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Brahms, Ravel, Scarlatti & Stravinsky Stravinsky Three Movements from Pétrouchka Domenico Scarlatti Sonatas in E major K. 380 & F minor/C major K. 466 Brahms Variations on a Theme by Paganini op. 35, Books I & II Ravel La Valse Yuja Wang, piano Deutsche Grammophon 477 8795 A prodigious pianist with charm, musical sensibility - and a sense of humour. This, Yuja's second solo disc (her preferred name; half the world are Wang...) is a complete delight, not primarily for her unassailable virtuosity, but for thoughtful musicality in every bar. Yuja's programming is perfect, with top masterworks interposed by relaxing Scarlatti sonatas - he is the one baroque composer who goes as well on the piano as on original harpsichord (q.v. Pletnev's Scarlatti discs, a long-time favourite*). Refreshingly, the notes with this CD do not have the usual overdone artist's CV, instead her accounts of the music; particularly interesting is Yuja's descriptiion of how to order and present the Brahms Pagannini Variations, "with the timing between each variation crucial, the silences must be as measured as the music" (I took a similar approach in editing two LPs I produced long ago...).
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini & 2nd Concerto Deutsche Grammophon 477 9308 This latest CD release by Beijing-born pianist Yuja Wang couples Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (seemingly a studio recording?) with a live performance of the 2nd Concerto. The Rhapsody is sheer delight, lighter than some others, mercurial responses with spontaneity and relish [q.v. she makes even the most familiar notes of the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (Variation No. 18) sound as if they were just thought up on the spot and not vastly overplayed - - Times Square]. The 2nd concerto is less recommendable, with balance problems and a feeling that this will not be Yuja's last word on that concerto? If you can download the Rhapsody separately, my advice would be to do that. Peter Grahame Woolf See Yuja Wang play Flight of the BumbleBee and talking about this album on youtube Rachmaninoff: Moments musicaux; Etudes tableaux, Op 33; Variations on a Theme of Corelli Xiayin Wang (piano) Chandos CHAN 10724 Another phenomenal young pianist from China, new to me but She writes: “ - - The recording process involves a lot of correcting, and I am usually not very keen on going back to listen, but you get used to it. I do at least two whole takes, and then I go back to sections. The recording allows the artist an almost perfect performance, without necessarily withholding the ‘live’ effect. ” A prodigy nurtured musically from very early childhood by her mother, she seems to have emerged with poise and maturity. This Rachmaninoff selection is a joy to listen to from start to finish, and must take its place alongside any of the most famous renditions. There is a relaxation and sensitivity to timbre which is truly remarkable, and only she knows how much that owes to L M Wojcik's editing, about which Xiayin writes: “ - - The recording process involves a lot of correcting, and I am usually not very keen on going back to listen, but you get used to it. I do at least two whole takes, and then I go back to sections. The recording allows the artist an almost perfect performance, without necessarily withholding the ‘live’ effect. ” Peter Grahame Woolf - -
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already extensively recorded on Naxos etc and a solid presence