Russian repertoire is core to her programming – music she often heard as a child, when her mother danced – especially Tchaikovsky, whose Piano Concert No 1 she will play in London in next month with Rome’s Orchestra of Santa Cecilia, conducted by Antonio Pappano. When, in 2007, Martha Argerich cancelled a concerto date, Wang stepped in and got her big break. Her heroes are Kempff, Schnabel, Horowitz, Maurizio Pollini and Evgeny Kissin. I am independent-minded, self-reliant.” With the guidance of various mentors, including the pianists Leon Fleisher and Gary Graffman, she immersed herself in the great European piano tradition. Was she immediately recognised as a prodigy? “Yeah, I guess so.” At 14 she left China, alone and not speaking any English, and went to study first in Canada then to the Curtis Institute of Music, in Philadelphia. I’m Chinese!” – Wang started the piano aged six and gave her first concert less than a year later. But I guess everyone knows the F-word.”īorn in Beijing, an only child – “Of course. I don’t know if he understood what I said to him. Then this man taps me on the shoulder and says I’m being disrespectful to Jesus.” Did she cover herself up? “No way. “Yesterday, I was in a church dressed as I am now, having a little quiet spiritual moment to myself. My father, a percussionist, sorted out timing and rhythm.” She doesn’t admit to doing exercise – “Run? I’ve never run in my life” – but learned stretches from her dancer mother. “It’s when I feel free, I move more, I improvise.” The rest of the time she is upright, graceful, like a dancer or gymnast. They get more encores!” For Wang, encores are integral, not add-ons. I just say some random composer names…” Doesn’t that upset audiences? “Yes. How can I know two years ahead what I’m going to play at 8pm in this hall in this city? I’m still exploring repertoire. The programme consists of two monumental works: Chopin’s 24 Preludes and Brahms’s Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel. Her current European tour covers more than a dozen cities, including London, where she gives her Royal Festival Hall solo-recital debut in the International Piano Series on 11 April. Wang was in Florence the night before, out late “having a few drinks”. “This is all philosophical bullshit! I need to sleep first. “Rather than following textbook behaviour and doing what classical musicians have always done…” She stops mid-sentence to shape her thoughts, then giggles explosively. “I’m interested in looking good, but fashion bores me as much as checking for updates on my phone,” she says with a yawn, downing an espresso.
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