Gustavo Dudamel To mark the 150th anniversary of Rachmaninoff's birth (1873-1943), Yuja Wang, together with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel, performed all of the composer's piano concertos and the Paganini Rhapsody. This ambitious concert series was held at Walt Disney Concert Hall, where Rachmaninoff spent the last months of his life.
The sold-out and critically acclaimed performances are now available from Deutsche Grammophon. Wang impressed with extraordinary virtuosity, emotional depth, and technical perfection, while Dudamel strived for artistic climaxes. The musical connection between the pianist and the conductor was particularly evident in their shared focus, which characterized each performance. As the Los Angeles Times observed, "As soon as the music began, everything else seemed to fade away." Rachmaninoff, himself an outstanding piano virtuoso, created a diverse collection of expressive compositions for piano and orchestra, including these five remarkable works. Wang incorporated them into her repertoire early on and continues to develop her interpretations. The long-standing collaboration with Dudamel and the L.A. Philharmonic is characterized by mutual respect and understanding. As Dudamel put it, "It feels like playing chamber music together."
Wang added early to her repertoire and has continued to develop her interpretations.