I discovered this amazing pianist, Yuja Wang quite by accident.

[yellowdogintexas]

I am a piano junkie and this young woman is over the top!

[Turbineguy]

1. You're right!!

She is amazing. How she plays Rachmaninov with those tiny hands.

[yellowdogintexas]

4. she performed at Carnegie Hall for Rachmaninov's 150th birthday

She played all 4 concertos and Rhapsody on a Theme of Pagannini
It was a 4 hour concert.

[NJCher]

2. gonna' put this on my immersive listening playlist for tonight or tomorrow a.m.

to finish.
She is amazing.
Whenever I see talent like this, though, I have to remind myself: 10 hours a day. That's what it takes to get that good.

[bahboo]

3. been lucky enough to see her a couple times...

with the LA Phil. She is amazing....a bit showy for some maybe (not me), but she really makes music.

[yellowdogintexas]

5. I am jealous!!!! If she ever comes to North Texas I will go nt

[FM123]

6. Wow!

So talented!

[usonian]

7. I also discovered her "accidentally" since I rarely cruise YT or anything else except to get some pointers.

I heard the Brahms Second Piano Concerto. (later the first, IIRC)

I never saw such energy.

Technique and sensitivity were mighty damn good, too.

For a while, I thought that the only pianists being promoted were all just trying to play faster and louder. Won't mention any names!

I blame Liszt.

[yellowdogintexas]

8. MrYD says organ music seems to be written to be loud & rambling all over the place

Every concert pianist has a different interpretation though!!! I enjoy hearing different versions of my favorites. For some piano fun, in 2025, try and find some time to catch the Cliburn Competition (it will be live streamed and will stay up on You Tube for at least a year.) I am going to compare the last gold medalist;s interpretation of Rach 3 to hers. Different piano styles completely. I know his is still out there.

You will see world class rising star concert pianists performing a variety of styles and interpretations I have been wondering why she was never a winner here, but it appears she never competed. She does not appear to have pursued the competition route. Neither did Lang Lang though.

here is the link to the website, https://cliburn.org/ These pianists have to be ready to present a huge repetoire (it's in the competition info). Those who progress to the finals will complete all of it. It is a grueling 3 weeks. It's amazing. Much of the last competition is still on You Tube

During The Cliburn, Fort Worth Texas is the piano center of the universe.

[usonian]

9. Once in a while, I find a pianist taking something slower than breakneck, and it's refreshing.

There are many pieces way beyond my skill. VERY many.

But I enjoy trying more approachable pieces. The Rach 3 is incredible. It famously drove David Helfgott off a cliff for a while. I stumbled upon a CD of him playing this piece, but I concentrate on easier things.

Competitions drive ME crazy just watching them. My sympathetic nerves jangle.

I had a brain-fart moment as a kid at a recital in the piano teacher's home.

Not with the Schumann concerto as in Madama Sousatzka the movie. I think I took it in as much stride as a kid could. I remember chewing some ice cube, School kept me busy for a long time, and I came back to playing. After many years, I did have a breakthrough with sight reading, which was a real mental block with me. Of course, performers memorize entire pieces. Wow. No ipads at concerts.

I am happy with piano as a hobby. It keeps me ♯.

My Dad was an artist, and had his own unique style. Art is self-expression in my book, and I eschew competitions, even the renowned DU photo contests.