Beyond Technique, Phrasing, and even the Music!
John G. Gephart | Grand Rapids, MI USA | 11/11/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Let me start by saying, the selections on this CD are deffinitly chosen for their required master level attention to details. I know that particular Mozart Piano Sanata is only played with a master's touch, especially the Andante Cantabile movement; I know she spent a long time diving into the depths of this piece; so many dynamics hidden in the pages of that piece are here to hear from her playing. Ravel's La Valse! let me just say wow, I wish a whole orchastra could play this piece that good; not a sour moment in this commonly misunderstood sweet sounding piece. Scriabin! played with more love than Vladimir Horowitz, didn't think was ever possible, all the harmonics are placed perfectly, perfect attention to melody, and proper hand weight; there were points in the Scriabin pieces where she will slightly pause and enter a melody, then you say "oh, that is how it works"; I mean come on do all piano players think that Scriabin wrote these pieces to sound awful; well, Xiayin diffently doesn't think so, and proves it! Her playing of Gershwin was so smooth; I loved it.
Overall, an amazing compilation of Pieces that are commonly misunderstood by even the best. This is a CD, piano enthusiasts should all deffinitly give a listen to!"
China's 'real' thing!
A. F. S. Mui | HK | 03/09/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Found her(him) at long last.
Out of 13 billion population, at last an international pianist from China.
I don't even know Ms. Xiayin Wang's age. Suffice to know that she has recorded a handful of good albums already, and is out of all question the most beautiful lady pianist from China currently playing on international platform.
I seldom hear Chinese pianists playing decent Bach or Mozart, though a lot of wonderful Tchaikovsky, Scriabin, Ligeti, Liszt or Chopin, and perhaps even Prokofiev or Rachmaninov.
IF a Chinee pianist plays good Bach and Mozart, he/she has a sound musical grounding, since not many Chinese conservatory teachers treat the baroque and classical masters with the same dedication as the romantic and modern composers.
Ms. Xiayin Wang has that rare grounding to enable her to interpret the music she plays with real understanding.
Listening to her playing, you are not treated with the deafening pyrotechnics, but what you hear is pure music.
Good music, beautifully presented by a beautiful young lady.
What more can you ask?"
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1