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At the age of 24, Chinese-born Yuja Wang is one of the most exciting concert pianists in the world. On stage, she cuts an elegant, sometimes provocative figure. Backstage, she's more like a teenager, noshing snacks and listening to Rihanna on her earphones. But there's no doubt that Ms. Wang, now a resident of New York, has captivated audiences and critics, from Beijing to Berlin. Her "virtuosity is stunning," says the New York Times. "An artist of dazzling genius," raves the San Francisco Chronicle. She's earned praise for her almost "superhuman keyboard technique," as well as her sensitivity and fearlessness.
We caught up with the international sensation in Los Angeles, where she performed Prokofiev at the Disney Concert Hall. Afterwards, in a Steinway showroom, Wang played for us and spoke with SOUND TRACKS reporter Alexis Bloom about her life as a musical nomad.
Don't miss other Quick Hits starring Helene Grimaud, KT Tunstall, Charles Bradley & Sharon Jones, Dencgue Fever and more.
Strauss' Polka Played by Yuja Wang
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Yuja Wang Plays Gluck, Liszt & Scriabin
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Pianist Yuja Wang - The Interview
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Written in 1858 after a trip to Russia, Johann Strauss’ “Tritsch Tratsch Polka” is a jaunty, high-spirited affair and Yuja Wang obviously delights in playing it. Watch her smile at the end. If you’d like to see her perform live, Yuja Wang will be playing this April at Avery Fisher Hall with the New York Philharmonic and in Atlanta with the symphony there. In June she returns to San Francisco, where conductor Michael Tilson Thomas has been one of her strongest supporters.
Yuja Wang’s website
Steinway & Sons Showroom, West Hollywood
http://www.steinwayshowrooms.com/
Brent E. Huffman, “Quick Hits” director
Flickr
YouTube