NACO, July 7: "A star is born": dazzling young pianist Yuja Wang returns

Summary: "A star is born": dazzling young pianist Yuja Wang, who wowed audiences as Radu Lupu's replacement in February, returns to the NAC Orchestra on July 7

The National Arts Centre Orchestra's summer Great Composers series on Thursday, July 7 features the return of the brilliant 18-year-old Chinese pianist Yuja Wang, who dazzled NAC audiences in February when she stepped in on short notice to replace superstar Radu Lupu. Yuja Wang will perform Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor with the NAC Orchestra led by Pinchas Zukerman. Zukerman will also conduct the Orchestra in Brahms' genial and elegant Serenade No. 2 for Small Orchestra.

The 19:30 NAC Orchestra concert is preceded at 18:30 by Thomas Annand's Encounters with Bach which he is presenting prior to each of the four Great Composers concerts on July 5, 7, 12 and 20. For these half-hour Evening Overtures of organ music and chat, Annand will discuss and perform music by Bach as well by composers who influenced or were influenced by him. The 30-minute Encounter with Bach is included in the ticket price of the orchestral concert. Ticket-holders have the option of arriving at 18:30 for Thomas Annand, or coming at 19:30 if they decide to attend only the orchestral concert.

The NAC Orchestra's Great Composers series is presented in association with the Ottawa Citizen.

When Yuja Wang made her last minute debut with the NAC Orchestra in February, Le Droit wrote: "Fluid technique, transparent articulation, a silvery touch, without in any way detracting from the strong character of the Beethoven - all this she delivered to the fascination of her listeners.... A star is born."

This praise joins recent comments from The New York Times that Wang "performed with an assurance that belied her age, displaying a clean, sparkling technique and plenty of strength but also a fine sense of rhythmic freedom" and from the New Yorker that "she had total command of the sometimes sadistically difficult [Schubert] C-Minor Sonata, and she conveyed a kind of joy in the challenge of it."

Yuja Wang was born in Beijing in 1987. She has been a frequent prizewinner in National and International competitions, including first prize in the Huapu Cup National Piano Competition, the First "Mido" Concours De Tiano Sino-Francais, the Xinghai Cup National Piano Competition and the Veo Internacional Primer Premio in Spain. She released her debut CD in 1995 and has received critical acclaim in the press and from the music community wherever she has performed. Yuja Wang has given recitals in Beijing, Zhuhai, Shijizhuang, Harbin and Urmuqi in China. She has performed frequently as a concerto soloist in China.

Tickets for this Great Composers series concert with Pinchas Zukerman and Yuja Wang on July 7 at 19:30, including the Encounter with Bach at 18:30 are on sale now at $22.00 and $28.00 at the NAC Box Office (Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00), and through Ticketmaster (with surcharges) at 613-755-1111. Ticketmaster may also be accessed through the NAC's web-site at www.nac-cna.ca <http://www.nac-cna.ca/>; . Half-price tickets for students in all sections of the hall are on sale in person at the NAC Box Office upon presentation of a valid student ID card. Groups of 20 and more save up to 20% on NAC Music, Theatre and Dance performances. To book call 947-7000 ext. 384 or email grp@nac-cna.ca.

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