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Yuja wang at the Hollywood Bowl. A review that is sure to stir the pot

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Posted on July 11, 2015 at 11:16:32
Analog Scott
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Posts: 9933
Joined: January 8, 2002
 "There was an almost unreal cockiness in all this, as if Wang had to prove that a femme fatale could also be the next Horowitz. Now that she's proved it, what next? Can she really be the next Horowitz?


She is, obviously, a radically different kind of person than Horowitz, who was a neurotic, hothouse flower of a pianist. Fortunately, Wang is a woman of the world and her time. But where she now resembles Horowitz is in her physicality. She no longer looks to be self-consciously proving herself. Like Horowitz, you get the feeling that her body, not her, is the music, that the connection with the keys is a force greater than mere willpower. Also like Horowitz, Wang exhibits a coolness that, through rhythm and attack, is scalding. The showmanship is intense.

Horowitz, however, never went beyond that. His later career became an attempt to maintain his youthful dazzle. Wang is the perfect 28-year-old pianist, as Horowitz was at his age. But she also appears to be far more sophisticated than Horowitz ever was. Rather than the next Horowitz, she is coming into her own as the first Wang."

So...better than her idol Horowitz. That ought to ruffle some feathers of the champions of the old guard.

 

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It's always hard to predict, but. . . , posted on July 11, 2015 at 11:31:26
Chris from Lafayette
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Posts: 26438
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
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  Since: February 6, 2012
 . . . yeah, if I HAD to predict the trajectory of Yuja's career, based on her playing so far, I'd say her "sell by" date (cf. JM's post below!) will probably exceed Horowitz' by a considerable amount - even after she's no longer a babe! But even though she seems so well adjusted now, there are so many unknowns which can affect a musician's career - I suppose that, under a certain set of circumstances, she could end up like Pogo! Not likely, I admit! ;-)

EDIT: BTW, during the recent Tchaikovsky Competition, one of the webcast commentators (the goofy French guy - forgot his name) mentioned that he had an apartment which was close to Yuja's (in NYC, I believe) and that they would frequently engage in chit-chat when they would run in to each other. He mentioned that the one thing she was always talking about was her boyfriends! ;-)

 

Thanks, that's great news., posted on July 11, 2015 at 12:07:27
rbolaw
 I think it's wonderful when a classical musician can still create a buzz in the mainstream media. Unlike you, I don't care where the interest comes from -- snobs, elitists, the "old guard", babe fans -- so long as there's interest. Remember, the real star is always the music itself.

However, the fact that the reviewer feels the need to make such a detailed comparison with Horowitz, who died over 35 years ago, is really a far greater compliment to Horowitz than to Wang. Hopefully she will reach the level where it won't be necessary to put other famous names in her reviews.

 

I can say two things definitively, posted on July 11, 2015 at 14:28:33
Amphissa
Audiophile

Posts: 2717
Location: Zardoz
Joined: March 9, 2004

1. She looks better in a minidress with heels than Horowitz. I feel confident of that, even though I never saw his legs.

2. Better the Wang than the Lang. Hmmm ... somehow that sounds rather ... hmmm ....






"Life without music is a mistake" (Nietzsche)

 

RE: Yuja wang at the Hollywood Bowl. A review that is sure to stir the pot, posted on July 11, 2015 at 15:18:59
Todd Krieger
Audiophile

Posts: 37333
Location: SW United States
Joined: November 2, 2000
 If I stumble across a performance by her that I think is extraordinary, I'll bring it up and link it. But I've yet to encounter anything remotely close.....

I just hope I don't have to eventually mention her name in discussions of "overrated performers"......

 

unlike me?, posted on July 11, 2015 at 17:08:45
Analog Scott
Audiophile

Posts: 9933
Joined: January 8, 2002
 "Unlike you, I don't care where the interest comes from -- snobs, elitists, the "old guard", babe fans -- so long as there's interest. Remember, the real star is always the music itself."

huh?

 

RE: It's always hard to predict, but. . . , posted on July 11, 2015 at 17:11:50
Analog Scott
Audiophile

Posts: 9933
Joined: January 8, 2002
 As long as I am around she will always be a babe.

I only worry about one thing. Her physical longevity.

 

RE: unlike me?, posted on July 11, 2015 at 17:36:14
rbolaw
 In addition to your comment about "champions of the old guard", here are a couple more of your recent comments:

[P]erhaps if there wasn't such an attitude of exclusivity and pompousness towards classical and jazz music among so many of the "connoisseurs" then maybe those genres would not have fallen into decline to begin with.

It's times like these that I am reminded of the fact that the average blue collar beer drinker you find at a rock concert knows more about the music he is listening to than the average classical music snob knows about the music he is listening to.

And I disagree. I don't care if people are pompous, elitist, snobby, old guard champions, or looking for babes in tight miniskirts. Their opinions and tastes are as legitimate as anyone else's, and if they like going to the concerts, it's a good thing.

 

RE: unlike me?, posted on July 11, 2015 at 21:05:55
Analog Scott
Audiophile

Posts: 9933
Joined: January 8, 2002
 I'm not sure how you would connect any of my statements above with the idea that I would "care where the interest comes from." I suspect you are not understanding the meaning of my comments. Of course that may be on me. I may not be communicating them well.

Ironically it is the "snobs, elitists and champions of the old guard" that are most likely to take issue with the review I posted. Of course they are entitled to their tastes and opinions. I never said otherwise. Doesn't mean I don't get to have an opinion about them though.

 

RE: It's always hard to predict, but. . . , posted on July 12, 2015 at 12:38:10
genungo
 As the babyfat filler gets absorbed over time, things like large cheekbones and hooded eyelids have a way of catastrophically collapsing in upon themselves. Asian faces don't seem to age as gracefully as some other types. Don't worry though, she'll be OK for a little while.

 

RE: It's always hard to predict, but. . . , posted on July 12, 2015 at 17:03:31
Analog Scott
Audiophile

Posts: 9933
Joined: January 8, 2002
 believe me, I am not worried.

 

Looks like she's a hit down under too, posted on July 14, 2015 at 08:43:04
Analog Scott
Audiophile

Posts: 9933
Joined: January 8, 2002
 "An artist who lives up to her hype"

 

RE: Looks like she's a hit down under too, posted on July 14, 2015 at 09:42:51
merlinus
Audiophile

Posts: 244
Location: Northern New Mexico
Joined: June 24, 2008
 The hype, for me, is the purple prose of the reviewer. WTF???

 

RE: Looks like she's a hit down under too, posted on July 14, 2015 at 09:56:30
Analog Scott
Audiophile

Posts: 9933
Joined: January 8, 2002
 I rather enjoy reviewers who can actually write well. But sometimes they can go waaaaaay over the top. Mark Swed is a poster child for that kind of writing. But it can be fun.

 

I obviously didn't hear it, but. . . , posted on July 14, 2015 at 18:14:24
Chris from Lafayette
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Posts: 26438
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
Contributor
  Since: February 6, 2012
 . . . Wow! - What a program! No let up, as difficulty was piled upon difficulty (even the encores!). It's the type of program than could bring many other pianists to their ruination! ;-)

 

RE: Yuja wang at the Hollywood Bowl. A review that is sure to stir the pot, posted on July 18, 2015 at 16:21:42
ahendler
Audiophile

Posts: 5151
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Joined: January 24, 2003
 I have always been critical of her playing. The comparison to Horowitz is perfect. Never liked him much either. Simply a technical showoff. I hope she developes better than the highly neurotic Horowitz. By the way I do like some things Horowitz did like his Scarlati and Scriabin
Alan

 

RE: Yuja wang at the Hollywood Bowl. A review that is sure to stir the pot, posted on July 19, 2015 at 11:17:47
Analog Scott
Audiophile

Posts: 9933
Joined: January 8, 2002
 You've been critical of her "playing?" By that you mean her interpretations?

 

RE: Yuja wang at the Hollywood Bowl. A review that is sure to stir the pot, posted on July 20, 2015 at 11:23:54
ahendler
Audiophile

Posts: 5151
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Joined: January 24, 2003
 Yes, She certainly has great technique and can play anything but she does not usually understand the overall structure of a piece of music. But in piano terms she is very young and it takes a lot of time to find the emotional content of a piece of music. If she came to San Antonio I certainly would go see her just like I saw Horowitz 2 times. But I did not go to the Horowitz concerts for the music but just to be thrilled by his technique and charisma. The best piano recital I ever saw was Richter in Chicago. He played 5 Beethoven Sonatas and after the concert everybody was talking about Beethoven, not Richter. A memorable concert
Alan

 

RE: Yuja wang at the Hollywood Bowl. A review that is sure to stir the pot, posted on July 21, 2015 at 20:33:49
Analog Scott
Audiophile

Posts: 9933
Joined: January 8, 2002
 nah, It's fine if you don't like her choices and interpretations but you are just plain wrong about her understanding the overall structure of the music. She understands it just fine. She does her home work and always has.

Funny you should mention Richter. I have seen him dismissed as a "pounder." by very knowledgeable people in the business. I don't agree with that sentiment although there I times when I see where it is coming from.

 

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