I'm sorry. I gotta be honest. If I were fortunate enough just to be close to being on the same level as Yuja, and sat next to her for as long as and as close as Ted did, I would be much like a pad of butter that was placed on a super hot piece of toast. She is the epitome of the "Full Package" and I feel fortunate to have only just discovered her today the 26th day of November 2023! I felt like listening to some Gershwin and in particular Piano Concierto in F major around noon today. I've loved that since I was like 13 and to my delight it was absolutely the most perfect rendition I've ever heard and seen! Since then I've been binging on Yuja Wang's videos and almost 4.5 hours later, I am beyond in awe of her. She is a masterpiece!

i cant believe this type of content is free for our viewing, literally so amazing to see such minds discuss their craft like this!

This is a fantastic achievement. Not even the BBC produces films like this. Tonebase brings us some of the world's greatest musicians and lets us see them for the earthly mortals that they are. Humour and honesty abound, while the incredible skill and talent does its own talking. If this were a Christopher Nupen film, and his work was great (RIP), we'd be invited to quietly observe and pay homage to geniuses who graciously bestow their miraculous gifts unto us from a high altar. And this was fine and often insightful, but this type of film by Tonebase is more real. To completely over-egg this brief critique, Tonebase is The Wire of classical music film-making.

This video goes well beyond what KZfaq videos normally do. It would be at home as an episode of “American Masters” on PBS. The mix of music, interviews, history, commentary and historical comparison is a joy to watch. Kudos to Tonebase and thrilled to see another premiere for Yuja.

I am a professional pianist and I worked as MTT's assistant for more than 5 years, So the world of this video is very familiar to me. It's such a joy to be introduced to this concerto, to hear all the artists involved talk about it and hear the performances. It's great fun, inspirational and educational. Thank you so much.

How can you produce what is possibly one of the greatest hours ever created on classical music and just give it away? Just astonishing quality on every level - presentation, production, editing, and the content. Oh the content. Remarkable. Thank you.

As a jazz musician, I’m used to hearing classical composer and musicians paint with a REALLY broad brush when talking about jazz (particularly the word “jazzy”). Hearing Teddy talk about his jazz influences is a breath of fresh air! He clearly really knows his stuff. Beautiful music and great video Ben!

The editing and storytelling is superb. You truly capture what it feels like to be passionate and knowledgeable about classical music in the 21st century. Thank you.

Unbelievably well done!

She is such an amazing pianist. Absolute perfection.

Yuja, the absolute queen of piano! Congratulations for even managing to get such an in depth interview with her!

KZfaq should fix their website so i can "like" more than once. well done!

As a living composer myself, I absolutely loved this deep dive on a contemporary piece and topics facing contemporary music! No shade intended, but moments of the concerto took me back to high school band, when the director would always program that one "fun" piece. No doubt, whatever your genre preference a very well composed and brilliantly performed piece. I just hope to be able to write for Yuja one day as well. ☺

Don’t be put off by the length of this video; it is absolutely riveting. Fascinating to hear Yuja, the pianist, and Teddy, the composer interviewed together. They met at music school when they were both 18, and they work together very well. The video offers lots of musical insights.

Thanks to Yuja and Teddy for your lucid explanations. I learned so much more about what I was listening to ( or should have been listening to). Thank You so.

this is astonishing. i only wish it were twice as long, so we could hear what they said/played next after certain moments. I hope Tonebase will make a "director's cut" for those of us who just can't get enough of this stuff.....

At this point, we can all consider negative high critics as useless as IMBD and Rotten Tomato professional critic ratings. This was enjoyable as hell. 🎉

Must have been a lot of work to put this together. Great presentation. Thank you!..😊

It’s pretty obvious, having listened to both Gershwin and Rachmaninoff, that the two influenced each other an incredible amount. And to add onto the point of the critics, Rachmaninoff was criticized by intellectuals because they considered his music too sentimental, relying on themes and melodies written with the intent of making the audience love his music, as the person said, hitting on “philistine taste.”

Glad to see you guys highlight the connection between the Grieg Concerto and both the Rachmaninoff 1st and the Rhapsody in Blue. I remember hearing the Grieg concerto *after* both of those and being like "OH, I wonder if Rach and Gershwin both listened to Grieg a lot growing up" haha. So cool to hear this wasn't too far off.

Phenomenal work Ben! This is such a great look 'under the hood' of an epic project.

I’ve been playing piano and guitar for five decades, and talent at this level blows my mind, just unbelievable

When I listened to Rhapsody in Blue and Rhapsody in a Theme of Paganini I felt like I wasn’t sure if it was Rachmaninov’s or Gershwin for either of them. And it’s cool that even though I don’t know anything about music that I can feel that influence they had on each other.

The analogy between classical music and medieval church Latin was spot on!

Tonebase, thank you for putting together such a beautiful and interesting video!! So interesting and man can Yuja wang play.

best tonebase video so far

thank you for making this video! i probably would never have listened to this concerto if not for this video and now i've had it on repeat since hearing it the first time. it is so good!!

the editing of this absolutely blows me away. might be the most elegantly-edited youtube piece i've ever seen. bravo.

OMG! This was wonderful on all levels... but mostly on levels that escaped me. And that's what took me places. Thank you Ben, Yuja & Teddy and all those greats!

Informative analysis. Appreciate your work. Thank you!

this is such a well done breakdown of an exciting new work!

Tonebass did it again!!! Great content, great editing, great analysis! Tonebass vids are always like this - they always work!

This was an excelent video. Thank you!

Many thanks, Ben.This video is thoroughly educational and entertaining. Also, my first exposure to Yuja's delightful personality. Yuja, Teddy, and yourself are so creative and intelligent: a dynamite combination! BTW, you should take Yuja up on her suggestion to write her program notes.

Exceptional quality, thank you!

Sees Yuja in the thumbnail. Instant click.

What a delightful hour I just spent watching this (instead of sleeping). I enjoyed every moment. Thanks! ❤

You knocked it out of the park here!! Thank you thank you thank you. Draws you in deeper & deeper and I was downright emotional by the end. The friendship of Yuja & Teddy, punctuated by your source Gershwin biographer living across the street ☺

Brandiose!! I like the blue glasses part. Thank you for this great video.

I loved this video and learned so much from it. I haven't listened to the Abrams concerto but that is next to do. I have loved Yuja Wong for years and hope to maybe hear her in person--Maybe in Chicago. I have listened to many artists play the many piano pieces talked about and find that in my later years I find sections of these pieces that I have overlooked now come to the fore. Anyway, I thank you for the amount of work put in to make this video and present the history of this new work played by Yuja Wong.

This is awesome beyond any words, Thanks for making the video.

Great video! Really enjoyed it and learned a lot. Thanks!

Gosh! How I enjoyed watching this… Congratulations!!! ❤❤

Wow, you all really nailed it. This exploration of Mr. Abrams concerto and the musical traditions that preceded it is a cornucopia of ideas, trends, influences, which I wasn't anticipating. Really fun and exciting to hear and feel. Bravo!

This video is one of the best in the whole freaking internet... well done!!!! and thanks so much!!!

Extraordinaire vidéo, attrayante,instructive,faite par des gens passionnés.

Tonebase is the greatest thing to happen to classical pianists (professional and Amateur) in the 21st century

I have been so excited for this video ever since meeting Ben Laude at Bravo Vail!

Brilliant work Tonebase Piano. I'll be watching and rewatching.

Thank you, Thank you Yuja and Teddy and Tonebase for creating an exciting recording of extraordinary musical artists and composers and the history of American music. The historical videos are amazing, especially Horowitz playing at home and MTT conducting with the San Francisco Orchestra with Yuja playing/surprising him "You Come Here Often?" written for Yuja by MTT. The video and audio editing are amazing. Great cuts between performers playing the same piece. I am now happily Subscribed to Tonebase and look forward to seeing and hearing more wonderful music.

Bravo! Outstanding analysis and collaboration brought by tonebase piano, Yuja Wang, Teddy Abrams, et all. Kudos to Ben!

Such a pleasure to watch this! Definitely enjoyed the way you three conducted the conversation and also how the editing was done. Great stuff.

Bravo! Enriches not only the Abrams, but all the other works mentioned.

Simply gorgeous video!

Kudos to the producers of this video. You take an extremely high-minded and multi-facted concept, and then you break it down into digestible and delicious bites. Easy to say, but oh, how you executed this so flawlessly! I was engaged from the get-go, and you held my rapt gaze till the end! Bravo!!

Excellent content! Thank you!!!

This is very VERY well done!

Thanks you for this beautiful video, I'm such a fan of Yuja Wang ! Did you know that Rachmaninov actually liked to visit bars in New York at night, and improvise piano contests and "boeufs" with his two best mates : Horowitz and Art Tatum ! (you can imagine the level of virtuosity) ; Chet Baker, Miles Davies, Charlie Parker... they all paid tribute to Rachmaninov. And yes, the "ultra-romantic" music of Rachmaninov is filled with jazzy chords or phrases.

❣️OMG what a Christmas present this is to me❣️ Happy all over I stumbled across your channel ❣️

Glory to Rachmaninoff! I love his music from the bottom of my heart. My favourite composer, by far!

Very nice video. Congratulation. Is very rare finding something with this quality in nowadays.

Yuja stands out so much in that photo of all the Curtis students. You could put that smile in a lighthouse, it's so radiant!

For me, a lightweight concert-goer, this video was a wunnnnnderful story. VERY enjoyable exploration both into classical greats -- music and musicians -- and the story of their connections and inventions. Thank you so much. And KUDOS!!!

Amazing documentary. Learned a lot

A splendid presentation❤❤❤

YES! Been waiting for this! (getting popcorn) ~~~

Awesome video. I was at the wonderful premiere concert

The best edits I've ever seen. Wow

This video is a jewel! Thank you for this educational entertainment and well produced content! Gland I’m part of tonebase family!

Incredible insights = more please.

Congrats on your big day of uploading this. I know it must've taken ages to get finished and you probably felt a lot of pressure, but trust me when I say your video lives up to the piece it's discussing!

Wonderful. Refreshing!

Great, great video!

The lexicon of musical invective - one of my favourite books. I’m especially fond of the Reger story …. Awesome video - pastiche or not, I guess I’ll need to hear it !

Thank you for providing such high quality education and entertainment!

This is Beyond a masterclass

First time nodding my head to classical. Loved that jazz improv by Yujia.

I was there for the first performance, in row 7. It was amazing.

Great watch

Ben this is brilliant

BRILLIANT!!! ....... Thank you,

Thanks a lot! Just when I thought I was done with the internet for good and was never going to scroll KZfaq again (except of course for my beloved jazz videos) you had to appear Good job it's good to know at 66 years old I can learn something new everyday.. oh yeah and for all you people in the comment section that are talkin about how can anyone not send money to this channel for what they produce I hope you do because I know I would if I had any money at all

And they knew that one day SHE would come along and play the most difficult piano pieces Bravo Ms Yuji

Awesome

很喜歡看YJW彈鋼琴時的臉和手。她全然沉浸其中，嘴唇可愛地時而律動，似嬰兒。雙手快如幻影，手型很漂亮⋯⋯台風好。

Thanks great stuff 😊 just talking about misic and creativity today thanks again...

my two favorite composers

Wonderful! 🎉🎉🎉

Great video!

Thanks Rich.

She is just so, so amusing and talent.

EXCELLENT!

Wonderful video

these are highly enjoyable

OMG! I'm feeling guilty! I got to listen to and watch some of this masterful, charming, erudite, magnetic, fascinating program while chopping vegetables for my chicken soup. That is disrespectful of gifts and talent shared with this amazing creation. I cannot wait to buy this recording along with the American Album just out by Fatma Said. Also looking forward to my second listen to this. So much knowledge shared! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!

This concerto is so much fun

Excellent!!

Look, I listened to the the whole album on Spotify just now. The pieces are not bad, but ‘Do You Come Here Often?’ didn’t hit my spot, to be frank. But credit where it’s due: Yuja Wang is Yuja Wang and it’s superbly performed and recorded album. Well done. I do however take issue with the way the names of these composers are just thrown around, as if that would in any way make the piece a great composition - it‘s not nearly Gershwin and most certainly not Rachmaninoff, not in blueprint, never in melody or harmony (except occasionally where it borrows heavily) although in texture it does achieve the feeling of some sort of hybridity between the two multiple times. Everyone involved in this is a great musician and it‘s not a bad concerto, I’d go as far and say it’s at times quite bold and the jazzy bits are a novelty, I’ve never heard a symphonic piano concerto quite like it although you could argue Bernstein and Adams, but it suffers from what I would describe as Addinsellism: too many notes and too loud over lengths that aren‘t carried by the story, the character or the feeling of the music (and it‘s not the performance on the record at all). What makes Gershwin and Rachmaninoff the monoliths they are in music, is how their work makes the hair all over my body stand up and fills me with the most intense joy and melancholia at the same time, it still makes me want to laugh and cry at once while listening to it after 18 years. Those two composers wrote often simple melodies you can sing along to, but created emotion and brought stories to life through excellence in harmony, Rachmaninoff most distinctly with his sevenths and seconds and through the perfect instrumentations. A piece won’t simply achieve that by calling it the «child of Gershwin and Raaak» 🙄🤔😂 unless the music earns it. And while it‘s an admirable effort, a little humility wouldn‘t be out of place. Still, it‘s mostly enjoyable and fun and it literally made me laugh with its cheek. I found the guitar somehow out of place, it‘s the only thing I honestly criticise apart from the premise of it being a child of the two composers it was advertised as. Favourite part (duh) XI. Cadenza & IV. Coda is the center jewel in this dazzling piece, what a f***ing ball hahaha, bravo! To everyone! The record itself is superb, who would have guessed that pristine Yuja could go from the cleanest in the game to a REAL Cat within the blink of an eye? ★ ★ ★ ★☆

Brilliant!!!!!

I am in love... with a documentary about a composition... duuuuuuuuuuude!