Popular pianist proves she can deliver

08.20.08
Yuja Wang
The Saratogian

Sensational pianist Yuja Wang made her debut in the Saratoga Springs Chamber Music Festival Monday at Spa Little Theatre. It should serve as clear notice that her upcoming debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra on Friday at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center will be a command performance for music lovers.

Music Director Chantal Juillet opened the program playing viola, rather than her violin, for Dohnányi's Serenade for String Trio. With her were the Philadelphia Orchestra's concertmaster, David Kim, and principal cellist Efe Baltacigil.

Juillet played the lovely second movement viola solo with a tone that fit perfectly, not too dark nor heavy, leaving space for Baltacigil to pluck texture into the mix.

There was a casual display of expertise in this playing, as the three musicians took refined ensemble playing to its max. They championed each other throughout, and made the harmonized parallel lines sound as if played by a single mind.Kim, heard only once before in this setting, gave his soaring soprano sound a rest in this enjoyable work, which called for and received more subtle treatment.

Many in the audience on this night came primarily to hear if Yuja Wang could deliver on the glowing publicity she has earned, and it's likely no one left disappointed.

Wang played the difficult Liszt Sonata in B Minor, a half-hour of non-stop romantic mood changes exploring every one of the piano's 88 keys in all possible combinations with the others.

Some say this music shows the different facets of the composer's personality, and Wang exposed the most gentle, languorous aspects of the piece every bit as perfectly as the hard-edged, pounding furor.

Just 21, hair blunt-cut to hide her face in profile at the piano, Wang is a quiet, unaffected presence as she plays, utterly without body language except when the force of her arms on the keys lifts her slight frame from the bench.

This young pianist is a technical whiz who makes every note speak for itself.

Wang returned to the stage after intermission with violinist Kim and the Philadelphian's principal horn, Jennifer Montone, to play Brahms' Horn Trio.

Montone has quickly become an audience favorite with the Philadelphians and seems never to let her tricky instrument get the best of her.

This night was no exception as she blew one horn call after another perfectly, and pared her big, warm sound to meet Kim's. The two made a tender testament of the melody Brahms used. The composer had written this work after the death of his mother and not long before he wrote his remarkable Requiem.

The piano had a difficult part here, and Wang showed herself entirely capable of playing in ensemble.