xuefei yang - selected · web view"xuefei yang is taking the guitar world somewhat by...

Xuefei Yang

Xuefei Yang

www.xuefeiyang.com

Xuefei Yang - Selected Reviews

Xuefei Yang - Selected Reviews 2

Contents

Selected Quotes Page 3

Selected Press Reviews

- El Periodico, Spain Page 4

- International Record Review Page 5

- New York Sun Page 6

- Gramophone Page 7

- Audiophile Audition Page 8

- New York Times Page 9

- Classic FM Magazine Page 10


Selected Quotes

"The guitar world has a new star." Gramophone

"The audience is completely enraptured." Oberbadisches Volksblah

"Xuefei Yang is taking the guitar world somewhat by storm." Stephen Ritter, Audiophile Audition.

"Ms. Yang demonstrates her feisty virtuosity, impeccable technique and sensitive musicianship in repertory ranging from Albeniz to arrangements of Western pop and Asian songs." Vivien Schweitzer, The New York Times

“…the brilliant, flawless recital from Xuefei Yang. The recital began with a magic rendition of Albeniz’s Cordoba and Sevilla… It was one of the best concerts I have been to in a long time.”Bromley Guitar Society.

"I was moved by the musicianship and the very person of this extraordinary young lady, discovery her for yourself." Jay Nordlinger, The New York Sun.

"Yang Xue-Fei is an absolute master of the instrument, but her considerable technical command of the guitar is only part of the equation. She is a remarkable musician." Elaine Schmidt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

"Xuefei Yang is proving to be one of the great classical guitarists of the day. Yang is not to be missed." Oliver McGhie Classical Guitar Magazine


Media : El PeriodicoCountry : SpainType : Review Concerto played with Barcelona Symphony OrchestraDate : June 2008

English transcription of sections relevant to Xuefei :

A “Spanish” Guitarist


The Orquestra Simfonica de Barcelona,under the baton of Francesca Prat, tackled the popular 'Concerto de Aranjuez' by Rodrigo. Xuefei Yang,an expert in the art of the six strings, playing the closing concert of the Guitar Festival, demonstrated that she possesses a special talent for Spanish repertoire; anyone expecting an exotic display of virtuosity, found instead an interpretation bringing sensitivity and shades to each piece, with the pure intention of making music rather than showing off technique.

Yang has a clean, round sound and always aims to carefully colour each phrase, paying attention to every detail, the attack and the ending. If in the Allegro con spirito there was some imbalance between the soloist and the orchestra, the Adagio offered wonderful phrasing, well driven by the correct amplification of the instrument. She also played the Carnival of Venice by Tarrega and 3 pieces by Albeniz, showing in all of them that the Spanish style, more that having learned it, is in her blood.

Manel Cereijo


Media : International Record ReviewCountry : UKType : CD Review of 40 Degrees NorthDate : June 2008


Media : New York SunCountry : USAType : CD Review of 40 Degrees NorthDate : June 2008

Around the World in Three Discs

Xuefei Yang has made another album, this one called "40 Degrees North" (on EMI Classics). And who is Ms. Yang? A Chinese classical guitarist, and, really, one of the most extraordinary instrumentalists in the world.

She may be Chinese, but every guitarist is a little bit Spanish — or, indeed, a lot Spanish. Ms. Yang's new CD carries that unusual title because, as the liner notes explain, that is "the line of latitude that roughly connects the capital cities of China and Spain."

The music on this CD is both Spanish and Chinese (though not at the same time, usually). For example, Ms. Yang plays arrangements of piano music by Albéniz and Granados — her own arrangements. When you play the guitar or some other minor instrument (pardon the expression), you have to borrow and refashion.

Ms. Yang plays her Spanish music, like her other music, fabulously: with sparkle, clarity, and flair. As I was listening to her in Granados's "Valses poéticos," I thought, "Alicia de Larrocha might play them this way, if she played the guitar." (Sra. de Larrocha is one of the great pianists of our time.)On the Chinese side of things, Ms. Yang plays arrangements of folk songs, an arrangement of a violin concerto, etc. Some arrangements are done by her; some are done by others. Stephen Goss has created a bouquet of pieces called "The Chinese Garden." In one of these pieces, "Jasmine Flower," you are listening to Puccini's "Turandot," note for note. Or rather, you are listening to the folk melody that Puccini employed, unforgettably.

According to the liner notes, Ms. Yang wishes to forge a Chinese repertoire for the guitar. The parallels between what she's doing and what Lang Lang is doing, for the piano, are obvious. And as China continues to rise, Chinese music will become all the more familiar.

Please note that this album was recorded in Holy Trinity Church, Weston, Hertfordshire. A Chinese guitarist is playing Spanish music, plus Chinese stuff, in an English church. Ain't globalization grand — and music, too?


Jay Nordlinger


Media : GramophoneCountry : UKType : CD Review of 40 Degrees NorthDate : June 2008


Media : Audiophile AuditionCountry : USAType : CD Review of 40 Degrees NorthDate : June 2008

Sweet playing by one of the most heralded new guitarists on the scene todayXuefei Yang is taking the guitar world somewhat by storm. This, her third album (and second for EMI) features mainly transcriptions by herself and Gerald Garcia of Spanish and Chinese pieces. The title of this disc, 40 Degrees North, reflects the rough latitude of the capital cities of China and Spain on the world map. And by the way, isn’t it the strangest coincidence that almost every young female star musician these days happens to be radiantly beautiful? What an amazing phenomenon…EMI certainly has a corral full.

But I am not going to begrudge Yang her looks; in this case she happens to be the genuine article, and also the first classical guitarist to ever emerge from behind the Red Curtain of China’s Great Wall. And a splendid event it is, for Yang possesses a delicate and nuanced touch that renders the music of Albeniz and Granados as putty in her hands. Rarely will you come across a guitarist who can stoke the strings with such gracefulness. I am almost inclined, with some trepidation, to say that it may be a woman thing—after all, unlike a piano (which many still think susceptible to minute differences between the physical abilities of men and women), a guitar is obviously subject to various degrees of the strength of a player. If Bream is stronger than Yang, it almost certainly means that he can put more physical prowess into his playing (though there is probably a point of no return where he would not want to do such a thing). Likewise, it is not out of the question that her physique may indeed lend itself to a certain gracefulness of touch that other guitarists do not have. I don’t know—this is just speculation without any empirical evidence. But the facts remain that, one way or another she has a gossamer stroke that the EMI engineers have captured with superb fidelity.

The music is also quite fine. This is not a Germanic heavyweight album by any means, but rather a recital of impressionistic and melodic gems that make for a most rewarding hour of listening. As mentioned, the Albeniz and Granados works are closely aligned to the piano originals, and come across very well. But it is the Chinese works that are the most enthralling, from the popular and well-loved Butterfly Lovers Concerto (here just the first movement) to the wonderfully spunky Yi Dance. And Stephen Goss’s The Chinese Garden is one of the most evocative pieces I have heard since the guitar works of Toru Takemitsu.

We will have to wait and see what Yang can do when she gets to the real heavies in the repertory—Bach and the others. But from what I hear here, there are great treats in store. Definitely one of the best discs of the year!

Stephen Ritter


Media : New York TimesCountry : USAType : CD Review of Romance de AmorDate : April 2007


Media : Classic FM MagazineCountry : UKType : CD Review of Romance de AmorDate : November 2006

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