Catalogue

Summary:

“This is an intriguingly programmed recital from a young South Korean pianist with strong hands and big ideas… Her playing offers impressive moments: jet-propelled fingerwork in Currier’s energetic.” – BBC Music Magazine

“On paper this ‘Collage’ shouldn’t work, but it does – triumphantly so.” – Gramophone

“Yang’s touch is featherlight but sure on the sonatas, fast and clear even in the most detailed passages, with a punchy rhythmic command subsequently echoed in Currier’s playful investigation of Scarlatti’s motifs. A brave and challenging debut.” – The Independent

In 2005, Joyce Yang became the youngest ever medallist of the Van Cliburn International Competition, and in 2010 she was awarded the Avery Fisher Career Grant. She now makes her recording debut for Avie with a collage of a programme that ideally represents her artistry. Joyce chose pieces that illuminate each other in arresting ways: Sebastian Currier’s Scarlatti Cadences reflect the repetitious melodic motifs of Scarlatti’s Sonatas, Lowell Liebermann’s Gargoyles echo the esoteric timelessness of Debussy’s Estampes, and Liszt’s transcription of Chopin’s song My Joys opens a window onto Schumann’s Carnaval. These works are an aural autobiography of Joyce’s first 20-some years of music making, and also portray her unique brand of synethesia, the visualisation of music in shapes and colours. Appropriately, the repertoire Joyce chose for this recording is inspired by vivid imagery, and the striking artwork is the result of collaboration with artist Joan Snyder, whose colourful paintings are featured throughout.

Joyce performs with such orchestras as the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics; Chicago, San Francisco, Baltimore and Houston Symphonies; Philadelphia Orchestra and BBC Philharmonic, with such conductors as Edo de Waart, Lorin Maazel, James Conlon, Leonard Slatkin, and David Robertson. In recital Joyce has appeared at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, the Metropolitan Museum, the Kennedy Center, Chicago’s Symphony Hall, and Zurich’s Tonhalle. An avid chamber musician, she is a recurring guest at the summer festivals in Aspen, La Jolla and Santa Fe. Born in Seoul, Korea in 1986, Ms. Yang moved to the United States in 1997 to study at the Juilliard School where she graduated with honours. A Steinway Artist since 2008, Joyce resides in New York City.

Tracklist:

DOMENICO SCARLATTI (1685–1757)
1. Sonata in D Minor K9 (3.29)
2. Sonata in D Minor K141 (3.41)

SEBASTIAN CURRIER (b. 1959)
3. Scarlatti Cadences (6.22)
4. Brainstorm (4.56)

CLAUDE DEBUSSY (1862–1918)
Estampes
5. I. Pagodes (5.16)
6. II. La soirée dans Grenade (5.10)
7. III. Jardins sous la pluie (3.50)

LOWELL LIEBERMANN (b. 1961)
Gargoyles, Op.29
8. I. Presto (1.59)
9. II. Adagio semplice, ma con molto rubato (3.58)
10. III. Allegro moderato (2.30)
11. IV. Presto feroce (2.52)

ROBERT SCHUMANN (1810–1856)
Carnaval, Op.9
12. I. Préambule: Quasi maestoso (2.35)
13. II. Pierrot: Moderato (2.00)
14. III. Arlequin: Vivo (1.11)
15. IV. Valse noble: Un poco maestoso (2.28)
16. V. Eusebius: Adagio (2.27)
17. VI. Florestan: Passionato (1.03)
18. VII. Coquette: Vivo (1.14)
19. VIII. Réplique: L’istesso tempo (1.07)
20. IX. Papillons: Prestissimo (0.47)
21. X. A.S.C.H. – S.C.H.A. (Lettres dansantes): Presto (0.57)
22. XI. Chiarina: Passionato (1.49)
23. XII. Chopin: Agitato (1.25)
24. XIII. Estrella: Con affetto (0.26)
25. XIV. Reconnaissance: Animato (1.44)
26. XV. Pantalon et Colombine: Presto (1.01)
27. XVI. Valse allemande (1.02)
28. XVII. Paganini: Molto vivace – Presto (1.27)
29. XVIII. Aveu: Passionato (1.18)
30. XIX. Promenade: Con moto (2.39)
31. XX. Pause (0.18)
32. XXI. Marche des ‘Davidsbündler’ contre les Philistins: Vivo (4.16)

FRANZ LISZT (1811–1886)
Six Polish Songs, S.480
33. No. 5. Meine Freuden (digital bonus track)

Joyce Yang, piano

Recorded in the Mary Flagler Cary Hall at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music, New York,
31 May–3 June 2011

Producer: Elizabeth Ostrow
Recording and editing engineer: Dirk Sobotka
Mastering engineer: Mark Donahue
Edited and mastered at Soundmirror, Boston