Cleveland unwinds the ballad of Yuja and Klaus

Cleveland unwinds the ballad of Yuja and Klaus

Orchestras

norman lebrecht

April 05, 2024

Four years of joint concert bookings are having to be disentangled since the break-up of pianist Yuja Wang and conductor Klaus Makela.

Chicago got in first, with Yuja cancelling last week just before Klaus was named music director.

Now it’s Cleveland’s turn.

Last night, the Cleveland Orchestra made it known that Yuja has withdrawn from her scheduled concerts with Makela at Severance Music Center on April 18-20.

She was due to play Ravel’s Piano Concerto for the Left Hand and Stravinsky’s Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments. She is replaced by Jean-Yves Thibaudet, performing Gershwin’s Concerto in F.

Bonnie and Clyde didn’t end well, either.

picture from June 2023.

Comments

  • guest says:

    Mäkelä has still said absolutely nothing on social media about the newest addition to his portfolio. Nothing, not even a like or a retweet. Wang still has her instagram set to private. It is starting to look more and more likely that they broke up over his Chicago appointment. I wouldn’t be surprised if he has upset at least one more person very important to his career over this. I hope he finds it worth it.

    • Frustrated in Farnborough says:

      “It is starting to look more and more likely that they broke up over his Chicago appointment.”

      Thank you for proving that there is indeed life on other planets. Feel free to return to ours anytime.

    • Kman says:

      He indeed reshared instagram stories of his new position.

      It’s also weird to speculate why their relationships dissolved, especially when your conclusion is that it was due to his new position.

    • mike says:

      Esa Pekka also canceled his upcoming appearance with the CSO. Maybe he’s upset that he didn’t get the appointment

    • ML says:

      Makela has said he is too busy to update social media and barely has enough time to answer emails. Cleveland is fortunate to get an excellent soloist in Jean-Yves Thibaudet. It’s really not a big deal. He has his management agency to do his PR; it’s not necessary to be on social media as well.

    • Fixer says:

      Wangs IG is not on private and never has been.

    • Compassionate says:

      How deliciously lurid.
      Are you planning to reveal the name of the second victim?

      Maybe some / many of us feel the loss of a Wang / Makela partnership. They gave us a lot and I am grateful. Wishing all good for both.

    • April says:

      Hope Mäkelä knows that he and Yuja are making history when they are making music together! And the rest are trivial. Being a musician makes a man extraordinary, since you are special, do special things and gives up being just a man. Half of the population are men, but only a handful are musicians, even fewer are excellent musicians.

  • Matan says:

    Bonnie and Clyde??? To me it seems that you need some acute mental help. Mäkelä is hurting you too much.

  • Luca Gava says:

    It’s frankly ridicoulous.

  • Popcorn consumer says:

    Pretty sure it’s Klaus who broke up with her, probably over affairs with other women. You can see on their photos together Yuja was quite enamoured with him, dressing the conservative would-be wife part, and was ready to settle down with Klaus and start a family (remember she’s already 37! Time is ticking…). Alas, Mäkelä has now fully entered his playboy era, and even if he marries another woman soon for PR purposes, to appear respectable and honorable enough for the puritanical American donors, I’m pretty sure his escapades with the fairer sex will continue for at least 20 years

    • guest says:

      Well, he chose the correct place then! Given CSO’s recent history I’m sure they can provide all kinds of services that he desires. I think he will need at least the same amount of girlfriends as his orchestras. So for the next 3 years every time he goes to Chicago he can have fun with 4 women at once! Not a bad deal.

      • Saul says:

        There are so many places near Symphony Center that offers massages with happy endings, I don’t see why the CSO has to offer a concierged service for it.

    • John Kelly says:

      Allegedly……………you have a very active imagination Sir

    • pipi says:

      Could you be more disgusting? I guess you could.

  • Dancing in the dark says:

    Shows on YouTube how in finland he trained to be a conductor by beating time to a record guided by some self proclaimed guru that nobody heard of.

    Hmmmm. No keyboard skills either?

  • Ridiculous says:

    This is so unprofessional and disrespectful towards an audience. What are you, 3-years-olds? Grow up!

  • Been There, Done That says:

    I knew Yuja when she was a silly teenager. An immense talent, yes. But I don’t think she’s ever grown up.

    • HSY says:

      Good for her for taking no bullshit.

    • Sue Sonata Form says:

      I’ve long held that impression about her through various interviews and she has nothing to say about the music or the composers. What’s that about?!!

      But, fair’s fair. She has phenomenal virtuosic skill.

  • Concertgebouw79 says:

    There’s a word in italian for that : Truffa

    • Carlo P says:

      Sono Italiano

      The only thing that’s “truffa” (loose translation “fraud”)
      Is the whole premise of this article and all the snide comments… These are peoples personal lives not their artistic lives or we’re not commenting on the quality of the music.
      You all have no right to be gossiping like this please stop.

      Che vergogna

      Have you folks no shame?

  • RW2013 says:

    Pity for those who genuinely wanted to hear the wonderful Stravinsky concerto.

  • Daniel Reiss says:

    Don’t make a big deal of it.

  • Carl says:

    She must hate all the attention he’s getting right now – so much that she’s probably taking a big financial hit from these cancellations.

    That said, I think the age difference was too great with this relationship. He needs a gal in her 20s at this point in his life.

    • Amused says:

      I’m not so sure she hates the attention he’s getting. She might actually enjoy the comments since the news broke (if she read them).

      > He needs a gal in her 20s
      Actually he needs to smooch and charm old rich widows in Chicago so that the CSO is included in their estate plans. They should start to identify the targets for him ASAP.

    • David says:

      Thankfully, no one cares about your inane speculations, least of all Yuja and Makela.

      • Carl says:

        And you clearly have such a rich, meaningful perspective to bring to this discussion. So glad you took the time to weigh in here, “David.”

    • OSF says:

      She’s in demand; her agents will be able to re-book her.

    • Sue Sonata Form says:

      Yes, with some prospects of making him a father later on. Sad to say for older 30 something women – of which there are now armies, with zero kids or relationships.

      • Eric Wright says:

        Welp, there’s the redpill-speak. Never far away around here. I’m surprised you didn’t say she’s “hit the wall” and has “low sexual market value” while you were at it.

        She’s a great artist. Love her, hate her, whatever, but why on Earth are we even discussing this topic? Do you know her? Her plans for a family? What makes you think you have any special insight here at all?

      • henry williams says:

        reminds me of the man that went to the doctors. he said to the doctor iam 90 i want to get married. the doctor said why do you want to get married at 90. the man replied my parents keep nagging me.

  • Save the MET says:

    They are both immensely talented. That said, Yuja is the finest female pianist on the stage today and to many the greatest pianist in the world of either sex. Her earning potential is much greater than his and if his zipper had not dropped multiple times for others, they would be performing together.

    • Don Ciccio says:

      “Yuja is the finest female pianist on the stage today”.

      No, she’s not. Martha Argerich and Maria Joao Pires are a class above – not just musically.

    • Gabriel Parra Blessing says:

      You’re delusional. Argerich, Grimaud, Uchida, Imogen Cooper, Hewitt, Pires, to name a few, are infinitely greater *artists* and therefore pianists than Yuja. Having the technical chops sometimes bears no relation to artistic merit, which in Yuja is demonstrated in spades.

    • just saying says:

      Guess you’ve never heard Argerich perform? Mitsuko Uchida?
      Yuja is good but her playing is honestly nothing that distinct or unique. Just a lot of loud banging and empty virtuosity.

      • Dargomyzhsky says:

        An comment which suggests that you have no idea at all what is going on when someone plays but judge merely on how they make you ‘feel’.

    • John Kelly says:

      Oh dear. Cheating on Yuja is absolutely unacceptable!

    • Anonymous says:

      You are wrong. I don’t know much of the story but I do know that wasn’t it.

      • Richard Martin says:

        I actually do know – and it’s quite shocking – but I’m not telling. It would be an outrageous breach of confidence. Norman probably knows

    • Ira says:

      She is an extraordinary pianist, but is she really finer than Helene Grimaud? There are many great female pianists at this time.

      • Couperin says:

        Grimaud is small potatoes next to Yuja. Have you HEARD Grimaud’s recent Schumann disc? It’s a bit cringe.

  • Willym says:

    This obsession with Mäkelä – I’m sure your misspellings are a simple error – really is proving unhealthy. Nanny would suggest a quiet lie-down in a dark room with a cooling cloth on your forehead.

    • Eric Wright says:

      To be fair, if you’re using a US or Canadian keyboard, typing the umlauts can be challenging…

      The obsession part. That’s right on the money. Bonus points around here for finding a Yuja angle as well.

  • OSF says:

    Does anyone actually have a count of how many engagements they’d booked together? It can’t have been that many; realistically once/year each in Paris, Oslo, and Amsterdam. A couple places like Chicago or Cleveland where Makela is guest conducting. Maybe a tour. So, maybe 20 shows in the coming three years?

    No relationship is safe from breakup, and I wouldn’t have bet much money on one in general, less so on one with their age difference. I’m just a little nonplussed that they didn’t anticipate this and have a plan to work together if things didn’t work out. We’re all adults and professionals here, right?

    Oh well, plenty of organizations interested in seeking the services of both.

  • Kyle says:

    No do they’ll graciously offer refunds or credits to those concertgoers who were drawn to purchase tickets by their publicity of the performers, right?

    • Luke says:

      Actually the Cleveland Orchestra did graciously offer a credit to be used on any future concert when I called and simply asked what the options were.

    • OSF says:

      I remember in the late 1990s Martha Argerich was supposed to play Rocky 3 with Ozawa and the BSO, even though I don’t think she had played it in a while and – it turned out – she was double-booked, which the BSO IIRC had known for some time. Maybe a week or two before the concerts they announced this, and replaced her with Arcadi Volodos – haven’t seen him in a while – which might have been ok but they also switched the concerto to Rocky 2 (ugh!). If I’d bought tickets I’d have been mighty upset.

  • Kyle says:

    No doubt they’ll graciously offer refunds or credits to those concertgoers who were drawn to purchase tickets by their publicity of the performers, right?

    • Craig B. Parker says:

      What about those who bought tickets to hear the Stravinsky Concerto for Piano and Winds and now are offered the Gershwin Concerto instead?

    • Chris says:

      I hope so. I just left a message with Severance Hall. I bought tickets because it was Yuja playing and I’m not making a 5 hour drive for anyone else… unless it was Martha Argerich or Maria Joao Pires. LOL. Waiting for a call back about it. I think it’s crappy she’s the only one pulling out. Too bad he couldn’t pull out of a few for another conductor so that she could still play some of her concerts. Her career will probably be just fine, but she’s likely going to have to pay penalties for breaking her contracts and he won’t have any consequences. Just seems it’s always the woman who has to deal with repercussions like this.

      • Eva says:

        Maybe Klaus Mäkelä would gladly continue performing with Yuja Wang regardless of their breakup? After all, that would be professional. If so, why should he pull out from any concerts? It could even seem ungentlemanly of him to refuse working with an ex. Many people in different jobs continue working together on a daily basis after a breakup or divorce – in hospitals, offices, schools etc. I know former couples who even continue running their mutual business after divorce. Therefore, I don’rt understand why these two couldn’t work together a few times in a year.

  • Saul says:

    “CLEVELAND UNWINDS…”

    Cleveland isn’t unwinding anything, it’s Yuja who is unwinding.

    She can’t even bear to be in the same city as her ex. Something went horribly wrong.

    It usually IS the man’s fault, let’s be honest, men.

  • Chicagoan says:

    This “news” item and the comments haven’t revealed much about the ostensible topic. But I have learned a lot about readers of this site. The projection and fantasy… Sexual hangups, jealousies, and resentments much? Yikes!

  • Neil says:

    Big fan of hers but I got to say, this doesn’t reflect well on her. I hope this is a one off thing… “The Show Must Go On!”

  • Rach 23 says:

    So much vitrol, astounding!

    John Axelrod was spot on, it’s nothing but “fodder for “Slippedisc curmudgeons”. It really isn’t anyone’s business!

    https://johnaxelrod.substack.com/p/is-makela-really-that-good?utm_medium=ios

    Prepared to be censored by NL

  • Jeff P says:

    My god would’ve snide article… Give these people some privacy, please

  • zandonai says:

    Just make sure both their stars on Hollywood walk of fame are not next to each other.

  • Guest Conductor says:

    I sense that Yuja won’t be playing in Chicago for some time.

  • ParallelFifths says:

    I don’t think this is about being so devastated she can’t bear to be in the same city as the (putatively) Filandering Finn. She may be devastated, but I think this is about, I am not to be trifled with, regardless of the financial hit. Pulling out of these concerts of course is far from ruination for Fab Finn. But it is a great inconvenience and headache, and it will be associated with him no less than with her. She and Duda are probably cooking up some very interesting plans for her NYPhil residency.

  • Gabriel Parra Blessing says:

    Contrast her infantile behavior to Argerich’s professionalism, who continued concertizing with exes such as Dutoit and Kovacevich. I think it’s a generational thing. Boomers get a lot of hate, but they’re a much hardier generation than Millennials such as Yuja, who are soft and fragile. As my wife said of Yuja, the poor thing probably doesn’t feel “safe” around him, to use current parlance. Honestly pathetic.

    • Anon says:

      You are joking right? How many concerts have Argerich cancelled in her career?

      • Gabriel Parra Blessing says:

        Because she didn’t want to play with an ex? Probably exactly zero. Your “argument”, such as it is, is utterly disingenuous.

        • Anon says:

          How is it disingenuous to point out Argerich is not known for professionalism? “Probably exactly zero.” You don’t know that. Have you gone back to the news articles of the 1970s and checked every Argerich cancellation news for her reason?

    • Couperin says:

      Argerich wouldn’t be able to perform with ANYONE if she stopped playing with exes. Get real.

  • V.Lind says:

    Nobody loses out by listening to Thibaudet.

  • just saying says:

    Yuja being replaced by Thibaudet is a definite upgrade lol, Cleveland concert goers are pretty lucky!

  • Anon! A Moose! says:

    [“Bonnie and Clyde didn’t end well, either.”]

    “Well that escalated quickly!”

  • Ira says:

    Maybe Yuja can follow the lead of Joan Sutherland and only perform with her conductor of choice—Gustavo Dudamel. . . .

  • Nivis says:

    How about we have a moratorium on posts and comments about YJW ?
    Leave her alone. It’s getting so tedious.

  • Couperin says:

    I am TEAM YUJA all the way. Screw Klaus. People want to see HER.

  • MR says:

    I don’t get it…who won’t like a 28 year old that looks 12 and a 37 year old that looks 10…

  • Ludwig's Van says:

    Let’s clean this up here: HE was the dumper; SHE was the dumpee. So, of course she’s upset. but one assumes she’ll eventually get over it, and Klaus will soon realize that she sells more tickets than he does – he’ll continue to engage her and she’ll swallow her pride and play concerts with him. This ain’t over – so stay tuned.

  • Dargomyzhsky says:

    Really, who cares?

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