Yuja Wang - A top young female pianist

[leonidas]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuja_Wang

Rehearsing and performing HoCarm and the VolTurk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MiyBuHciY0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUfxjBA8PxM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1fgo7hp-Ko
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imrbjNXnfBE

I am struck by her impressive mechanism, and smooth sound, among other things.

[sharon_f]

Jeesh, I really hate responding to these threads, but....who voted disapproved? (Also I don't know why this thread was even set up as a poll except to elicit some sort of controversy, but that's a whole other matter.)

She's a wonderful pianist with a terrific future ahead of her.

[leonidas]

Accidentally clicked to make a poll, then made the topic, and was too lazy to make a new one so I actually filled in a poll.

But I'm shocked at the results...just WTH

[hodi]

ok she can play encores...  and she plays they VERY WELL too.
but can she play well composers like schubert,beethoven,bach,scriabin well too?
that's where real music lies
those encores don't impress me.

[leonidas]

ok she can play encores...  and she plays they VERY WELL too.
but can she play well composers like schubert,beethoven,bach,scriabin well too?
that's where real music lies
those encores don't impress me.

Don't be so infantile.

This is the best performance I have seen of the Turka, it's imaginative and pianistically masterful.

These very same qualities are what it takes to play any music well.

[leonidas]

May I call upon the 4 ludicrous cretins who voted a disapproval to show themselves.

Let your name be known, for it will be added to my black book, darlings.

[faulty_damper]

Um... She practices way too much... Hanon. 

[prongated]

Ahaha 5 disapprovals now...

...just looking at her credentials, she has accomplished a lot that many pianists much older than her would envy. I should really like to hear what those 5 have to say about her.

[pita bread]

please add me to your black book stevie

[thalberg]

I approved.  I loved that Volodos.  That's exactly what Mozart needs.  I wish he would have made a nice similar arrangment of K576.

[elevateme_returns]

WANG HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[dnephi]

Add me to the black book.

And at Thalberg's comment.

[michael_langlois]

I approved.  I loved that Volodos.  That's exactly what Mozart needs.  I wish he would have made a nice similar arrangment of K576.

Or K626... 

[quantum]

Actually one of my favorite youtube interpretations of da Turk.  I have approved I have 

[etudes]

Claire Huangci       

[thierry13]

I'd look at that and the rest of the concerto before disapproving ... judging a pianist with her encores is a bit harsh...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwLxvLfUtoQ&mode=related&search=

[thalberg]

Someone on youtube mentioned how he couldn't find that Volodos score anywhere.  Of course, I took it as my personal challenge to find it.  JACKPOT!!!!

http://www.pianorarescores.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=9

[matterintospirit]

Her "fab" technical ability could certainly be put to some very good use.

[thalbergmad]

Someone on youtube mentioned how he couldn't find that Volodos score anywhere.  Of course, I took it as my personal challenge to find it.  JACKPOT!!!!

http://www.pianorarescores.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=9

That is Marcel Mombeeks site and he is the biggest tosser and ponce in the sheet music world, since he tries to profit from the hard work of others who give their time and scores freely.

I would post the damned thing myself if it were not for forum rules.

He has not got a single score that i have not, and i would give any of it to anybody for nothing.

Thal

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Someone on youtube mentioned how he couldn't find that Volodos score anywhere.  Of course, I took it as my personal challenge to find it.  JACKPOT!!!!

http://www.pianorarescores.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=9

That is Marcel Mombeeks site and he is the biggest tosser and ponce in the sheet music world, since he tries to profit from the hard work of others who give their time and scores freely.

I would post the damned thing myself if it were not for forum rules.

He has not got a single score that i have not, and i would give any of it to anybody for nothing.

Thal

I did wonder - he is somewhat notorious, and it had a very familiar looking disclaimer.

"If you need more informations or you think that a score should not be in the list please contact us without hesitation"

and

"It’s important to underline that we make available only old editions that are no longer covered by copyrights, "

Yeah, I'm sure the Volodos and Cziffra scores are out of copyright..

Was he the guy who was selling rare scores on eBay, or was that someone else?

[thalbergmad]

Was he the guy who was selling rare scores on eBay, or was that someone else?

He was one of them, but there are a few and it frustrates the hell out of me for 3 reasons.

1. I have to skip past all their pathetic adverts when searching for originals on e bay.

2. The people who are selling them have probably never scanned a single score in their life and are simply trying to profit from the hard work of others.

3. They have not got a single score that cannot be obtained for free.

I might start a topic on this, as i feel strongly about assholes like them.

Thal

[houseofblackleaves]

Claire Huangci       

Precisely.

Miss Wang's Prok. 2 reminds me of Joyce Yang's.

Of course miss Huangci pwned this concerto (or at least the cadenza) as well.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=bWKT8VpGkZU

[viking]

That is, plain and simply, the most horrific attempt to play Prokofiev that I've ever seen.  Sure she can play many notes, but half of them are wrong, and most of them lack phrasing and intent.  Same thing with Ms. Wang.  And the colossale section, what???  Every single note is the exact same dynamic.  God people here are so superficial.

Sam

[leonidas]

And what exactly is better about your performance?

[soliloquy]

I voted approved, but I would have voted "eh... she's alright" if that was available.  I don't really think there is enough material here to judge anything but a small portion of her technique (seeing as how I wasn't all that impressed with her Prok2), so I wouldn't vote a definitive yes or no yet.  Do you have anything else comme?  Maybe some Liszt or Chopin?

[wotgoplunk]

I agree with soliloquy, there needs to be a middle ground.

She's good, but she's not spectacularly good.

She may descend into stereotypical playing: all technique, little emotion.

I'd like to see some more romantic era work before I fully judge.

[viking]

And what exactly is better about your performance?

If your talking about my video, then please, wait a while for me to post the complete piece.  That video was done without a single lesson from anyone worth while, but I still think I have a very good idea of what the concerto means.  My problem is that 99% of performers bang the crap out of the piece, without any significant vision of what the piece should sound like.

Sam

[leonidas]

That's what interpretation is all about.

Her technical ability is superior to yours.

FACT.

Her interpretation is inferior to yours.

Inconsequential subjective opinion.

[leonidas]

I don't really think there is enough material here to judge anything but a small portion of her technique

Is that so?

Explicate please.

[viking]

That's what interpretation is all about.

Her technical ability is superior to yours.

FACT.

Her interpretation is inferior to yours.

Inconsequential subjective opinion.

Whatever, I'm not getting into a debate.  Think what you like, I just find her playing of this one piece rather meaningless and cheap.  But most frustrating is the fact that people actually like Huangci's performance of that piece.  I cant stand to look at her while she plays, let alone actually listen to her?  Whatever... With my own musical studies, I try my best, but I certainly don't claim to be the best by any means.  I have a very long way to go.  I just find it frustrating when people like the most lifeless meaningless playing just because it's fast. 

For example:
Watch the Huangci video at 4:10
Watch me at 3:10
You should be able to conclude that the Huangci video contains absolutely no phrasing whatsoever, and mine does.

FACT

Have fun....

Sam

[michael_langlois]

Whatever, I'm not getting into a debate.  Think what you like, I just find her playing of this one piece rather meaningless and cheap.  But most frustrating is the fact that people actually like Huangci's performance of that piece.  I cant stand to look at her while she plays, let alone actually listen to her?  Whatever... With my own musical studies, I try my best, but I certainly don't claim to be the best by any means.  I have a very long way to go.  I just find it frustrating when people like the most lifeless meaningless playing just because it's fast. 

For example:
Watch the Huangci video at 4:10
Watch me at 3:10
You should be able to conclude that the Huangci video contains absolutely no phrasing whatsoever, and mine does.

FACT

Have fun....

Sam

Why don't you let your video speak for itself?

Best,
ML

[viking]

Why don't you let your video speak for itself?

Best,
ML

I'm very sorry if I'm coming across as brash, but if you recall, I was challenged by another member as to if I could play the piece better.  I only wish to point out a few small interprative issues I have with the performances that I do not like, especially since this piece has been a big deal for me over the last few months.  But I agree, I'm now leaving this thread...

Sam

[leonidas]

Indeed, his video speaks for itself.