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Yuja Wang at the Hollywood Bowl 2014

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Posted on August 18, 2014 at 08:36:40
Analog Scott
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Posts: 9933
Joined: January 8, 2002
 For anyone interested in hearing the Yuja Wang's last Hollywood Bowl concert
August 17
Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor
Yuja Wang, piano
PROKOFIEV Symphony No. 1
SHOSTAKOVICH Piano Concerto No. 1
PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 1
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 1

 

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Hollywood Bowl 2014--has anyone else here attended? , posted on August 19, 2014 at 09:54:04
docw
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Posts: 8115
Location: So. California
Joined: July 23, 2004
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  Since: November 29, 2004
 I attended the Brahms Double program and the Tchaikovsky Spectacular.

Did not like the Brahms Double. Violinist Alina Pogostkina (a babe) was miked very weakly, and her attempts to phrase elegantly were lost in the power of R deMaine, who played his cello very well. Followed by Mahler 1. The conductor, former Dudamel Conducting Fellow Mirga Grazinyte-Tylaso, was a very frantic and energetic young lady. Closeups of her during the Mahler on big monitors--really unforgiving. The LAPhil appeared to be significantly bored and going through the motions. This young conductor was announced as joining the LAPhil staff on that eve.

http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/tickets/brahms-double-alina-pogostkina-and-robert-demaine/2014-08-07

Tchaikovsky was fine overall, violin soloist with big tone and engaging personality, the overall music was enjoyable, but she made some errors during her enthusiasm and the audience even clapped at the end of the 1st movement cadenza(!).
http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/philpedia/alexandra-soumm

Leonard Slatkin did a very fine job and the LAPhil woke up. Almost all the same players a week later. The concertmaster was gone for both and the associate I don't like very much.

We had our teen and 3 other teens, all who play in the high school and other orchestras. The kids play at a pretty high level. Their/our CYMO orchestra helped the Bowl last year by sitting in as a mock LAPhil (kids wore the same colors, etc.), as the techs were in the process of setting up the AV system last yr. That evening, pretty neat for parents, got to sit in the tables and eat free, and they rehearsed for last year's European tour.

I think the installation worked well for such a large venue. Sound is acceptable and clear and monitors really bright and clear. They were a bit of distraction the first night, since we had seats too close to one.

I am sure I will get flames for above. The LA Times guy loved the Brahms concert. I haven't read the comments on the second. But, it's all a very cool and enjoyable evening...took the local bus from near our home.

 

She sounds great - ribs are obviously not bothering her - she must be fully recovered?, posted on August 19, 2014 at 10:32:45
Chris from Lafayette
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Posts: 26486
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
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  Since: February 6, 2012
 Even though I know it's an always-reliable attraction of her playing, that fantastic leggiero touch which Yuja gets (while still maintaining the clarity of the individual notes) always makes me sit up and take notice. The marvelous speed she generates in the faster sections always seems under control, unlike with so many other pianists. This being a live performance, I thought Esa-Pekka and the orchestra were momentarily sluggish in a couple of sections of the Prokofiev Concerto (with Yuja seeming to have to make little adjustments for the sake of the ensemble). I'm sure she'll be recording this repertoire.

The other thing this concert made me realize is, in an artistic and compositional sense, what a little worm Shostakovitch is compared to a giant such as Prokofiev (hey, just IMHO!) - but that's another discussion! ;-)

 

RE: Hollywood Bowl 2014--has anyone else here attended? , posted on August 19, 2014 at 11:00:22
Chris from Lafayette
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 It's funny, as much as I try, I just can't keep up with all the babe violinists (as new ones come off the assembly line almost every month), and Alina Pogostkina is one who has just been flying below my radar. She has appeared here in SF too, but I wasn't able to attend her concerts. I've read however that her musical approach is to try to emphasize her interpretive individuality, something (pace Glenn Gould) I don't necessarily agree with. (In general, I feel that if you seek to make a big show of being INDIVIDUAL, you just end up being tediously mannered or eccentric.)

 

RE: Hollywood Bowl 2014--has anyone else here attended? , posted on August 19, 2014 at 13:24:42
docw
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Posts: 8115
Location: So. California
Joined: July 23, 2004
Contributor
  Since: November 29, 2004
 Her dress was lavender and went down, she is a slender gal, but I don't think very powerful. Kind of thin in tone, and my almost 17 yr old violinist said, "ok, she was good, but not very good." Replaced Hilary Hahn if you remember, who are disliked by this band of teens.

The French soloist in the second concert tried to portray a theatrical and huge tone and had her moments. Enjoyable, but somehow not there yet, coming up also. My kid said, "I don't like her, her tone, don't like" but that may have been feelings too since her boyfriend (trumpeter) said, "I don't know, I liked it."
http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/philpedia/alexandra-soumm

Interesting that both soloists originally were from Russia. One went to Germany, the other France.


 

RE: She sounds great - ribs are obviously not bothering her - she must be fully recovered?, posted on August 19, 2014 at 16:34:03
ahendler
Audiophile

Posts: 5151
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Joined: January 24, 2003
 A little worm, really
Alan

 

LOL! We don't want to get THAT discussion going again! [nt] ;-), posted on August 19, 2014 at 19:38:46
Chris from Lafayette
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Posts: 26486
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
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  Since: February 6, 2012

 

OK nt, posted on August 19, 2014 at 19:45:57
ahendler
Audiophile

Posts: 5151
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Joined: January 24, 2003
 .

 

RE: She sounds great - ribs are obviously not bothering her - she must be fully recovered?, posted on August 19, 2014 at 21:14:38
Analog Scott
Audiophile

Posts: 9933
Joined: January 8, 2002
 "The other thing this concert made me realize is, in an artistic and compositional sense, what a little worm Shostakovitch is compared to a giant such as Prokofiev (hey, just IMHO!) - but that's another discussion! ;-)"

Without going into too much detail I would say that Yuja very much prefers Prokofiev as well.

 

That was pretty much Prokofiev's opinion, at any rate. nt, posted on August 20, 2014 at 06:05:26
rbolaw

 

What?, posted on August 20, 2014 at 11:22:04
genungo
 LOL!

 

OK - Now you've done it!, posted on August 20, 2014 at 12:10:52
Chris from Lafayette
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Posts: 26486
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
Contributor
  Since: February 6, 2012
 It was only a couple of months ago (and you were a big participant!), but here's the link:

 

RE: OK - Now you've done it!, posted on August 20, 2014 at 14:29:09
genungo
 Uh-oh, I'm outta here...

 

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