Yuja’s short list (not pants)

Yuja’s short list (not pants)

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norman lebrecht

October 30, 2020

The Royal Philharmonic Society have shortlisted her for soloist of the year, together with Lawrence Power (viola) and Sean Shibe (guitar).

Tough choice.

Comments

  • Paul Carlile says:

    Famed especially for her speedy tempi….always makes for a short Liszt…or Rapidmaninoff…

  • Greg Bottini says:

    I think the choice is clear. Yuja is one of the finest musicians of her generation (no disrespect meant to the others, with whom I am unfamiliar).
    Yuja also happens to be a strikingly beautiful woman, but I am becoming fed up to the back teeth with these leering and, frankly, creepy headlines about her appearance and her clothing.
    Anyone else out there with me?

    • Paul Carlile says:

      Choices may not always be so clear in the case where different instruments are concerned, as in the BBC Young Musician competitions; how can one “compare” the effect of, say, a flute against a trombone against a guitar against a piano, etc… They’re doubtless all excellent. Here, i don’t know the guitarist, Lawrence Power is one of the best ever, but possibly at a disadvantage as viola “soloist” against the brilliant effect of Yuja at her finest.

      As for her appearance: i’ve greatly enjoyed most of her performances- (heard many, live), but try not to pay any attention to her dress sense as i’m allergic to hi-heels and makeup! Her natural beauty would be preferable (as when she started her career), but certainly she knows she provokes the wrath of the prudes and enjoys teasing their helpless raging and squirming!

    • KH says:

      It never ceases to amuse me that the very same group of “aficionados” who deplore the “appearance over substance” phenomenon of the music business would bash Wang and hype both musically and technically inferior Russian pianists such as T., L., and S., because they wear proper suits.

      • M2N2K says:

        Mostly I am in agreement with you, except for the word “inferior”, which I consider somewhat inappropriate when speaking about T and S, even when compared to the brilliant YW, if they are the T and S that I suspect you are referring to.

  • Unhappy Hubby says:

    I am just in love with her. I can’t help it. I tried to make my feelings go away, but they just get stronger and stronger. I feel guilty but I can’t stop.

  • Julie says:

    I am convinced that at least some of the commentators admire Ms. Wang for her incredible, amazing muscianship AND also because she is so hot. What’s wrong with that? I am sure she does not mind either. She is a very self-confident artist.

    • Bruce says:

      Nothing wrong with it at all. What gets annoying (to some of us) is when the musicianship is totally ignored — by people who should know better — in favor of the short skirts.

    • mikhado says:

      Thank you for proving Simon’s point “Julie”

  • Greg Bottini says:

    Thank you, Simon!

  • Bubba says:

    Soloist of the year?! Why? Totally love and respect Yuja but she’s done nothing for the world since the lockdowns began. There are lots of musicians who were so generous with their time, ideas and support through online coaching, demonstrations and conversations, all these great live-streams that made our lockdown! cannot remember Yuja sharing with the world on that level this year!

  • papageno says:

    I would classify Yuja in same league as Arcadi Volodos or Lang Lang, a circus monkey with a few brilliant tricks up their sleeve. I also wouldn’t call her ‘beautiful’. Cute and a bit goofy, but not beautiful.

  • papageno says:

    Like her or not, Yuja is wang in a million.

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