By Jim Hoover

In August of 2011 at the Hollywood Bowl, Pianist Yuja Wang, the 24-year-old Chinese soloist, struck many glorious chords on the piano, chords that Sergei Rachmaninoff composed for his first tour of the United States as a pianist in 1909.

Rachmaninoff’s Third Concerto is considered by many to be the most difficult concerto in the piano repertoire. Sheer stamina and dexterity are required to play it. Yuja Wang’s technique was awe-inspiring, her swan-like fingers touched the keyboard like a caressed melody of the brooding and delicate, and transitioned to the booming, then the staccato, the latter with graceful fingers moving as rapidly flittering humming birds.

Many say she is the fastest pianist in the world. But the overall aesthetics of her classical performance was set on edge by her appearance on stage.

The distinctive beauty of her music at the Hollywood Bowl was nearly matched by the excitement of her walk on: necks craned, tongues wagged, and flashbulbs popped with the sight of her lithe form moving effortlessly in an orange, thigh-caressing, body-hugging mini dress, managing to balance her slim form deftly on sparkly gold, strappy stiletto sandals.

The total performance is documented above from entry on stage, to the aesthetics of her performance, ending with her bow acknowledging the applause from an audience thoroughly entertained.

The popular music of Lady Gaga and Madonna, accompanied with outlandish costumes, enhances an image that sells a performer.

Yuja Wang is so skilled as an artist, that what might be termed a wrong-occasion fashion by some doesn’t have to sell an audience, but does serve as self expression for a young, talented pianist.

Rejecting the classical music culture of conformity and obedience, she used the visual aspects of a live performance on a Los Angeles stage to share the whole of what she is.