Yuja Wang in Vienna - a preview

[Belle]

This recital was held last night and the comments posted below suggest that the audience in the Wiener Konzerthaus 'went wild'.

The recital may be posted on YouTube or become otherwise available, but from the very brief excerpts here I feel she is becoming very mannered as a pianist. I've noticed this in her previous performances; the alternating ff and pp irrespective of whether the score has called for this. There seems to be little in between these two dynamics.

Phenomenal technique yes, memory off the charts, sure (though she's using a score in these highlights) - but something is missing here. I'm finding myself less and less satisfied with Yuja Wang.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKTx0cvE6Kw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJkeKmtLnDY

Does any solo musician take a risk in responding to the clamour of the audience?

[Lance]

Interesting to watch Yuja in these clips. I've never seen her use music whilst playing live though unless it's a chamber music recital. About whether artists risk the clamour of the audience, I think it gives them even more power to be successful and precise especially when traversing a major, virtuosic program [huge adrenalin boost]. (I believe Horowitz played under those conditions - and succeeded.)

[Holden Fourth]

Phenomenal technique but I'm not sure that the musicality is there.

[Belle]

Ah, this is more like it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHRet0CDWw4

[Lance]

Agree with Holden on "musicality" many times regarding Yuja; virtuosity seems more apparent. Kantorow played beautifully and with heart!

Ah, this is more like it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHRet0CDWw4

[barney]

Interesting to watch Yuja in these clips. I've never seen her use music whilst playing live though unless it's a chamber music recital. About whether artists risk the clamour of the audience, I think it gives them even more power to be successful and precise especially when traversing a major, virtuosic program [huge adrenalin boost]. (I believe Horowitz played under those conditions - and succeeded.)

Vikingur Olafsson definitely responded to the audience in his extremely virtuoso take on the Goldberg Variations in Melbourne last month. Later Olafsson did a brilliant interview in front of the Steinway with Andrew Ford on the ABC's The Music Show. 54 minutes, but revelatory.

https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/ ... /103551550