating, love her whole persona.

[@randallmaluenda]

Among the greatest living concert pianists.

[@randallmaluenda]

Captivating old and new generations.

[@randallmaluenda]

DITTO 😂

[@chrisvonhoerschelmann7366]

I fully agree. Yuja is one of very few pianists who is able to include emotianal meaning into whatever she plays.

[@135Pandemonium]

She is simply the best. It was such a pleasure to listen to her live.

[@albertpeckham9515]

She IS a fabulous musician. Her grasp of the the composer's intent is beyond reproach. I'm over whelmed by her insights and performance and I'm glad to be alive to hear this outstanding performance. Bravo!

[@coolenmike]

Hugo Woods comments are directly to the point. There is not only no "best pianist," but no "best performance." What I love about Yuja Wang is that her technical skills allows her to be fearless...and subtle and brilliant and deeply musical. We should celebrate being alive while she is playing, along with dozens of other pianists, young and old, who also have much to share with the world.

[@lovemetu]

Of course, completely correct, also applies to the endless moaning of some on KZbin who constantly put down the young up and coming violinists, especially the amazing young ladies of Asian heritage, by non stop comparing them so unfavorably to Heifetz and other violinists of many years ago.

[@joanching1426]

Michael Coolen hhh

[@joanching1426]

lovemetu

[@dri3kus]

Mofel en piertje

[@brianknapp8645]

Yuja makes all the great works for piano look like a walk in the park! She never ceases to amaze!

[@vangel1443]

Yuja Wang is always a great pianist, but I've noticed she plays especially good the works of Russian composers.

[@michaelyang4186]

her professor at Curtis is Russian

[@inraid]

Michael Yang Her teacher at Curtis is Gary Graffman. He is not Russian. He was born in New York to a family of Russian Jewish immigrants. Check en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Graffman.

[@shirleyhe4215]

Yep! I think that's her specialty :)

[@s.c.1494]

I think her youthful energy and personality really resonate well with the Russian "warhorses". By the way she didn't learned those pieces until she entered Curtis and studied with Gary Graffman. But as Graffman said she is an unbelievably quick learner and just absorbs.

[@davidchase5294]

They live close by.

[@PeterFritzWalter]

I have heard this rhapsody before only with André Previn and as a result believed it was one of Rachmaninov's minor inspirations-until now listening to this marvelous and technically absolutely outstanding performance of Yuja Wang that gives this music all the respect it deserves. It's as if I was listening this concerto for the first time ...

[@XerxesAga]

One more 'Wonder of the World' added. Yuja Wang. Her technical skills combined with her deep understanding of the composer's vision makes her outstanding. She still has many years to go as a concert pianist and I wonder what her evolution will end up with. Apart from more magical artistry.

[@martynikin1313]

her playing is so wonderful , i love rachmaninov even more because of yuja, she has that very special rare gift , some call genius, her scriabin is mind bowing

[@hazenc5105]

I love Yuja. I knew her since I was very young because we lived in the same city. I loved her performances at a young age, and I remember her asking my younger brother, Did you enjoy my concert? He said, No, my boots were too hot. I love her, she is quite amazing.

[@marshallartz395]

🪆 Yuja Wang Plays Rachmaninov 🪆 Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943) Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43 *(1934)* 00:01 Allegro vivace 00:17 *Var. 1: (Precedente)* 00:30 Theme _(Paganini’s 24th Caprice_ _for violin solo)_ 00:49 *Var. 2: L’istesso tempo* 01:08 *Var. 3: L’istesso tempo* 01:33 *Var. 4: Più vivo* 02:01 *Var. 5: Tempo precedente* 02:30 *Var. 6: L’istesso tempo* 03:31 *Var. 7: Meno mosso, a tempo* *moderato* _[Dies irae_ *chant*_]_ 04:35 *Var. 8: Tempo I* 05:10 *Var. 9: L’istesso tempo* 05:42 *Var. 10: L’istesso tempo* _[Dies irae_ *again*_]_ - - - - - - 06:34 *Var. 11: Moderato* 07:59 *Var. 12: Tempo di minuetto* 09:23 *Var. 13: Allegro* 09:53 *Var. 14: L’istesso tempo* 10:34 *Var. 15: Più vivo, scherzando* 11:43 *Var. 16: Allegretto* 13:25 *Var. 17: (Allegretto)* 15:15 *Var. 18: Andante cantabile* ➡️ _[The Famous One]_ - - - - - - 18:09 *Var. 19: A tempo vivace* 18:43 *Var. 20: Un poco più vivo* 19:19 *Var. 21: Un poco più vivo* 19:45 *Var. 22: Marziale. Un poco più* *vivo* 21:26 *Var. 23: L’istesso tempo* 22:16 *Var. 24: A tempo un poco meno* *mosso [1 last* _Dies irae]_ 23:24 *Applause* Yuja Wang, piano✨ NHK Symphony Charles Dutoit, conductor *Suntory Hall* *Tokyo, Japan 🇯🇵 December 17, 2008*

[@grahamlyons8522]

@Marshall: Thanks very much for all this important information the Chunkitpoh couldn't be bothered to include.

[@Marta-7]

Thank you soo much

[@gailhausmann1329]

Awesome! .....What a wonderful performance... She's one of the best.. Her magical fingers running on the piano are truly emotionally moving to me!.... Love her gown.... Have seen her interviews, & she seems very warm & intelligent....... Thanks for posting? 🙏❤️

[@eldergeektromeo9868]

To hear Yuja play Rachmaninoff accompanied by the NHK can be described as sublime!

[@hugowilliams1988]

Every video coming out of that musical hall has very good sound.

[@kenw.simpson1007]

The phenomenal ability of the young and beautiful Yuja Wang is exemplified in this enchanting video of her performance playing Rachmaninoff's powerful and dramatic Rhapsody on a theme by Paganini - with Charles Dutoit conducting.

[@cherrytime22]

+Ken W. Simpson Beautifully written comment by +Ken W. Simpson to describe the performance here by the Young Virtuoso pianist, Miss Yuja Wang as she plays so beautifully in her rendition of this musical masterpiece by the composer Rachmaninoff, eg Rhapsody on a theme by Paganini (Rachmaninoff. Quite a change to see a quality comment, well written sir !! Makes a change from some of the garbage written by mindless trolls on Yuja Wang videos.

[@kenw.simpson1007]

Thank you cherrytime22 for your kind words.

[@spartybob1]

I love all her videos especially the Scriabin and Rachmaninoff anyone who criticizes her in theses comments doesnt speak for the vast audience of people who love her works. if you are sick, refrain from commenting, see a doctor and get some help

[@donkraar1116]

Superb color in her playing; a beautiful balance between feeling & good taste. She has a sense of the total at all times, but never seems to lose any feeling for the details. To put it simply - Yuja Wang has GOT IT, and how!

[@altocumulus1326]

I'm playing this for the second time this morning. Just hearing this makes my day better.

[@bruno-mariabrys1411]

This is excellent playing...very imaginative, witty, virtuoso...has everything one could wish for. But I also want to make a great compliment to the Sound engineers behind this production for they have done an absolutely superb Job...such a great open big sound stage. A real joy to listen to!

[@harryangus6030]

Her teacher upon graduation said that it was the intelligence And good taste of her interpretations that distinguished her Poetic grace, delicacy, sophisticated taste, she has it all And this interpretation is a testament to her phenomenal success The label of pop star of classical music does not make her justice She is more than that, Yuja Wang is the goddess of the piano.

[@gerryr1852]

***** Martha is right about that insofar as the 20th century and Tchaikovsky are concerned. I would like to hear her play the Chopin Etudes - certainly a daunting prospect, but most of all I want to hear her play Mozart concerti, sonatas, other recital pieces and chamber music. A retired ex - Russian concerto pianist who left Russia when it was apparent that Putin was going to come into power and changed his name but not legally and then moved to still another country and is having his royalties laundered once said that if you can play Chopin and Mozart very well then you have arrived. And I'm not talking about that tricked out version of Alla Turca or the one Chopin waltz that she's been playing since she was seven years old, She's young but it's long since time that she branched out. I think that she can probably do it but as you Brits say - the proof of the pudding is in the eating. From the way that you write I just have a feeling that you either are or were British. Am I right and, if so, which is it? Keep up the correspondence through comments - I enjoy reading your opinions.

[@gerryr1852]

I was a semi-professional classical guitarist - that is I made money playing concerti but it not my major means of support. I also gave recitals for charity events. The nice thing about playing classical guitar is that you can carry your instrument with you. The bad thing is that there just aren't that many concerti that the audience wants to hear. They keep wanting to hear "Concierto de Aranjuez" or on occasion "Fantasie para un Gentilhombre", both by Rodrigo. Stray from those and the audience dwindles and the orchestra and soloist don't make money. So my profession, since I had a doctorate in mathematics, was that of being a mathematician. But Bach was the greatest composer of the late Baroque and early Classical era, Mozart was the greatest composer who ever lived and he dominated the late classical era, and Chopin was the greatest composer for piano in the Romantic era and probably ever. I'm waiting for her to play them. My guitar was my cachet to thew world of classical pianists and it is they who say you haven't arrived until you have a large repertoire of those three composers. Sure Gary Graffman, an American, was infatuated with 20th century Russian composers and he passed that on to Yuja Wang, but he also played the three composers who I mentioned above and he played them superbly. I'm waiting for Yuja to do the same. Then, according to the professional pianists, she will have arrived. There is a dearth of great pianists today. I'd really like to see Yuja round out her repertoire and fill the vacuum. Until then I'll stick to Richter, Hofmann, Horowitz, Moiseiwitsch, Rachmaninoff, Sofronitsky, Rubinstein, Gieseking, Grinberg, Ginsburg, and the other greats of the 20th century when I buy CDs.

[@gerryr1852]

lovemetu The greatest violinist of the present era, if you don't mind the fact that his facial expressions are quite weird, is Yuri Vengerov. There is a Gypsy violinist, Roby Lakotas, who is classically trained and extremely gifted. He was the first Gypsy to be allowed into a major conservatory. He plays some classical music, some jazz, some fusion, and some Gypsy music. He has dedicated his life to promoting other talented Gypsy musicians. He is definitely worth listening to although his name is rarely mentioned in classical circles. I put that down to sheer bigotry. Piano - Krystian Zimerman is by far the greatest pianist of our era. Unfortunately he does not like to have much of his music uploaded to KZbin. He has sworn not to return to the United States. During George W. Bush's first term he brought his personal piano with him to perform in the United States. Homeland Security looked at it and decided that some of the glue looked like explosives. What did the fools think he was going to do? In any case they took it completely apart, destroying it irreparably. He swore never to return to the United States while Bush was President. He later expanded that to while the Department of Homeland Security continued to exist. Since it almost certainly will continue exist forever, he won't be coming to the United States. Paul Sokolov is excellent within a somewhat limited repertoire. If you compare the last three Beethoven concerti as played by Zimerman with those by Kissin, you will see that Kissin is not close to Zimerman. There are many excellent posts by Martha Argerich.. Of course lack of strength will always be a problem for Yuja Wang. She really is tiny and she just doesn't have the strength to play certain concerti. If you compare her performance of Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto to that of Sviatoslav Richter, you will notice that the opening with alternating left hands and right hands you will notice that Richter's left hand chords continue to increase in volume, while Yuja's don't. I'm not saying that you should compare her music to his. He was certainly one of the greatest pianists who ever lived and nobody today can match him. I am merely using that one minute opening to demonstrate that her lack of size and strength will always be a limiting factor. If you look at her arms carefully you will notice that she has unusually large and well-defined muscles for such a small woman. Clearly she has worked out with weights or machines to maximize her strength. That is highly commendable, but there's only so much strength that such a tiny woman can develop. If she was 5'10" (178 cm) tall and weighed 160 pounds (60 kg) this would not be a problem. She has also studiously avoided playing Bach,Mozart, Beethoven, and Chopin to a very large degree and, if a pianist is to be great, that pianist cannot avoid playing any of those four composers. Listen to the great Maria Grinberg. She's long since dead but she was a fantastic pianist.

[@gerryr1852]

You would really love Grigory Ginsburg playing Chopin. Sviatoslav Richter was the God of Schumann and Rachmaninoff. Personally I love Rachmaninoff playing his concerti and Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini, but since it was recorded in the 1930s you have to ignore the background noise. It took me years to develop that skill, but I have it now and am totally unaware of background noise except for occasional horrors that were recorded previous to 1925. Before 1925 recordings were "acoustical recordings". They were awful. In 1925 the invention of "magnetic recordings" changed everything. I do have three CDs but they were recordings of all time greats who were dead before 1925. So if I wanted to hear them, I had no choice in the matter. P.S. I'm from the old school of writing. An if, then (written or implied) requires a comma after the if statement.

[@richardbuckley-tynan8439]

you need to get out more

[@southtexaspiano3813]

If I could play this masterpiece, I would play it exactly like this!

[@aristotle867]

Such clarity and wonderful touch

[@1027372]

Excelente trabajo de Rachmaninov sobre el tema de Paganini e impactante la ejecución de Yuja... como siempre. Me alegra haber descubierto a esta pianista, a mi modesto juicio, una de las mejores de la actualidad.

[@ComposerInUK]

I think she's amazing: I've just seen her perform Rach 3, where the comments were disabled, but in both these works she plays with such delicacy as well as passion and abandon. Comparisons are odious but I hope the public will come to love her every bit as they do Lang Lang. Her voicing is immaculate and her technique flawless. Now let's hear her play something really difficult(!) Thank you so much for sharing this. I shall return to it again and again.

[@francesctuto1598]

Estic d´acord en que la seva actuació es veritablement emotiva i brillant, domina molt bé els tems i els matissos expresius de l´obra, encara que en Lang Lang, fa el mateix amb una mica més de energia i contundencia. Els dos son excepcionals. No ens oblidem del genial Rachmaninoff que es el Pare de la criatura, crean una obra que es un autentic compendi de emocions, fantasias i pau, recordan a Paganini i las sevas maravellosas variacions.

[@ComposerInUK]

Francesc Tuto Tens raó en recordar el mateix Rachmaninoff! Gràcies pel teu comentari preciós ... tots els bons desitjos

[@pauswing]

Francesc Tuto Yuja es excepcional, i tot i preferir algun altre pianista, no veig la necessitat de comparar-la amb altres pianistes. Salut

[@francesctuto1598]

Pau Díaz La comparación, es sobre una obra muy concreta, la rhapsody on a theme by Paganini, que para mi gusto es excepcional, única. Si hablamos de otras obras pianísticas naturalmente, que puedo cambiar de opinión, es cuestión de matices, porqué el nivel es muy alto. Saludos.

[@ihatetheparty6340]

It's not outrageous to say this young pianist surpasses all those of the past two centuries! "Triple BRAVO" to her!

[@lovemetu]

Yuja Wang is certainly the most gifted and entertaining Classical pianist on the planet right now.

[@NatureBoy12100]

@@lovemetu She is good, but my favorite and the most gifted to me is Daniil Trifonov

[@johnjackson3847]

@@NatureBoy12100 OMG....Yuja Only just ''good'' ?

[@Panchito1941]

Bellísima interpretación de la hermosa y talentosa pianista Yuja Wang, una de mis pianistas favoritas. Los orientales están haciendo maravillas en la música occidental; no le piden nada a los pianistas occidentales tradicionales, tanto jóvenes como viejos.

[@vianafox9210]

Yuja Wang has just recently become my favorite pianist. Thank you Yuja for playing from your heart.

[@FoursideAssetManagement]

one of the most perfect interpretations I've ever heard. 66 people are jealous. outstanding performance!

[@rialtho_the_magnificent]

as per 29-12-2016: 82

[@lovemetu]

Magnificent Yuja Wang, Bravo !!

[@jessecoons7096]

What I wouldn’t give to play like her . I’ve played the piano for years . Only one who plays can appreciate her phenomenal talent . She is a God given genius .

[@slowpainful]

No emotion?? Ho hum?? I'm embarrassed to say that I only recently heard of Yuja Wang - pretty bad for someone who studied classical piano for years - but since hearing her performances on KZbin I've eagerly sought out everything I can find. Her playing is never less than amazing, often electrifying (have you heard her Prokofiev 2nd??!). Passionate, but with such control... I don't see how you could ask for better playing. I can't express anything about such a gift except my gratitude that I can experience it. Oh and one more thing - could anyone milk a great big soaring MGM-worthy, heart-string pulling tune better than Rachmaninov? I mean, I hate to be so easy, but he gets me every time...

[@sandhaninc]

***** Couldn't agree more.. and likewise am a new fan. I read some of the deprecating comments in this thread and marvel that if any of these trolls could play a fraction as well they would have some right to critique.... but I don't see any of them playing concerts around the world!

[@jacku.7747]

Sandhan Ignore the trolls. My only complaint is HMV does not stock any of these great performances.

[@jennywr]

+David Roddis Those who said' no emotion', they actually do not understand music and not even know what is "emotion". Yujia has passionately playing every piece, she loves music so much and really enjoyed to play, such music lover would never disappointing us. She's great!

[@BongboBongbong]

+David Roddis Thanks for saying what I was thinking. ;) Have the critics listened to her Rach III / Prokofiev II ?!

[@chonoviva11]

+David Roddis Good comment, David. Yes, indeed Miss Yuja is an exquisite, passionate and well tempered creator at the piano.

[@jorgealfredogonzalezgonzalez]

Faltan palabras. Es maravilloso verla y un placer total, escucharla.

[@walkercatenaccio]

Listen to the varieties of attack on the keys! She paid attention and learned from the best. And her held notes go on forever, while the other fingers dance on against their harmonic base. When a phrase repeats, it is never exactly the same the second time, because it is continuation of the story.

[@ingerlander]

Sometimes... we need took take time out to realize that, as astounding and astonishing all these pianists are... this piece of music came out of the head of Rachmaninoff. I can get my head around pianists playing this music, but writing it.

[@robbes7rh]

I think there are some in the West who feel that Asians from the Orient cannot fully embrace the expression and spirit of the western classical style. Ms. Wang is a living contradiction to this paradigm. She plays the piano with stupendous power and mastery. Nuance, shade, contrast - all emerge from her frighteningly precise renditions. To suggest that her playing reflects a lack of understanding is simply ridiculous. Show me _any_ pianist from _any_ where who plays _Petrushka_ better than she. I say there are none. For a grown man to gush over an early twenties female concert pianist may seem desperate and cliché - *I DON'T CARE!* I love her [musical ability] - and that will never cease.

[@heterosectional]

+robbes7rh GAWD! I've seen and heard Asians play Debussy and Ravel. And they are the BEST!

[@headache042]

+robbes7rh For me she is the Horowitz of the 21st century.

[@CedricCooke]

With all due respect Mr. robbes7rh, those in the "West" who feel this way should read her bio - she came to the West in her teens, thus she is "Western trained" and therefore there is no contradiction at all. As well, to say "Asians from the Orient" is redundant and as well embraces the word "Orient", which most Asians find offensive (although I'm sure you did not mean it) because it originated in the West. Otherwise good comments. "History informs the present and inspires the future." (John Morris)

[@robbes7rh]

You are correct in your assumption that I meant no offense with the word "Orient". My commentary was somewhat off the cuff, but I was essentially talking down comments I perceive as negative memes that put forth the idea that Asians, whose cultural orientation [zikes! there's that word again] is chiefly their country of origin, perform with technical prowess but fail in capturing the intended expression of the piece [mostly late classical to late Romantic]. I was trying to make a distinction between these Asians and those in the West who are of Asian heritage, but whose cultural affinity is not. I'm aware that Yuja Wang is more the latter than the former, but I'm not sure those who harbor such sentiments make this distinction. Thank you for your feedback.

[@CedricCooke]

Fair enough. I am hardly qualified to judge her musicality, but I know a gent who is. I merely wanted to point out that her young adulthood perhaps had more influence from the West than the East, since she came to Philadelphia at age 14, if I remember correctly. At any rate, here's a review of her recent performance with the Santa Cruz Symphony... Santa Cruz Symphony: Yuja Wang Triumphs by Joe Sekon, D.M.A.February 19, 2017 Ever since Maestro Danny Stewart announced the Spring 2017 Santa Cruz concert schedule and revealed Yuja Wang would perform not one, but two piano concerti, the excitement began and culminated into reality on Sunday, at the Mello Center in Watsonville. The concert sold out! More than 300 enthusiasts attended the Friday Open Rehearsal at the Civic and received a taste of the musical “tour de force” that was unleashed at Sunday’s concert. At the rehearsal intermission Yuja was engulfed by young and old alike and the young received special attention by photo taking and just being close to a famous musical “super star.” By all accounts Yuja enjoyed the excitement in entertaining style! The last piano concerti by two of the greatest composers - Sergei Prokofiev’s (1891-1953) Concerto No. 5 in G Major, Op. 55 (1932) and Johannes Brahms’ (1833-1897) Concerto No. 2 in B Flat Major (1881) - were the featured works. Redundant, but perhaps necessary to say Yuja Wang is one of those incredible pianists who appears on the classical musical scene every few years with the ability to set the keyboard on fire with her technical capacity and musical prowess to master a nearly impossible work while displaying a depth of understanding and an effortless virtuosity. She demonstrated these skills in Sunday’s concert where she was perfectly matched with Maestro Stewart’s keen ear and direction. Yuja entered the stage wearing a bright green mini-skirt that glowed as if it were made of neon lights, and yes on her trademark 6-inch spike heels! Let’s not forget that her favorite “pop” star is Lady Gaga. Prokofiev composed five concerti for piano and orchestra. Although the third has been performed with the greatest degree of frequency, during recent decades the second concerto has gained serious recognition, and now, thanks to Yuja Wang, we are just about to become more familiar with his fifth concerto - in all respects an amazing work! In Prokofiev’s own analysis, the “classical line” of his compositional development can be traced back to his early childhood and the works of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. This idea culminates with his Classical Symphony, Op/ 25 (1915-1916). The five movements of his Concerto No. 5 are designated Allegro con brio; Moderato ben accentuato; Toccata: Allegro con fuoco; Larghetto and Vivo. Since this was Yuja’s first performance of this most challenging work she performed from the score, but referred to it very sparingly. The classical line of Prokofiev’s style was made quite evident in the third Toccata and fourth Larghetto movements, both with expressive support from various sections of the orchestral. Yuja’s keyboard pyrotechnics lit up the keyboard in the fifth Vivo movement that featured abrupt shifts in tempo, brusque attacks, melodic cross-hand playing, glissandi and dynamics pushed the envelope to its extreme limits. Yuja came out on stage for the Brahms elegantly attired in a lovely black and gold dress that set the stage for a performance as distinct as her attire. In 1881, more than twenty years after his Piano Concerto No. 1, Brahms composed his second concerto set in four movements Allegro non troppo; Allegro appassionato; Andante and Allegrettto grazioso. This work contains some of the most deeply felt and challenging music ever written for the piano. The work opened with a horn solo’s stately, buoyant gesture with the piano answering in an ascending B flat major passage that set the tone and allowed listeners to prepare for the massive work in its all absorbing complexity. As Chopin’s works are melodic, Brahms piano writing is orchestral, employing huge chords that Yuja executed cleanly and crisply in true orchestral fashion. Maestro Stewart guided the orchestra through the D minor opening and D major excursions of the second Allegro appassionato movement as Yuja wove melodic lines through the contrasting tumultuous and melodic textures. The expansive lyricism of the Andante third movement provided a welcome respite. The symphonic paradigm was somewhat displaced by a chamber-music like triangulation between the piano, solo cello and the clarinets that shared an intimate musical and poetic relationship. The stunningly beautiful central section alluded to Brahms’ songs and cast Yuja in the light of interlocutor and sensitive orchestral participant rather than turgid soloist. Here her trill entrances were slowly approached, then tapered and her ascending/descending arpeggio lines were realized with a hint of quasi rubato. Her chords were sharp and bright throughout. The cello/piano duet was spot on musically and orchestral balance was superbly supportive and imaginative. The Allegretto grazioso final movement opened with a light, bouncy feel while the piano danced in a staccato fashion with well calculated, meaningful pauses between a continuous orchestral texture. The flute imitating piano dialogue was exceptionally well done and all in all it was a delightful musical treat beyond expectations! True to the maestro’s form, both works were conducted without a score! The audience rose to its feet with a thunderous sense of approval and appreciation for this delightful musical treat. After the third standing ovation, she returned to sit down and perform her rendition of Rondo alla Turca from Mozart’s Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major. The version Yuja is famous for playing as an encore was originally published in 1970 as “Alla Turca Jazz” by Turkish pianist/composer Fazil Say. However, Yuja has been adding in her own virtuoso licks that have far surpassed the original in daring and virtuosity. To witness her performing this piece as an encore is an amazing experience, for it goes so way beyond even the virtuosity of Vladimir Horowitz, and it is totally over the top and constantly evolving in her own performances. Check out her several performances on KZbin (each one is slightly different), and you will be astounded all over again to hear how she makes an incredibly difficult piece appear as easy as child’s play. Well done orchestra, Yuja Wang and Maestro Stewart for yet another unforgettable musical experience!

[@xcandomath897]

Listen , this girl is a Blessing , sunrays in my life . Dear Rachmaninoff you're very lucky , you're gaining three hundred percent with this Yuja , I guess you like her the same as I love her , my Yuja :D :D

[@Khaliszt]

Very beautiful! I always love artist that have an unique style and when you hear them play you can sense that style. It's like a Van Gogh painting, you instantly know whose it is, right? That makes an artist unique. I love Wang's playing as i love Lang Lang's or Kissin's or many other pianists because of that.

[@tizianomarcolini7088]

Les superlatifs pour définir votre talent n' existent tout simplement pas ! Bravisssssssssima ! Marty.

[@hectorcarmona3091]

beauty lies on the eye of the beholder,great performance,superb,enjoyed to the fullest .

[@firstlady6530]

Her playing of Rachmaninoff takes it to a very special level which I have NEVER heard of in any other pianist.

[@ross9143]

She is simply one of the most talented musicians on this planet. Her playing is so cute, precise and clean....what else I can say being a classical pianist myself..she is amazing. I must admit I didnt watch her performances on youtube until earlier today...but she is also wonderfully, great selling material..very marketable..she has the looks to go with her tremendous pianistic talent...wow...so what more could u ask for eh?.

[@julianogaliano5881]

Hermosa interpretación de Yuja Wang y la orquesta, cuando el sonido te permite volar la imaginación, significa que todo esta perfecto.

[@หลากหลายบูรณาการวิชาการ]

I love watching her naturally agile fingers.Fantastic and marvellous interpretation!!!

[@63websurfer]

Beautiful piece

[@mgy992002]

I once watched her play Rachmaninoff concerto No.3! no words for it, just beautiful.

[@demtrugnuwaab6766]

Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini with Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra was the first music I bought 60 years ago. Here is another great interpretation that inspires me - Thanks/Спасибо

[@Azian2DaMax]

Variation 23 and 24 send chills down my spine every time

[@nickkor667]

Не с кем и нечем сравнивать. Можно только наслаждаться исполнением рапсодии. Мы свидетели открытия уникальных способностей о которых понятия не имели и представить себе не могли. Слушая эту прекрасную рапсодию понимаешь мир по иному. Оказывается можно решать супер задачи имея необходимый талант и это может решить его перспективу. Привет из Киева.

[@grahamlyons8522]

[from Google Translate] There is no one to compare with. One can only enjoy the performance of the rhapsody. We are witnesses to the discovery of unique abilities about which I had no idea and could not imagine. Listening to this beautiful rhapsody you understand the world in a different way. It turns out that you can solve insuperable problems with the necessary talent and this can solve his prospects (?). Hello from Kyiv.

[@ВалерийБорисов-п1р]

инопланетянка.❤

[@lawrenceclemens8494]

Exquisite! Love the way both Yuja Wang and Charles Dutoit attacked the piece, yet with great feeling and sensitivity in the quieter passages. Reminds me very much of the version by Leonard Bernstein and Gary Graffman (which is here on youtube). I think Rachmaninoff would be proud of this scintillating performance. Thank you for posting!

[@emmanuelpadillamarquez7548]

Maravilloso, gracias Yuja.

[@OwenMcBarrayRamos]

It is the best interpretation in my opinion, definitely has femininity note from the 15:22 minute I find super romantic, and I love the 16:00 minutes accentuates bass in the piano, is the best pianist for this topic definitely some big Yuja Wang

[@kwixotic]

If a pianist's rendition of the famous passage from this piece can bring me to tears(as this has done because I often can't help but think of the association with the late Christopher Reeve in "Somewhere in Time"), then I KNOW that pianist is someone I really admire and would worship at the altar. And she does just that.

[@VladislavGomulka]

BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE..MISS YUJA UNIQUE!

[@VladislavGomulka]

manjaxxxx Уважаемая М. Не надо меня укорять. Я делаю всё возможное, чтобы не сделать ничего неподобающего. Вы могли оответить иноскозательно. Очень, очень рад, что вы живы-здоровы и продолжаете в меру сил ставить на место бандитов и негодяев, Надеюсл ваша мама тоже в порядке. У меня впечатление, что наши враги выдохнулись: у них теперь много других "врагов." Как например украинцев, кавказев и тд, Я всё больше убеждаюсь, что наличие гос-ва Израиль намного. почти до нуля, снижает эффективноссть их кровожадных желаний. Тем ни менее я продолжаю в меру возможности выражать свою непримиримую позицию в отношению к проаганде зла и насилия. Ещё раз спасибо и буду рад быть полезным. Мы с вами закадычные друзья наверное больше, чем 5 лет.

[@VladislavGomulka]

К сожалению Ничего не получается.

[@VladislavGomulka]

manjaxxxx У меня, к сожалению, не получилось. Не знаю, как выйти на ваш channel. Я не столь скептичен, как вы,, ибо на большом кол-ве видео я вижу записи единомышленников. Как я писал, связи с аггрессивными действиями России фокус на евреях уменьшился. Надеюсь у вас всё в порядке. Я читал, что особенно в Мальмо мусульмане портят жизнь нашему брату.

[@VladislavGomulka]

Спасибо и вам. Я пошёл вновь на ваш канал и вновь получил реакцию: "404. That’s an error. The requested URL was not found on this server. That’s all we know." Понятия не имею, что это означает. Буду пытаться вновь. Всего самого наилучшего, таинственная скандинавская приятельница. Ещё раз повторяю" мне кажется что накал звериных чувств по отношению к нашему народу немного ослабился.

[@VladislavGomulka]

manjaxxxx Сделано. Захекал, чтоб не было повадно!

[@竹谷純一郎]

She's great! I'm impressed. I read elsewhere that she started her piano lessons at age six, which is considered too late - at least in Japan. Well, if you got talent, that doesn't matter - obviously. Her rendering of La Valse by Ravel is truly awesome methinks.

[@alexreik424]

+竹谷純一郎 try china dimwit

[@ytubejat]

Yes, her Ravel La Valse performance is the best I've ever heard.

[@johnclarke5459]

D'ac! pour Ravel!!!

[@samirafterone]

wonderful!

[@loveflowers39]

The most dynamic performance I have ever heard. Thank you.

[@samuelpharris9973]

Really enjoy her performances a lot.

[@michaellaconte8338]

Awesome orchestra music and awesome pianist ❤

[@oncefaraway1]

such a beautiful piece of music

[@LingAnFang]

What an amazing piece played by this amazing young star! Love and Love and still Love!

[@steve2280]

Mere words alone cannot describe the exhilarating feeling that overwhelms me listening to this musical genius or the breathtaking manner in which she brings black notes printed on paper to breathing, dancing, wonderful life.

[@rasberryfields2132]

💯‼️Also, you should be a writer--- that description was beautiful.❤

[@paderuski1]

Lovely performance.

[@MiaMia-qc6ci]

5:11it's so funny to watch xD Love you Yuja! Congratulation to the orchestra!!

[@SGlwg]

effortless!!! she is the best among the young pianists.

[@carmenalegre2096]

Beautiful

[@jemzander9371]

I watch only yuja wang for piano concertos, and Sayaka shoji for violin. I'm not a music person, but videos of these two performers will get me glued to the video from start to finish. In youtube term, 100% viewer retention rate.

[@sonnyrivera1327]

Excelent play Yuja! Love it!

[@polskapianist]

beautiful and soulful

[@ricardopardo666]

Outstanding performance/interpretation!

[@pardieupopper339]

Lovely and powerful performance. Thank you for posting this.

[@warrenpugh7844]

I have never been so entranced by a performance such as this one . . .and she is electrifying too. Thanks KZbin.

[@robertotirado5773]

Technique is what makes Yuga a star in my eyes and ears....magnificent fingers!!!!

[@sljc-xg8to]

An amazing lady, and an equally amazing performance! 15:18-18:08, its especially beautiful!

[@veraevans6387]

The fun starts at 15:21, lasts until about 18 :08. With Charles Dutoit conducting this, we are witnessing a classic performance.

[@SergieRachmaninoff]

Please, no. This whole piece is fantastic, not just a single variation.

[@bolero88881]

Yes, she CAN play Rachmaninoff. A great performance all around. I thought Yuja was superb on this. Romantic Rachmaninofff captured perfectly. Thanks for posting this. I'd like to know more details about this performance.

[@edwardferdon2161]

perfection!

[@crigsbe]

I just have to replace the word "music" with Yuja Wang ! I know nothing better ! Thank you very much Yuja. I am following you. With you I can let go all problems. Crigs from Bern.

[@ACloserFriend]

Brilliantly and beautifully played!

[@wspaik2]

Great performance !!

[@hadrianfour]

Yuja - Absolute Perfection

[@PeterAByrne]

Hard to believe that there is an empty front row seat directly beneath her. Why wasn't I told!?! And may I respectfully point out that the little finger of her right hand, at 16:03, plays the single most perfect note ever heard from the piano in its entire history.

[@tomkelley4019]

You are quite observant noticing that empty chair! Best we both were unaware otherwise there might have been a scene. I also suspected you might have exaggerated slightly about that right pinky note but, sure enough, you are right - goosebumps!

[@gailhausmann1329]

Beautiful?? ... Have followed Yuja's career for many years...... Her magical fingers running on the keyboard are filled with lots of emotion... My Mom was a piano teacher, so I grew up with classical music.. Listening to this, I always get teary eyed.. Lovely gowns. Thanks for posting!🙏❤️

[@soniayi5473]

Absolutely the Best Playing !!! ... commented by Sonia Yi

[@BandGeek730]

Amazing

[@Mikeya001]

Recorded live at the Suntory Hall, Tokyo, 17 December 2008. After Yuja just graduated from Curtis Institute of Music, Before she has a recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon in 2009, It is a valuable and fantastic movie.

[@marcoricci55]

well, yes, she´s something unbelievable! BRAVA! though showing her virtuosity Wang keep a very steady elegance. Notes all crystal clear. she´s doesn´t tamper with the keyboards. LOved listening.

[@ondinehd6889]

Fantastic playing!

[@bobbyge3626]

i must say that the brief moment at 5:10-5:15 is quite possibly one of the strangest and funniest images I have seen, though it's perfectly understandable in context. Oh well.

[@MrHoweYOUdoin]

+Bobby Ge I laughed unbelievably hard at that moment as I was watching xDD

[@cherrytime22]

+BOBBY GE Yes the fine conductor, Charles Dutoit becomes somewhat of a ''Robot'' for that brief moment of time !

[@ErikaRibeiro]

hahahahahaha

[@god-son-love]

good one.

[@tenorman2764]

Exceptional pianist. Can't get enough of her recordings

[@alexanderbrown1954]

Bloody good!

[@no1knowledge]

Agree,

[@mariorobertogomez9181]

No quiero decir LA MEJOR (aunque me gustaría decirlo) Digo entonces, una de las mejores pianistas del mundo!! "Yuja Wang"

[@gelpeza]

Minuto 15:20. Hermosa melodía correspondiente a la película "Pídele al tiempo que vuelva", "Somewhere in Time". Gracias por compartir.

[@johnwaign52]

Yuja's fingers could wake up both Sergei and Niccolo!

[@paullyons7621]

Racist??? Sexist??? Youthist??? Pianist???

[@richardlane106]

Rated as one of the top 3 performances of this piece along with Entremont and Cliburn. This young lady is seriously talented...

[@eggizgud]

And how young was she here? Goosebumps at how superb she is already. Camera should have switched to close up from variation 17 and look at her facial expression and hands on bringing out that tension and setting the scene for the sublime variation to come.

[@WilburandErnie]

21.

[@ronnielingerfelt6216]

She's the best... What a talent.

[@randallmaluenda]

The best. On 2/10/23, she will perform this at the Disney on her birthday. Hope you'll be there too.

[@karl-heinzhuber5910]

On the second of July she plays this in Wiesbaden. I will be there! I am so happy to hear her in concert soon!

[@axivalidator7885]

despite the slight blunder at 5:27 this is (subjectively) the best interpretation of this piece, she plays with such accuracy, skill, and sharpness, especially at the start of var. 19.

[@walternicolich895]

ANOTHER WONDERFUL PIECE