Violinist Tianwa Yang is a strong candidate for the most underrated soloist on her instrument. She was a child prodigy who, for a time, specialized in the virtuoso repertory of Sarasate and Ysa˙e, but she has expressed discomfort with the concept of the virtuoso and has sought repertory that brings her a deeper sense of communication with an audience. The results here, with Yang essaying the Brahms Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77, and with Gabriel Schwabe, the Double Concerto in A minor, Op. 102, are extremely ...
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Violinist Tianwa Yang is a strong candidate for the most underrated soloist on her instrument. She was a child prodigy who, for a time, specialized in the virtuoso repertory of Sarasate and Ysa˙e, but she has expressed discomfort with the concept of the virtuoso and has sought repertory that brings her a deeper sense of communication with an audience. The results here, with Yang essaying the Brahms Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77, and with Gabriel Schwabe, the Double Concerto in A minor, Op. 102, are extremely encouraging for her future. It's quite possible that this release will bring her into a new level of performance venues. The Brahms Violin Concerto is a profound mix of virtuosity and complexity with a big Hungarian finale, but an opening movement in which no note is without its function in the whole. Yang here shows a new ability to introduce subtle shadings even in very quiet passages, and the overall effect is wondrous, miraculous. Sample the first movement where she holds the various...
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