TUESDAY MUSICAL presents pianist YUJA WANG in recital on Tuesday, October 18th at 7:30 p.m. at EJ Thomas Hall, The University of Akron.
Tuesday Musical Association is pleased to present twenty-four year old Chinese pianist Yuja Wang in recital. Her talent, both with orchestra and in recital, has been heralded as one that combines the fearless imagination of youth with the discipline and precision of a mature artist. Ms. Wang’s command of the piano has been described as “astounding” and “superhuman,” and she has been praised for her authority over the most complex technical demands of the repertoire, the depth of her musical insight, as well as her fresh interpretations and graceful, charismatic stage presence. While the accolades go on and on, there is nothing better than seeing this young woman in person as many in Northeast Ohio already have.
Ms. Wang is no stranger to Northeast Ohio audiences: she performed with the Akron Symphony Orchestra under Christopher Wilkins early in her career when she substituted for an ailing Orli Shaham. This summer she performed at Blossom with The Cleveland Orchestra under Jahja Ling in a turbulent and riveting performance of Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3. These performances and others with major stateside-orchestras, including those of Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and San Francisco have left people wanting more. As popular as she is in the states, she is equally as sought after by the prestigious orchestras of Europe and Asia; the Berlin Staatskapelle, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Tonhalle Orchestra, China Philharmonic, Filarmonica della Scala, London Philharmonic, NHK Symphony in Tokyo, Orchestre de Paris, and Orquesta Nacional España, among others.
Ms. Wang has given recitals in major cities throughout Asia, Europe and North America, makes regular appearances at festivals, and is a dedicated performer of chamber music. In the 2011-12 season she will perform with the Israel Philharmonic, La Scala, London Symphony, NDR Symphony and Santa Cecilia in Europe, and the U.S. orchestras of New York, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. She makes her Carnegie Hall recital debut (Stern Hall) in October 2011, following her performance in Akron on October 18, 2011.
As an exclusive recording artist for Deutsche Grammophon, Ms. Wang’s debut recording, titled Sonatas & Etudes, was released in spring 2009, and was followed by a second recording, Transformation, in spring 2010. Most recently, Yuja collaborated with Maestro Claudio Abbado and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra to record her first concerto album featuring Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and his Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor. Other conductors with whom she has worked include Daniel Barenboim, Charles Dutoit, Daniele Gatti, Manfred Honeck, Pietari Inkinen, Lorin Maazel, Kurt Masur, Sir Roger Norrington, Antonio Pappano, Yuri Temirkanov, Jahja Ling, Michael Tilson-Thomas and Pinchas Zukerman.
Born in Beijing, Ms. Wang began studying piano privately at age six, and then at the Central Conservatory of Music. At age 15 she moved to Philadelphia to study with Gary Graffman at The Curtis Institute of Music, where she graduated in 2008. In 2006 Ms. Wang received the Gilmore Young Artist Award, and in 2010 she was awarded the highly-coveted Avery Fisher Career Grant.
Tuesday Musical & Free Student Tickets
Tuesday Musical continues to present one of the finest concert series in the country. Founded in 1887, it has presented superstars, emerging artists, dance ensembles and opera. The one qualifier is Musical Excellence and that has been Tuesday Musical’s trademark for 124 years.
As cultural opportunities for students have diminished over the years, Tuesday Musical embarked on a multi-faceted Education Outreach Program that takes the musicians into the schools and provides students from middle school to university/college level free admission to its concerts at EJ Thomas Hall. Attending the concerts requires a student ticket voucher, and students may obtain a voucher one of two ways:
Pre-Concert Talk
Philip Thomson, pianist and University of Akron faculty member, will give the pre-concert talk at 6:30 pm in the EJ Thomas Hall auditorium. A performer himself, Philip will share his expertise and insight into the music and composers onMs. Wang’s program. This concert preview will provide an excellent entrée to your concert experience on October 18th, and it is free and open to any ticket holder.
PROGRAM for October 18th
Alexander Scriabin
Prélude in B major, Op. 11, No. 11
Prélude in B minor, Op. 13, No. 6
Prélude in G-sharp minor, Op. 11, No. 12
Étude in G-sharp minor, Op. 8, No. 9
Poéme in F-sharp major, Op. 32, No. 1
Sergei Prokofiev
Sonata No. 6 in A major, Op. 82
Franz Liszt
Sonata in B minor
Tuesday Musical Concerts
Curtain time - 7:30pm
Ticket Prices - $22, $35 & $40
For tickets call:
Concert Sponsor: Akron Community Foundation
The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.
Season Support: GAR Foundation, Ohio Arts Council and The University of Akron
Media Sponsors: WKSU FM and the Ritchie Memorial Foundation
The University of Akron supports this program to encourage educational and cultural growth, excellence and enrichment for all Ohioans.
