Music Lane It's all about the music, dude! Sit down, relax and listen to some tunes.

---

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] Thread: [ Display  All  Email ] [ Music Lane ]

---

[ Alert Moderator ]

---

New Yuja Wang/Claudio Abbado Rachmaninov Disc

Posted by srl1 (A) on March 22, 2011 at 12:46:32

I had hoped someone else would start the ball rolling on this release, but here goes. This is a very interesting disc. Abbado conducts the Mahler Chamber Orchestra accompanying Ms. Wang's performance of the Paganini Rhapsody and 2nd Piano Concerto. This caused Mr. Hurwitz on Classics Today to have a stroke. Between Ms. Wang and Mr. Abbado these two pieces are performed in an amazingly transparent manner. The old saying applies here: I heard detail I've missed in other performances.

These are definitely not overtly romantic performances. But they are not sterile or too laid back. I really enjoyed Ms. Wang's take on the famous 18th variation in the Rhapsody. The entire performance seems more mischievous than rhapsodic, but, after several hearings, seems to work. Ironically, it doesn't help that Ms. Wang is not fazed by the technical challenges. She is light and fleet-fingered. The orchestra plays an active role and I don't miss a larger group.

The concerto is also interesting. I find a great deal of beauty and passion here. Conductor and pianist seem to be on the same page, although I suspect the page is owned by Mr. Abbado. It's interesting that in the liner notes Ms. Wang says Rachmaninov's own recorded performance helped shape her interpretation. I'll have to dig up that disc and listen to it again.

The sound is fine for a live performance. Good dynamics. Overall, a keeper. I hope to be around when she records these pieces again later in her career so that I can see how she has grown as an interpreter.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Schiit Audio

---

[ Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]

---

[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]

---