This performance is a revelation to me, and this review will contain some heresies. I’ve heard this sonata dozens of times and have far too many recordings of it. (I’ve just returned to the renowned Horowitz recording to check my impressions of Wang.) The sonata has never made complete sense to me until now. Now, thanks to this performance, I see it for the masterpiece it is. Ms. Wang is in complete control of herself, of her understanding of the composer’s intentions, of the ideal way to convey those intentions, and of a transcendent technique that allows her to show us what she knows about Rachmaninoff’s meaning. Wang shows me how the pieces fit together, the big pieces and the little ones. Part of this is, of course, the composer’s doing. Time and again, Wang chooses the exact tempo for each section--large or small. When Rachmaninoff moves to an elaboration or a new idea, Wang takes me there; and the transitions are seamless. I’ve never been so aware of the many recurrences of that downward tumble that begins the sonata or of the first theme. Wang is aware. I hear echoes of those first thoughts throughout the sonata, sometimes just two or three notes, sometimes apparently lost in a welter of virtuosity; but Wang shows them to me. And I’ve never been so accutely aware that so much of the piece is about bells. Bells pervade this composer’s music, and they pervade this sonata. Sometimes they are high treble bells, and sometimes they thunder in the bass. Sometimes they are lost, like the recurrent themes, in an avalanche of notes, but Wang hears them. Horowitz isn’t as clean as Wang; he splashes too much. And for all his affinity for the composer, I don’t think he understood the piece as well as Wang does. Apparently, I’m late discovering this video, but it’s a reason I appreciate RUclips. So thanks to dondokodokodon and thanks most of all to Yuja Wang.
You use one interesting word, which I also used to use to describe the specific of Wang's playing - transcendent. Indeed, the technique is not a gimmick for itself, but enables her to turn the pure idea into sound, without the way over the "instrument" in the bad sense of "tool". You probably know her video of the 2-hand-version of "La Valse"? (Meanwhile are there 2 videos. I don't know the other yet.) Indeed, I never noted that this Sonata is a masterwork. What she does of it - no, how she leeds it back to what it is, is astonishing. Shame on me - the round goes again to - Mr. Rachmaninov!
Incredible performance and artist. I was privileged to hear Van Cliburn perform this sonata when he was on the national tour following his win of the Tchaikovsky competition many decades ago. Because the performance (Syracuse University) was sold out, management arranged for seats to be placed on stage. I could almost touch the piano from where I sat. Cliburn simply feel forward onto the keyboard as he finished and remained emotionally overcome for at least a minute. An unforgettable musical experience for me and one that I most cherish. I admire any musician who can actually play this stupendous composition. Bravo Yuja Wang.
The tone of that piano is so beautiful, it's the tone I've always been looking for, it's like a soft pillow is thrown into your face really hard, it's perfect
I think not important which piano player has the best interpretation of a piece. If one person had a magic experience with a performance, THAT interpretation will stand out as the best, for THAT person:) About Yuja Wang is only to say that she plays deeply felt, with her own unique way of expressing music and no technicall problems at all. Many of her interpretations stand alone to me as magical.
YUJA IS REALLY A GREAT MUSICIAN, SHE NOT ONLY PLAY THE PIANO/THE NOTES BUT SHE PLAYS THE MUSIC WHICH SHE UNDERSTANDS AND CUMMINICATES WITH GREAT SUCCESS. SHE BRINGS AN EXCITING LISTENING EXPERIENCE TO EVERYTHING SHE SOUCHES. WELL, WHAT CAN I SAY?
2013-04-17 Toppan Hall, Tokyo, Japan Piano Recital Yuja Wang, piano 1.1 SCRIABIN: Piano Sonata No. 2 in G sharp minor, Op. 19 1.2 SCRIABIN: Piano Sonata No. 6 in G major, Op. 62 1.3 RAVEL: La Valse 2.1 LIEBERMANN: Gargoyles, Op. 29 2.2 RACHMANINOV: Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 36 (revised 1931) E.1 SCHUBERT/LISZT: Gretchen am Spinnrade, Op. 2, D. 118 E.2 PROKOFIEV: Toccata in D minor, Op. 11
Absolutely beautiful! What amazes me is that she obviously get's away with wearing such incredibly high-heeled shoes while playing such a demanding piece such as this, the kind of complex pedal technique that's required here. Fantastic! :-)
She has fully captured the haunting romanticism of Rachmanninoff together with the required awesome technical virtuosity. She is not doing anything wrong, either, by being a very beautiful young woman.
Yuja, wear what the hell you want, I don't give a damn. Honestly I can't wait for the day men will wear skirts, so we can have a lot of fun together. I am grateful people like you work so hard to give us so much. And thank you dondokodokodon (love the name) for uploading. Damn it I love Rachmaninov!
almost bought a work kilt at falcon ridge folk fest many years back, i would have been the talk of the construction site no doubt, regret not purchasing it
I can't believe it, a Rachmaninov work I'd never heard! And blown away with Yuja's virtuosity in performing it. Just no end to her accomplishments... ❤️
This piece is the test of any great pianist. With her beyond-enormous talent and ability to actually play pieces like this perfectly, she can afford to research the context, history and cultural milieu a piece comes from. In this case, to know the great and consistent pain the Russians have endured for centuries. This sonata is a trip through that pain....and Rachmaninov's own deliverance from a writing block he suffered after the premier of his first concerto. We don't have to hold her hand waiting to see if she stumbles. And as well, she should know that we listeners know this. We got it...Yuja is the best pianist of our time. This performance is already beyond any previous player's abilities. Now go ahead and take license to dig into the pit of the Russian soul.
If anyone thinks she hasn't nailed the emotion on this, they must be listening to a different performance than me! I have never heard it so well played, she is quite simply, fantastic!
+suegha THE TELEGRAPH As Nicola Benedetti, the violinist, bemoans the idea that sex sells classical music, professor of marketing Gloria Moss explains why both genders cash in on their looks to make their millions By Professor Gloria Moss 1:27PM BST 01 Apr 2014 Like it or not, looks affect our responses. So Nicola Benedetti’s comments that “classical music isn’t supposed to be sexy” and that her success bears no relation to her looks flies in the face of volumes of marketing research. It also flies in the face of history, since you have only to think of the effect of composer and pianist Franz Liszt in the 19th century (a 'looker' in his day) on women to realise this. Women would tear bits of his clothing, fight over broken piano strings and locks of his shoulder-length hair. They would even take his cigar butts and place them in their cleavages. ..... When it comes to classical music, you could argue that people don't buy or listen to it based on what the composer or musician looks like: they listen to their CD or record rather than watch it online through a music video, where female pop stars generally flirt with the camera to generate attention. .... However, people's responses to classical musicians do have a visual element, whether it is through the CD cover, concert hall or visual recording, and this will inevitably influence purchasing reactions. Related Articles Sex isn't what sells classical music, Nicola Benedetti says 01 Apr 2014 'Women who do well out of their looks play the game' 01 Apr 2014 'I can wear long skirts when I am 40' 05 Feb 2014 Besides, how do the successful classical musicians get their big break in the first place? Of course, talent is a huge part of it. So is hard work. But combine that with a beautiful body, flowing locks and an attractive smile, and you're onto a winner. Take extraordinary pianist Yuja Wang, who has made it her signature to perform in short dresses. Take Anne Sophie-Mutter, plucked for stardom by Karajan at the age of 13, and her strapless Galliano dresses. .... Also think of violinist Nigel Kennedy, protégé of Yehudi Menuhin, and the way his punk hairstyle may have helped him reach a large audience. The winning recipe is a superabundance of talent plus looks. Those who know how to use their looks well have an advantage: sex will always sell. .... At the end of the day, Benedetti may well baulk at the impact of looks but there is no denying their impact in her own success. That's just the world we live in; how does that old saying go: if you've got it, flaunt it. Dr Gloria A Moss is professor of marketing and management at Buckinghamshire New University and a visiting professor at ESG, Paris. She is the author of gender, design and marketing and has a new book, 'Why men like straight lines and women like polka dots', appearing in the spring.
+suegha Bravo, bravo, bravo!!! diarrhoea? hysterics? :-) < Talk Classcal> Forum < Sexualisation of women in the classical music industry> Time and time again people have certainly opined on the presentation of female performers, wether it be Yuja Wang's dress, Lara St. John's CD covers or Anne Sofie Mutter's pose (recently those violinists were pointed out in the worst cd covers thread). Each of these cases, according to different people, have come down to a general conclusion that sexist inclinations of today have influenced their physical appearance (on varying levels). Even on this site there have been debates as to modesty on stage, the importance of appearance, wether women should conduct an orchestra and so on, which all end up boiling down to the same (if not a similar) debate.
Have made a few very good comparisons and I'm impressed , well actually very impressed !! The magisterial performance and technical assurance as well as intensity is ahead of many other performers . Your thoroughly enthralled and now lifelong fan , Georgios.
Anyone who can play this piece is remarkable and this performer certainly has a valid interpretation. If you don't like her clothes, why not just minimise the window and listen to the music - the audio is out-of-sync with the video anyway! Listen to her majestic but lyrical transition to the tonic around 19 mins, for instance, which for me is illustrative of one of her great strengths - those sighing rubatos. Never mind the mistakes (even she was gracious enough to smile after those last 3 bars) - remember this is a live performance.
Such caressing of the keys ~ as though she is seducing the instrument to give its all ! But she can also pound it to demand every drop of musical brilliance. Watching and listening to Yuja Wang is a breath-taking delight of the highest magnitude.
Yuja Wang is a phenomenon, more than a woman, more than a musician of genius, she is a sensation, for what she can do with her pair of hands that by far do not have the size of Rachmaninov's or Richter's is absolutely mind-boggling. I think that her pianistic 'stretchability' accurately matches her mental flexibility and intelligence.
+Peter Fritz Walter ...."a phenomenon, ... a musician of genius, ..." ah, uh, oh! "Sex sells ...classical music?" Sex sells. Marketing professionals know that, which is why advertisements for everything from cars to beer regularly feature scantily clad women. We live in an age where appearance is more important than ever before; scientific studies suggest that more attractive people get better jobs and are happier. Until recently, classical music was one of the few industries where sex is not usually used to sell the product. Performers often dress within a prescribed fashion, with men wearing dinner suits or tuxedos and women wearing full-length dresses. However, a number of prominent musicians have recently been courting controversy for their appearance. Young Chinese pianist Yuja Wang has received as much coverage about her appearance as her performances recently, with the Los Angeles Times commenting, “Her dress [on] Tuesday was so short and tight that had there been any less of it, the Bowl might have been forced to restrict admission to any music lover under 18 not accompanied by an adult. Had her heels been any higher, walking, to say nothing of her sensitive pedaling, would have been unfeasible.” It’s not just women pushing the envelope, though. American organist Cameron Carpenter, a soloist with this year’s NZSO National Youth Orchestra, has received a great deal of media attention for wearing white stovepipe trousers and bejewelled tops during performances. In an interview with Radio New Zealand’s Kathryn Ryan, Carpenter admitted that he regularly works out at the gym, and opined that a musician’s appearance is “extremely important”. Korean-American violinist Hahn-Bin describes himself as “Viagra to classical music”, and dresses flamboyantly, complete with heavy eyeliner and Mohawk hairstyle.
Compare your comment to the first comment by Nicola Feller to the video of this same performance posted by 'Classical Vault One'. I'm not saying who is right or wrong, it's just fascinating to see how different people's opinions can be. As Charles Rosen says, what you expect to hear seems to affect one's perception of a performance. For the record, I would say you both have somewhat extreme views, and the 'real' interpretation is somewhere between the two extremes.
Wow, Yuja Wang is extraordinary, great technique and phrasing, her interpretation of the piece is brilliant and very emotional she can extract from the piece all of its expressive potential. Unfortunately the audio of the video is not perfect
I agree. There are some things I hear here that I don't like, but it's impossible to know whether it's Wang's interpretation (less likely) or the audio (more likely).
The best interpretation I have heard of this unique sonata, very much on lines of Vladimir Ashkenazy who was since decades the ever best in interpreting this sonata that so many other pianists have spoilt by too much passion, too much of detailed pianistry and too much philosophical superiority-which clearly includes Marc-André Hamelin.
Wonderful performance. Powerful, passionate, personal, colorful. (And, whoa, just heard an excellent performance by Sidney Foster, posted in the last day or two, from the 1970s).
she is an unbelievable performer, truly one of the top pianists in music history! however still Ashkenazy's is my favourite performance for this specific work!
+Tarek Refaat طارق رفعت I think Yuga and Lang Lang are overrated, we have a tendency in the US to take on a pied piper attitude when it comes to certain things, people think they have to follow the crowd or be PC which i never liked, our society is so age and looks oriented we forget the subject. (looks wise it does not apply here)
Etonnante Yuja !!! Elle a bien comprise et intégré la personnalité de Rachmaninov et son jeu pianistique en témoigne dans cette sonate aux multiples nuances, où doivent s'accorder une technique sans faille et le sentiment général de l'œuvre qui s'épanouit au fil des notes. Magnifique interprétation !
finalmente un Rach come si deve! non virtuosistico ma passionale, bassi raddoppiati dove ci vuole, armonie messe a fuoco, temi e controtemi perfetti! si sentono tutte l note e gli accordi!!!
There is not a player alive today who can rival Ms. Wang's ability to match precision with lyricism. The music comes alive precisely to the degree that she, Ms. Wang, is able to take the oft times jazzy interplay of colors and balance them with an almost lighthearted dancing on the keys. She makes of the rough and tumble of the piece a decided musculature that she balances with a pianissimo full of an absolute panoply of orchestral colors. Again, we are brought to a deeper understanding of Rachmaninov's orchestration and ultimately we are thrust into the bright lights of a new day....brava Ms. Wang. We are left wondering how you do it and breathlessly wanting more...
I tried playing this monstrosity of a piece a few years ago, fool that I am. Revisiting it now, I can't say I would ever care to give it another go...but Wang definitely does play it well enough (even if it's not by any means a definitive version). That piano, though. Good God, someone tune the damn thing.
+Paul Thomas Actually, it's not the whole piano that's out. It's mainly the A above middle C. When a unison goes out and it's not way up in the treble, it is so noticeable that it sounds like the entire instrument is out of tune.
This comes as close to my ultimate performance of this work (Van Cliburn in Moscow at the height of his powers) as any I've heard. Colossal technique, artistry and intelligence to give this piece structure. Yuja is sexy, talented and humorous - the perfect three.
Bravo! Great interpretation especially the phrasing and what she chose to emphasize. Rachmaninoff always had those inner melodies that he considered so important. This was a technical tour de force that covered the gamut of emotions. What a performance! And who is whining about her (sexy) attire? She wants to look nice and she does!
Te amo profundamente y agradezco tu existencia y el gozo de cada interpretación tuya. BRAVO YUJA!!! (Sr, Dondokodokodon Gracias a Usted de nuevo por permitirme escuchar y ver toda la belleza de esta gran pianista)
There are moments of an incredible sweetness in this performance, the way I want to do it myself, too.The big difference between Mrs. Wang and myself is that she does it much better.
+Mario DiSarli I wasn't mentioning her clothes, but her music making. Miss Wang has been giving concerts all over the world, so she's definitely not "losing her credibility as an artist".You don't like her clothes ? Your problem, not mine.Cordially, Geert Dehoux, pianist. Belgian King's Prize Winner.
really talking about her dress? I believe offensive is talking about her dresses while she is clearly a top artist. May be you do not like her way to play piano, but please do not talk about dresses, strip club or being offensive....
Reading some of the comments. REALLY????? Jealous people commenting about her clothes???? She’s young, gorgeous, HOT, and most of all .... TALENTED AS HELL!! I don’t give a rat’s ass what the naysayers say.... it’s just simple jealousy. That’s all.
I came here top listen to wang yuja play Rachmaninoff - thoroughly enjoyed it! Then I read some on the comments .... I am staggered that people who probably have less than 1% of her ability are abusing her for what they consider to be her style / interpretation and most of all her dress. Get a life ... please!
Apparte che é bravissima, la scordatura del pianoforte lascia alla vista che non siamo ne saremo mai perfetti e tutti si cammina insieme verso l'eccellenza e la bellezza, senza biglietto di ritorno
It's easy to see (hear) when "classical music" stopped being the popular music (the music of the masses), and started being for the musically inclined elite. She plays this beautifully (I'm sure you don't need me to tell you this), but for the general populace, it starts off as very impressive and enjoyable. About 10 minutes into the piece, our minds start wandering, and about 15 minutes along, it starts sounding like noise. I'm far from gifted; I'm just making an observation. The general population wants music they can hum during the day. There is no humming of this beautiful piece. So, when I listen to Bach, Beethoven, or Vivaldi, I can pick out phrases I find myself humming during the day. To answer the question "Why did 'classical' music fall from popular enjoyment?", we can look at this piece, interesting as it is (and very difficult to play), it's not universally enjoyable. I did love watching her play.
This is perhaps one of Rachmaninov's most difficult pieces to understand, if you take a look at his piano concerti 2 and 3, his symphony 2 or his "isle of the dead" you will certainly hear some beautiful melodies. In fact, the music critics in his time were always complaining about the considerable amount of "exagerated" melodies in his works. Sorry for bad english I speak french.
In answer to Martha Jane regarding her hooker like dress sense. Yuja I believe started piano at the age of six, in many respects the intensity of her studies prevented her enjoying a natural childhood even in the western sense. As a concert pianist she has to perform on many occasions wearing a ball gown and has done this for many years. The sudden appearance of an attractive asian girl with short skirt and high heels might be quite alarming to the well travelled, a little perhaps like suddenly seeing a German soldier in full battle gear ; a little inappropriate for example immediately following the second world war. Yuja is an attractive girl and an exceptional pianist . She just want to sometimes wear modern clothes she feels up to date with and is never trying after the appeal of a Thai hooker.
+Georges Cancan And you, Sir, are a uptight would like connoisseur with an underdeveloped sense of appropriate behavior. Go into the redlight district and let yourself get laid, maybe that will your troubled relationship with women. Idiot
Yes, Mr Martin Singer! Hair and dress was specially for fan! for fan: New York CLASSICAL REVIEW < Yuja shows familiar flash but a lack of depth in Carnegie recital> By Eric C. Simpson May 15.2016 Bravo, Eric! Yuja is a well-oiled (Sex sells + Kitsch) Chinese sewing machine! YW - PR product, money making machine!!!
I wonder if this piece was written in response to Nikolai Medtner's "Night Wind" sonata (which was dedicated to Rachmaninov). It's a bit reminiscent, but Medtner wins the prize. Yuja should play Night Wind. I'm sure she'd knock the hell out of it.
Absolutely nice playing ... but I agree - piano is terribly out of tune!! I know how fuzzy most top artists are having such recordings out there and therefore it is a mystery to me that her agency did not step in here. In 2014 she changed her agency so I dont even know if Mark Newbank or Opus3 is to blame.
Прекрасное исполнение! Но я всегда сравниваю с Ваном Клиберном, который сыграл и записал в Москве эту сонату в конце 1950-х. Для меня Клиберн - эталон. Его соната №2 звучала как оркестр. Исполнение В. Горовица довольно камерное, суховатое, я бы сказал - грфичное. Клиберн (кстати - и Юджа Ванг) - это яркая, сочная живопись.
Yuja's a great virtuoso, but there are some "objective" issues with this performance. 1) the piano really does go badly out of tune along the way. Something wrong with the instrument itself 2) her pedaling is sometimes problematic; she tends to release the sostenuto pedal and the keys "almost" simultaneously at the end of a movement or section - a lot of otherwise excellent pianists do this - and it creates a muddy, humming overtone. Best would be to release the pedal first, then the hands a split second later. Actually, as I just heard, Yuja nailed the 3rd movement ending. Perfecto 3) again, I believe the score she used (hear also: Hamelin, Ogden) is Rachmaninoff's 1931 butchery of the original 1913 version. He didn't revise it to make it "better", but to make it more accessible to lesser performers. Today's artists who "know the score" play the original, which typically runs about 23"-25" in performance; some joke about having an ambulance stand by, but so far no hands have been broken
To me this performance kind of 'dies' in the lyrical sections. The challenge is to play those sections expressively and at the same time sustain the energy of the piece as a whole, otherwise the sonata sounds like a collection of virtuosic displays interspersed with quiet songful moments, but without these being musically related in a way that the work as a whole, comes across. 'Disjointed' is a word that comes to mind. But I'm not knocking her ability, beautiful use of her hands and fingers, just awesome in that regard.
I think the bass notes of the piano aren't tuned properly; sounds clumsy, but great treble/bass balance is imperative for beauty of this sonata. Helene Grimaud has a beautiful rendition of Rach's sonata.
![Yuja Wang: Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor Op. 18 [HD]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/NsqXCO0ADwM/mqdefault.jpg)
![Yuja Wang: Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor Op. 18 [HD]](/img/tr.png)
![Yuja Wang: Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor Op. 30 [HD]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/5bX_yRzCuM4/mqdefault.jpg)
She’s so good… the way she phrases certain things just makes so much sense.
This performance is a revelation to me, and this review will contain some heresies. I’ve heard this sonata dozens of times and have far too many recordings of it. (I’ve just returned to the renowned Horowitz recording to check my impressions of Wang.) The sonata has never made complete sense to me until now. Now, thanks to this performance, I see it for the masterpiece it is. Ms. Wang is in complete control of herself, of her understanding of the composer’s intentions, of the ideal way to convey those intentions, and of a transcendent technique that allows her to show us what she knows about Rachmaninoff’s meaning. Wang shows me how the pieces fit together, the big pieces and the little ones. Part of this is, of course, the composer’s doing. Time and again, Wang chooses the exact tempo for each section--large or small. When Rachmaninoff moves to an elaboration or a new idea, Wang takes me there; and the transitions are seamless. I’ve never been so aware of the many recurrences of that downward tumble that begins the sonata or of the first theme. Wang is aware. I hear echoes of those first thoughts throughout the sonata, sometimes just two or three notes, sometimes apparently lost in a welter of virtuosity; but Wang shows them to me. And I’ve never been so accutely aware that so much of the piece is about bells. Bells pervade this composer’s music, and they pervade this sonata. Sometimes they are high treble bells, and sometimes they thunder in the bass. Sometimes they are lost, like the recurrent themes, in an avalanche of notes, but Wang hears them. Horowitz isn’t as clean as Wang; he splashes too much. And for all his affinity for the composer, I don’t think he understood the piece as well as Wang does. Apparently, I’m late discovering this video, but it’s a reason I appreciate RUclips. So thanks to dondokodokodon and thanks most of all to Yuja Wang.
You should listen to Kocsis.
You use one interesting word, which I also used to use to describe the specific of Wang's playing - transcendent. Indeed, the technique is not a gimmick for itself, but enables her to turn the pure idea into sound, without the way over the "instrument" in the bad sense of "tool".
You probably know her video of the 2-hand-version of "La Valse"? (Meanwhile are there 2 videos. I don't know the other yet.)
Indeed, I never noted that this Sonata is a masterwork. What she does of it - no, how she leeds it back to what it is, is astonishing. Shame on me - the round goes again to - Mr. Rachmaninov!
John Pendley, you said that very well. 😊
@@duqueadriano0081 Kocsis is indeed magnificent, but Wang is very, very good. Less gripping thatn Kocsis, but quite beautifully done.
For me it's lugansky especially the 2 mov, all the voicing
Incredible performance and artist. I was privileged to hear Van Cliburn perform this sonata when he was on the national tour following his win of the Tchaikovsky competition many decades ago. Because the performance (Syracuse University) was sold out, management arranged for seats to be placed on stage. I could almost touch the piano from where I sat. Cliburn simply feel forward onto the keyboard as he finished and remained emotionally overcome for at least a minute. An unforgettable musical experience for me and one that I most cherish. I admire any musician who can actually play this stupendous composition. Bravo Yuja Wang.
Cliburn's recording of this work is in my opinion the best ever made by a mile
Yuja is the millennium talent, a magician on the piano, and this Rachmaninoff sonata a magical-mysterious piece of music. A fairytale moment for sure.
10:26 - 11:35 this section always brings tears to my eyes ❤
Agreed, also 13:00-14:00 My heart yearns for the simple beauty expressed by these sections.
Unfortunate that the A4 unison went badly out of tune, likely during the first movement
The tone of that piano is so beautiful, it's the tone I've always been looking for, it's like a soft pillow is thrown into your face really hard, it's perfect
Every time I listen to a piece performed by Yuja Wang, I have to marvel at the breadth and depth of this phenomenal artist. Bravo!
I think not important which piano player has the best interpretation of a piece. If one person had a magic experience with a performance, THAT interpretation will stand out as the best, for THAT person:) About Yuja Wang is only to say that she plays deeply felt, with her own unique way of expressing music and no technicall problems at all. Many of her interpretations stand alone to me as magical.
YUJA IS REALLY A GREAT MUSICIAN, SHE NOT ONLY PLAY THE PIANO/THE NOTES BUT SHE PLAYS THE MUSIC WHICH SHE UNDERSTANDS AND CUMMINICATES WITH GREAT SUCCESS. SHE BRINGS AN EXCITING LISTENING EXPERIENCE TO EVERYTHING SHE SOUCHES. WELL, WHAT CAN I SAY?
2013-04-17 Toppan Hall, Tokyo, Japan
Piano Recital
Yuja Wang, piano
1.1 SCRIABIN: Piano Sonata No. 2 in G sharp minor, Op. 19
1.2 SCRIABIN: Piano Sonata No. 6 in G major, Op. 62
1.3 RAVEL: La Valse
2.1 LIEBERMANN: Gargoyles, Op. 29
2.2 RACHMANINOV: Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 36 (revised 1931)
E.1 SCHUBERT/LISZT: Gretchen am Spinnrade, Op. 2, D. 118
E.2 PROKOFIEV: Toccata in D minor, Op. 11
The greatest pianist of her generation.
Lol
Absolutely beautiful! What amazes me is that she obviously get's away with wearing such incredibly high-heeled shoes while playing such a demanding piece such as this, the kind of complex pedal technique that's required here. Fantastic! :-)
She has fully captured the haunting romanticism of Rachmanninoff together with the required awesome technical virtuosity. She is not doing anything wrong, either, by being a very beautiful young woman.
Yuja, wear what the hell you want, I don't give a damn. Honestly I can't wait for the day men will wear skirts, so we can have a lot of fun together. I am grateful people like you work so hard to give us so much. And thank you dondokodokodon (love the name) for uploading. Damn it I love Rachmaninov!
why would men wear skirts
Nesty why would women wear skirts?
No reason beside the fact it’s the norm. so it doesn’t really matter
@@practician5730 They do, at least some do: They're called kilts.
almost bought a work kilt at falcon ridge folk fest many years back, i would have been the talk of the construction site no doubt, regret not purchasing it
@@practician5730 men are cute in skirts :3
Yuja is natures gift to us all, beautiful,charming and a fantastic pianist quite simply The Best
I can't believe it, a Rachmaninov work I'd never heard! And blown away with Yuja's virtuosity in performing it. Just no end to her accomplishments... ❤️
Of all Rachmaninov- these 20 minutes are his greatest achievement.
JUST BEAUTIFUL MUSIC MAKING.
I CAN HEAR HER SINGING ALONG WITH THE MUSIC.
GREAT PERFORMANCE.
This piece is the test of any great pianist. With her beyond-enormous talent and ability to actually play pieces like this perfectly, she can afford to research the context, history and cultural milieu a piece comes from. In this case, to know the great and consistent pain the Russians have endured for centuries. This sonata is a trip through that pain....and Rachmaninov's own deliverance from a writing block he suffered after the premier of his first concerto. We don't have to hold her hand waiting to see if she stumbles. And as well, she should know that we listeners know this. We got it...Yuja is the best pianist of our time. This performance is already beyond any previous player's abilities. Now go ahead and take license to dig into the pit of the Russian soul.
The second movement is epically beautiful!
She's simply got it all. Incomparable!
She finds the poetry as well as the beef and fire. Through Yuga Wang's outstanding account I'm hearing this challenging work anew.
I love the way all her interpretation and emotion is in her face and the graceful hands just follow
If anyone thinks she hasn't nailed the emotion on this, they must be listening to a different performance than me! I have never heard it so well played, she is quite simply, fantastic!
+Fritz Kirchhoff Go get psychiatric help!
+suegha THE TELEGRAPH
As Nicola Benedetti, the violinist, bemoans the idea that sex sells
classical music, professor of marketing Gloria Moss explains why both
genders cash in on their looks to make their millions
By Professor Gloria Moss
1:27PM
BST 01 Apr 2014
Like it or not, looks affect our responses. So Nicola Benedetti’s
comments that “classical music isn’t supposed to be sexy” and that her
success bears no relation to her looks flies in the face of volumes of
marketing research. It also flies in the face of history, since you have
only to think of the effect of composer and pianist Franz Liszt in the
19th century (a 'looker' in his day) on women to realise this. Women
would tear bits of his clothing, fight over broken piano strings and
locks of his shoulder-length hair. They would even take his cigar butts
and place them in their cleavages.
.....
When it comes to classical music, you could argue that people don't buy
or listen to it based on what the composer or musician looks like: they
listen to their CD or record rather than watch it online through a music
video, where female pop stars generally flirt with the camera to
generate attention.
....
However, people's responses to classical musicians do have a visual
element, whether it is through the CD cover, concert hall or visual
recording, and this will inevitably influence purchasing reactions.
Related Articles
Sex isn't what sells classical music, Nicola Benedetti says 01 Apr
2014
'Women who do well out of their looks play the game' 01 Apr 2014
'I can wear long skirts when I am 40' 05 Feb 2014
Besides, how do the successful classical musicians get their big break
in the first place? Of course, talent is a huge part of it. So is hard
work. But combine that with a beautiful body, flowing locks and an
attractive smile, and you're onto a winner.
Take extraordinary pianist Yuja Wang, who has made it her signature to
perform in short dresses.
Take Anne Sophie-Mutter, plucked for stardom by Karajan at the age of
13, and her strapless Galliano dresses.
....
Also think of violinist Nigel Kennedy, protégé of Yehudi Menuhin, and
the way his punk hairstyle may have helped him reach a large audience.
The winning recipe is a superabundance of talent plus looks.
Those who know how to use their looks well have an advantage: sex will
always sell.
....
At the end of the day, Benedetti may well baulk at the impact of looks
but there is no denying their impact in her own success. That's just the
world we live in; how does that old saying go: if you've got it, flaunt
it.
Dr Gloria A Moss is professor of marketing and management at
Buckinghamshire New University and a visiting professor at ESG, Paris.
She is the author of gender, design and marketing and has a new book,
'Why men like straight lines and women like polka dots', appearing in
the spring.
+Fritz Kirchhoff You are mad as a biscuit!
+Georges Cancan And you are too! Please stop posting me messages on these threads!
+suegha Bravo, bravo, bravo!!! diarrhoea? hysterics? :-) < Talk Classcal> Forum
< Sexualisation of women in the classical music industry>
Time and time again people have certainly opined on the
presentation of female performers, wether it be Yuja Wang's dress, Lara
St. John's CD covers or Anne Sofie Mutter's pose (recently those
violinists were pointed out in the worst cd covers thread). Each of
these cases, according to different people, have come down to a general
conclusion that sexist inclinations of today have influenced their
physical appearance (on varying levels). Even on this site there have
been debates as to modesty on stage, the importance of appearance,
wether women should conduct an orchestra and so on, which all end up
boiling down to the same (if not a similar) debate.
Have made a few very good comparisons and I'm impressed , well actually very impressed !! The magisterial performance and technical assurance as well as intensity is ahead of many other performers . Your thoroughly enthralled and now lifelong fan , Georgios.
This Young Lady is phenomenal
Thank You so much Yuja musically you have transformed my life 😘
Love this whole work but the ending is just so stunningly beautiful and dramatic. An absolute joy to listen to.
PHENOMENAL-- ABSOLUTELY STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL..
Anyone who can play this piece is remarkable and this performer certainly has a valid interpretation. If you don't like her clothes, why not just minimise the window and listen to the music - the audio is out-of-sync with the video anyway! Listen to her majestic but lyrical transition to the tonic around 19 mins, for instance, which for me is illustrative of one of her great strengths - those sighing rubatos. Never mind the mistakes (even she was gracious enough to smile after those last 3 bars) - remember this is a live performance.
Such caressing of the keys ~ as though she is seducing the instrument to give its all !
But she can also pound it to demand every drop of musical brilliance.
Watching and listening to Yuja Wang is a breath-taking delight of the highest magnitude.
Yuja Wang is a phenomenon, more than a woman, more than a musician of genius, she is a sensation, for what she can do with her pair of hands that by far do not have the size of Rachmaninov's or Richter's is absolutely mind-boggling. I think that her pianistic 'stretchability' accurately matches her mental flexibility and intelligence.
+Peter Fritz Walter ...."a phenomenon, ... a musician of genius, ..." ah, uh, oh! "Sex sells ...classical music?"
Sex sells. Marketing professionals know that, which is why
advertisements for everything from cars to beer regularly feature
scantily clad women. We live in an age where appearance is more
important than ever before; scientific studies suggest that more
attractive people get better jobs and are happier.
Until recently, classical music was one of the few industries where sex
is not usually used to sell the product. Performers often dress within a
prescribed fashion, with men wearing dinner suits or tuxedos and women
wearing full-length dresses.
However, a number of prominent musicians have recently been courting
controversy for their appearance. Young Chinese pianist Yuja Wang has
received as much coverage about her appearance as her performances
recently, with the Los Angeles Times commenting, “Her dress [on] Tuesday
was so short and tight that had there been any less of it, the Bowl
might have been forced to restrict admission to any music lover under 18
not accompanied by an adult. Had her heels been any higher, walking, to
say nothing of her sensitive pedaling, would have been unfeasible.”
It’s not just women pushing the envelope, though. American organist
Cameron Carpenter, a soloist with this year’s NZSO National Youth
Orchestra, has received a great deal of media attention for wearing
white stovepipe trousers and bejewelled tops during performances. In an
interview with Radio New Zealand’s Kathryn Ryan, Carpenter admitted that
he regularly works out at the gym, and opined that a musician’s
appearance is “extremely important”. Korean-American violinist Hahn-Bin
describes himself as “Viagra to classical music”, and dresses
flamboyantly, complete with heavy eyeliner and Mohawk hairstyle.
Well said.
Regards,
Geert Dehoux, pianist.
"The legs" - that is "the most important" in Yuja Wang, "her soul"!
What is this brothel?
Compare your comment to the first comment by Nicola Feller to the video of this same performance posted by 'Classical Vault One'. I'm not saying who is right or wrong, it's just fascinating to see how different people's opinions can be. As Charles Rosen says, what you expect to hear seems to affect one's perception of a performance. For the record, I would say you both have somewhat extreme views, and the 'real' interpretation is somewhere between the two extremes.
Peter Fritz Walter
Her talent and skills are purely divine. They can't be learned.
Wow, Yuja Wang is extraordinary, great technique and phrasing, her interpretation of the piece is brilliant and very emotional she can extract from the piece all of its expressive potential. Unfortunately the audio of the video is not perfect
I agree. There are some things I hear here that I don't like, but it's impossible to know whether it's Wang's interpretation (less likely) or the audio (more likely).
great performance of one of the great sonatas
The best interpretation I have heard of this unique sonata, very much on lines of Vladimir Ashkenazy who was since decades the ever best in interpreting this sonata that so many other pianists have spoilt by too much passion, too much of detailed pianistry and too much philosophical superiority-which clearly includes Marc-André Hamelin.
心が揺さぶられる素晴らしい演奏！
Wonderful performance. Powerful, passionate, personal, colorful.
(And, whoa, just heard an excellent performance by Sidney Foster, posted in the last day or two, from the 1970s).
she is an unbelievable performer, truly one of the top pianists in music history! however still Ashkenazy's is my favourite performance for this specific work!
Agreed
+Tarek Refaat طارق رفعت I think Yuga and Lang Lang are overrated, we have a tendency in the US to take on a pied piper attitude when it comes to certain things, people think they have to follow the crowd or be PC which i never liked, our society is so age and looks oriented we forget the subject. (looks wise it does not apply here)
....woohoo....precision...voicing...love musicians sharing heart & soul in performances....
Etonnante Yuja !!!
Elle a bien comprise et intégré la personnalité de Rachmaninov et son jeu pianistique en témoigne dans cette sonate aux multiples nuances, où doivent s'accorder une technique sans faille et le sentiment général de l'œuvre qui s'épanouit au fil des notes.
Magnifique interprétation !
finalmente un Rach come si deve! non virtuosistico ma passionale, bassi raddoppiati dove ci vuole, armonie messe a fuoco, temi e controtemi perfetti! si sentono tutte l note e gli accordi!!!
That second mvt is so magnificent ❤️
Spectacular performance.
She is so musical and natural. May be she have done some moments that she give more or less than need,but it is so natural.
A comanding performance, with great skill.
Thats a magic piece that you play magically
There is not a player alive today who can rival Ms. Wang's ability to match precision with lyricism. The music comes alive precisely to the degree that she, Ms. Wang, is able to take the oft times jazzy interplay of colors and balance them with an almost lighthearted dancing on the keys. She makes of the rough and tumble of the piece a decided musculature that she balances with a pianissimo full of an absolute panoply of orchestral colors. Again, we are brought to a deeper understanding of Rachmaninov's orchestration and ultimately we are thrust into the bright lights of a new day....brava Ms. Wang. We are left wondering how you do it and breathlessly wanting more...
I tried playing this monstrosity of a piece a few years ago, fool that I am. Revisiting it now, I can't say I would ever care to give it another go...but Wang definitely does play it well enough (even if it's not by any means a definitive version).
That piano, though. Good God, someone tune the damn thing.
+Paul Thomas Actually, it's not the whole piano that's out. It's mainly the A above middle C. When a unison goes out and it's not way up in the treble, it is so noticeable that it sounds like the entire instrument is out of tune.
This comes as close to my ultimate performance of this work (Van Cliburn in Moscow at the height of his powers) as any I've heard. Colossal technique, artistry and intelligence to give this piece structure. Yuja is sexy, talented and humorous - the perfect three.
Bravo! Great interpretation especially the phrasing and what she chose to emphasize. Rachmaninoff always had those inner melodies that he considered so important. This was a technical tour de force that covered the gamut of emotions. What a performance! And who is whining about her (sexy) attire? She wants to look nice and she does!
Отличная интерпретация 2-й сонаты. Какая концовка 18-20 минуты исполнения...Супер Супер!!!
Fantastic!! Thank you.
Te amo profundamente y agradezco tu existencia y el gozo de cada interpretación tuya. BRAVO YUJA!!! (Sr, Dondokodokodon Gracias a Usted de nuevo por permitirme escuchar y ver toda la belleza de esta gran pianista)
I've never heard this played better than by teenager Sultanov... but, this said, we're very fortunate to have a pianist like Yuja.
There are moments of an incredible sweetness in this performance, the way I want to do it myself, too.The big difference between Mrs. Wang and myself is that she does it much better.
+Geert Dehoux Shame!!! "McDonald´s - culture"!!! "McDonald´s -Kultur"!!!
+Georges Cancan ???
+Mario DiSarli I wasn't mentioning her clothes, but her music making.
Miss Wang has been giving concerts all over the world, so she's definitely not "losing her credibility as an artist".You don't like her clothes ? Your problem, not mine.Cordially,
Geert Dehoux, pianist.
Belgian King's Prize Winner.
really talking about her dress? I believe offensive is talking about her dresses while she is clearly a top artist. May be you do not like her way to play piano, but please do not talk about dresses, strip club or being offensive....
Again, I wasn't talking about her dress, but her music making.Mrs. Wang is a wonderful musician.
-- L'infinie passion selon Rachmaninov. Superbe. --
Reading some of the comments. REALLY????? Jealous people commenting about her clothes???? She’s young, gorgeous, HOT, and most of all .... TALENTED AS HELL!! I don’t give a rat’s ass what the naysayers say.... it’s just simple jealousy. That’s all.
1:28 that moment is so beautiful after the before sections
It's my favourite version , suitable for via in performance.
ユジャワンの演奏を聞いてると涙が自然と出てくる
She is simply amazing.
Although I am not a fan of her tranquil and weightless rubatos, she is the greatest living pianist for Rachmaninoff piano works.
rubatos is another word for tatas, right?
No I think it's more Nikolai Lugansky
19:21-19:49 epic finale
I came here top listen to wang yuja play Rachmaninoff - thoroughly enjoyed it!
Then I read some on the comments .... I am staggered that people who probably have less than 1% of her ability are abusing her for what they consider to be her style / interpretation and most of all her dress. Get a life ... please!
how long did you take to learn this? I like very much and I am a little pianist too, I hope will have a big pianists name but you are magnificent
Fantastic performance on a wreck of a piano. That piano would do more as firewood....than for a performance of a Rachmaninoff masterwork.
Sublime, alle vette del virtuosismo!
Apparte che é bravissima, la scordatura del pianoforte lascia alla vista che non siamo ne saremo mai perfetti e tutti si cammina insieme verso l'eccellenza e la bellezza, senza biglietto di ritorno
peccato é scordato peró hahah
Passionate patches impact pulses and it felt like a date
It's easy to see (hear) when "classical music" stopped being the popular music (the music of the masses), and started being for the musically inclined elite. She plays this beautifully (I'm sure you don't need me to tell you this), but for the general populace, it starts off as very impressive and enjoyable. About 10 minutes into the piece, our minds start wandering, and about 15 minutes along, it starts sounding like noise. I'm far from gifted; I'm just making an observation. The general population wants music they can hum during the day. There is no humming of this beautiful piece.
So, when I listen to Bach, Beethoven, or Vivaldi, I can pick out phrases I find myself humming during the day. To answer the question "Why did 'classical' music fall from popular enjoyment?", we can look at this piece, interesting as it is (and very difficult to play), it's not universally enjoyable.
I did love watching her play.
This is perhaps one of Rachmaninov's most difficult pieces to understand, if you take a look at his piano concerti 2 and 3, his symphony 2 or his "isle of the dead" you will certainly hear some beautiful melodies.
In fact, the music critics in his time were always complaining about the considerable amount of "exagerated" melodies in his works.
Sorry for bad english I speak french.
In answer to Martha Jane regarding her hooker like dress sense. Yuja I believe started piano at the age of six, in many respects the intensity of her studies prevented her enjoying a natural childhood even in the western sense.
As a concert pianist she has to perform on many occasions wearing a ball gown and has done this for many years.
The sudden appearance of an attractive asian girl with short skirt and high heels might be quite alarming to the well travelled, a little perhaps like suddenly seeing a German soldier in full battle gear ; a little inappropriate for example immediately following the second world war. Yuja is an attractive girl and an exceptional pianist . She just want to sometimes wear
modern clothes she feels up to date with and is never trying after the appeal of a Thai hooker.
+David Kenneth Smith "...Yuja is an attractive girl..." Wow?! Yuja Wang is..."McDonald`s- Kultur"!!! "McDonald`s - culture" !!!
Good Lord!
People and their prudishness!!!
+Georges Cancan
And you, Sir, are a uptight would like connoisseur with an underdeveloped sense of appropriate behavior. Go into the redlight district and let yourself get laid, maybe that will your troubled relationship with women.
Idiot
Yes, Mr Martin Singer! Hair and dress was specially for fan! for fan: New York CLASSICAL REVIEW < Yuja shows familiar flash but a lack
of depth in Carnegie recital> By Eric C. Simpson May 15.2016 Bravo, Eric! Yuja is a well-oiled (Sex sells + Kitsch) Chinese sewing machine! YW - PR product, money making machine!!!
Cretin.
excellent!
oh wow what a great tuning, it's almost frighteningly perfect!
8:14
Agree with all the positive comments. World shaking superb! Sergi Vasalaevitch would be delighted!
N7492 no
Una magnífica interpretación.
She may be the best pianist alive.
Amazing performance, pity that a potato was used to record the audio. They could at least have chosen a King Edward.
Das ist der Hammer, perfekt.
I wonder if this piece was written in response to Nikolai Medtner's "Night Wind" sonata (which was dedicated to Rachmaninov). It's a bit reminiscent, but Medtner wins the prize. Yuja should play Night Wind. I'm sure she'd knock the hell out of it.
Pretty impressive to play in high heels like that
Jesus she plays everything
She plays wonderfully - Unfortunately, the Piano became totally untuned while playing !
klenkomikalinka you are making sense!
klenkomikalinka: Terrible combination: out-of-tune piano plus poor audio just about ruins this beautiful performance. 😎🎹
@@marshallartz395 One can see that she is not very happy when leaving the stage...
Absolutely nice playing ... but I agree - piano is terribly out of tune!! I know how fuzzy most top artists are having such recordings out there and therefore it is a mystery to me that her agency did not step in here. In 2014 she changed her agency so I dont even know if Mark Newbank or Opus3 is to blame.
@@marshallartz395 I agree, but this performance outshines the technical drawbacks. I don't often say that
Beautiful LEGato playing.
i see what u did there
semplicemente magico....
amazing!!
Yuja Wang is my favorite pianist, but I prefer this sonata played by Horowitz (Carnegie Hall 1968).
Прекрасное исполнение! Но я всегда сравниваю с Ваном Клиберном, который сыграл и записал в Москве эту сонату в конце 1950-х. Для меня Клиберн - эталон. Его соната №2 звучала как оркестр. Исполнение В. Горовица довольно камерное, суховатое, я бы сказал - грфичное. Клиберн (кстати - и Юджа Ванг) - это яркая, сочная живопись.
2 - 8:12
Yuja's a great virtuoso, but there are some "objective" issues with this performance.
1) the piano really does go badly out of tune along the way. Something wrong with the instrument itself
2) her pedaling is sometimes problematic; she tends to release the sostenuto pedal and the keys "almost" simultaneously at the end of a movement or section - a lot of otherwise excellent pianists do this - and it creates a muddy, humming overtone. Best would be to release the pedal first, then the hands a split second later. Actually, as I just heard, Yuja nailed the 3rd movement ending. Perfecto
3) again, I believe the score she used (hear also: Hamelin, Ogden) is Rachmaninoff's 1931 butchery of the original 1913 version. He didn't revise it to make it "better", but to make it more accessible to lesser performers. Today's artists who "know the score" play the original, which typically runs about 23"-25" in performance; some joke about having an ambulance stand by, but so far no hands have been broken
To me this performance kind of 'dies' in the lyrical sections. The challenge is to play those sections expressively and at the same time sustain the energy of the piece as a whole, otherwise the sonata sounds like a collection of virtuosic displays interspersed with quiet songful moments, but without these being musically related in a way that the work as a whole, comes across. 'Disjointed' is a word that comes to mind.
But I'm not knocking her ability, beautiful use of her hands and fingers, just awesome in that regard.
That is a star...
Tough piece!
Супер!
Would you be able to re-upload the Makoto Ozone Rhapsody in Blue with the New York Philharmonic, please?
The video has been deleted and I don't have it any more, sorry,
The piano is out of tune, no tuning before the concert ?
Bravo.
I think the bass notes of the piano aren't tuned properly; sounds clumsy, but great treble/bass balance is imperative for beauty of this sonata. Helene Grimaud has a beautiful rendition of Rach's sonata.
better than langlang
***** Hoffman on his drunkest day was LIGHT YEARS better than anything Bang Bang could ever hope to produce.
Spock Johnson please don't compare Lang Lang to some of the best pianists, pay some respect....
Spock Johnson Don't forget Boris Bangman :D
She is also very good at playing Liberace-type encores.
Everyone is better than lang lang.
14:49
Eccellente !
Tante grazie !
Merci beaucoup ! Amitie
Hvala lijepa ! to je samo moje laičko mišljenje jer nisam ekspert za glazbu, ali imam pamćenje za pamćenje. Radi sed o izvrsoj glazbi !