Following her recital tour dates throughout Europe, Yuja Wang reunites with the acclaimed Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and Music Director Antonio Pappano for an extensive tour, with concerts at some of the continent’s most important venues. The programme features Rossini’s Overture to Le siège de Corinthe, Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with Ms. Wang as soloist, and Respighi’s Fontane di Roma & Pini di Roma. Yuja’s interpretation of the work has been applauded for her “sparkling bravura” and “stunning technical control” (LA Times).
The first leg of the tour includes dates at the Orchestra’s home venue, Rome’s Sala Santa Cecilia, on April 27, 28 & 29. These are followed by performances at Zurich’s Tonhalle (May 2), Bern’s Kultur Kasino (May 3), Geneva’s Victoria Hall (May 4), the KKL in Lucerne (May 5), and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam (May 9). They continue on to present the final concerts of the tour at the Philharmonie de Paris (May 10), London’s Royal Festival Hall (May 11), and the newly completed Philharmonie Essen (May 13).
Program notes: The enchanting and talented Yuja Wang will be the performer and queen of the evening as she plays an audience favourite: Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1. Ten years ago, this piece launched her career on the international stage when, with only a few days’ notice, she stood in for Martha Argerich who had been billed as the soloist. Her programme is also an homage to Rome, as seen through the eyes of Ottorino Respighi, who used the orchestra as his brush to create three-dimensional images evoking places and colours. The four Fountains of Rome are depicted: in the rarefied dawn near the Fountain of Valle Giulia; in the nymphs joyously chasing one another at the Triton Fountain; in the majesty of the Trevi Fountain; and in the melancholy sunset at the Medici Fountain. In his Pines of Rome, Respighi recounts the city’s energy through the games and clamour of children at Villa Borghese, the breathtaking panorama from the Janiculum, and memories of the glorious splendour of the past. Rome was also an inspiration for Richard Dubugnon, who in his Caprice Romain – making its world premiere – recalls the suggestions of a Roman holiday, with visits to the city’s monuments and an imposing presence of music, history, and art.