Rhapsody in Blue
The world premiere of a new piano concerto, composed by Teddy Abrams specifically for Yuja Wang, underscores her virtuosity as a soloist. Abrams, a versatile pianist, clarinetist, composer, and music director of the Louisville Orchestra, first met Wang during her studies. Originally intended as a complement to Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," the piano piece evolved into an independent work. The composition reflects both the diversity of the American musical landscape and Yuja Wang's exceptional virtuosity. The concerto is divided into eleven movements and begins with a big-band swing overture; it includes three solo cadenzas as well as passages with hints of Latin jazz, boogie-woogie, American gospel, and Broadway melodies. The album also features "You Come Here Often?", an improvised composition by Michael Tilson Thomas, a close friend of Wang's. Recorded with the Louisville Orchestra under Abrams’ direction, this work unfolds from a simple rhythmic motif into a jazz fusion with reflective moments and a rocking finale. Both the concert and the additional composition celebrate the cultural and musical diversity of America.
The concerto and the accompanying composition celebrate the cultural and musical diversity of America.