Tag: classical

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Dreams Do Come True: Yuja Wang at Roy Thomson Hall

I apologize for not posting all year. I have been very busy with work and study.

The other night, I found myself browsing the Toronto Symphony Orchestra website. The last time I visited the site was after the Daniil Trifonov performance was cancelled due to injury. Since he is one of my very favourite pianists, I was saddened to hear the news and not interested in any of the other shows that I could have exchanged my ticket for.

I was relaxing at a local izakaya (Japanese pub) when I started browsing the Internet and somehow went to the TSO site. I looked through the upcoming shows and saw that Yo Yo Ma was scheduled to perform in Toronto. I quickly searched for tickets but they were all sold out. Feeling dejected, I started to make my way out of the site when I spotted an entry about Yuja Wang performing in Toronto! Yuja Wang is one of my favourite pianists. She is one I have taken a lot of inspiration from.

I wasted no time ordering tickets. Before I made the purchase, I remembered that due to the cancellation of Daniil Trifonov’s performance this past spring, I should have a credit in my account. I saw no indicator of a credit and felt disappointed to say the least.

Regardless, I was going to purchase the ticket to see Yuja Wang, credit or no credit. There was no way that I was going to miss the opportunity to see such an incredible, inspiriting pianist.

I went to pay for my ticket and to my surprise, a credit appeared. The price was discounted by the credit for the cancelled show from this past spring. I quickly completed the transaction and sat in awe for the next little while.

The smile on my face must have blinded everyone in the izakaya. I was ecstatic about the opportunity to see one of my favourite artists in the entire world. I sent text messages to some of my good friends to let them know. I told my friend who works at the izakaya and she surprised me by telling me that she is a violinist! Wow. Super-cool!

I am really looking forward to going to Roy Thomson Hall to see this incredible performance.

https://www.tso.ca/

I will leave you with a stunning rendition of Rachmaninov’s Prelude in G Minor, Opus 23, Number 5 performed by the lovely Yuja Wang.

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Classical Confession

Photo by Ekaterina from Pexels

I must confess. I am not of this world. By “this world” I am referring to the traditional classical music industry at large.   

I grew up listening to Rock, Reggae, Hip Hop, R&B, House, and Pop. Throughout this time, I always had an appreciation for classical music. I just loved the sound of strings or piano.   

I am not your stereotypical Classical music connoisseur. As I enter this world, I feel as though I am an outsider. I did not study music theory or train classically as a child. I have no formal credentials that “qualify” me to truly understand this complex art form. 

Yet my soul is moved by the beauty of classical compositions. The music speaks to me on a primal level that popular genres cannot reach. I feel it in my bones.  

I hope my journey through this wonderful world inspires others from non-traditional backgrounds to seek and enjoy music they truly love. Classical music should be accessible to all who wish to partake in its splendor. 

The pandemic has changed all of our lives. Sometimes for worse, other times better. In my case, I experienced both sides. The positive side was me starting to learn to play the piano.  

I have been fascinated by the beautiful sounds of the piano since childhood. I remember being mesmerized by the piano while attending Sunday school. I thought the pianist was the most incredible person in the building. The music transported me, allowed me to feel joy and hope despite difficult times. 

Watching people play the piano always blew me away. It just all seemed so impossible to me. I could never see myself playing such a complex instrument. It looked so miraculous to me. Especially mesmerizing was the fact that people play with two hands…doing different things simultaneously. A coordination I could not fathom. 

I dabbled in music over the years. My first foray into music was learning to DJ Hip Hop at a friend’s basement. I was not really good at it but enjoyed it nonetheless. I went on to write hip hop songs. I recorded some tracks but never pursued a career in music. I never wanted to become famous. Despite having some connections in the music industry, I decided not to go professional.  

Many years later, I started learning to DJ again. This time around, my focus was on House music. I began building a collection of House music tracks in 2016. I have made some incredible mix sets which I have yet to publish.   

You can see a pattern emerging. I am afraid of publicity and fame. To become famous is actually a nightmare of mine. I prefer to remain anonymous and enjoy music for my own pleasure. 

My journey to the piano has led me to the wonderful world of classical music. I find myself drawn to the Romantic era. The complexity and emotion put into music from that era resonates deeply with me.  

Pieces such as Rachmaninoff’s Trio Elégiaque No. 1 in G Minor for Piano, Violin, and Cello make me experience a range of powerful emotions. I feel sadness, despair, hope, triumph, and victory while listening to this piece. Other pieces nearly bring tears to my eyes before leaving me feeling accomplished and at peace.  

There is a lot of power in classical music. It can elicit the full range of human emotions and transport the listener to another realm. I sincerely look forward to this journey with you all, wherever the music leads me. My soul has found a new home.