Its just how people are. Chinese pianist Yuja Wang has issued an emotional response, after being criticised for wearing sunglasses during a recital in Canada. But I dont forgive her bending the facts to fit her argument that she felt snubbed because Yuja didnt smile at her. Michael Tilson Thomas and pianist Yuja Wang take a bow after performing Liszt's Piano Concerto No. . As each piece ended, there were sighs of appreciation from the audience, extended applause, and acclaiming shouts. I know that I am unfortunately not the only person to have had this kind of traumatic experience, which has shaken me to my core. That means, USA had more than enough time to prepare. I was slightly confused with the sunglasses and somewhat sensed that she wasnt entirely in a good mood in the beginning of the concert. On arrival at Vancouver International Airport on Friday, I was detained for over an hour and subjected to intense questioning which I found humiliating and deeply upsetting. If you want things perfect- buy the CD. on: December 02, 2017, 08:12:41 PM. Instead, fucking Trump lets his people die in the thousands. Yuja shouldve cancelled. Not sure what got up Ms. Millers nose. People need perspective. You can guarantee that something was very wrong for Yuja to behave as she did. Yuja Wang was born in Beijing, China on February 10, 1987. Food poisoning, for instance. its totally irrelevant! Photo: Julia Wesely, A post shared by Yuja Wang (@yujawang.official) on Feb 23, 2020 at 2:10pm PST. My carry-on luggage was opened and contents spilled out on the floor. Select your subscription length below and head to the checkout: Please log in again. I recall just after 911 I was in line boarding the plane for the Winter Olympics when I was seemingly randomly pulled out of line and searched. Apart from the fact that we dont know the reason for this questioning (as if St. Yuja is incapable of fault. By Janet Malcolm August 29, 2016 Yuja is keenly awareas many. In going out on to the stage after an abusive interaction with border officials, she showed that she is a class act, a consummate professional, and a deeply dedicated, audience-first performer. Certainly will no longer watch your pod cast. Of course, I wasnt at the concert, so I dont know how I would have felt. . It was all thoroughly musical, too, never heartless or. to write a post criticizing Wang for what she said was effectively shutting the audience out. On arrival at Vancouver International Airport on Friday, I was detained for over an hour and subjected to intense questioning which I found humiliating and deeply upsetting. She was detained 1 hour. My recital tour will continue, and I look forward to bringing my program to the audience in San Francisco tonight, and on to New York. The real question is whether these airport screeners treated Yuja with dignity and respect (i.e., as they would treat anyone else with a global travel profile, esp. . I regret reading you long comment to come to your genial statement that And when one Has To, money (another favorite argument for the cynics) is not the motivation. In very stressing occupations, not only for concert pianists, money is the best pain-killer. everything would contribute to suspicious bits 4:15, 17th March 2017. To accuse her of seeking attention by wearing sunglasses ( as did Roy Orbison) is rather harsh. And seriously, with the corona situation, having a Chinese citizen with that many travelling stamps in her passport, they would be crazy not to question her. Turning 35 next month, Yuja has seemingly racked up more accolades than she has Instagram followers, some 210,000. Read more: Opera star calls out critic for body-shaming his reply sparks backlash >, It is difficult for me to share this with all of you, but given the circumstances, and harmful speculation and criticism being shared online and elsewhere, I feel it important that the following is made public. !tu ne laime pas ok !! I was in shock. Well done, Mr. Wells, and thank you. Out of some 7.5 billion people on Earth, there are maybe 12 who can play as well as Ms. Wang. She went on stage and she played the concert. I made eight trips to see her during the last four months. Such letter should be prepared and issued by the presenter outlining all the details of such visit by the artist and pass to the artist, so the artist status is crystal clear. No fool would expose oneself to the pratty and rude opinions of ignorant characters, to the unbearable pressure of operating on first division or to the inhuman discomfort of constant international travelling unless one has to. Apparently, artist so-and-so broke his left wrist getting off the bus. Yuja Wang's age is 35. How do you know the interrogation was related to Coronavirus? As the information about Yuja Wangs experience at the border emerges, I think her focus on the music and the performance was understandable and greatly appreciated by many more than me. Oooh, sooo sad for you. Ive been quite badly treated by Canadian Immigration a couple of times (UK passport). But never, not for one second, did she hold back in her performances, and I felt very lucky to be there for such an intimate and courageous sharing of music. I had to take a bus and didnt know if Id make the venue in time for the concert. 6am - 9am, Concerto Grosso No.8 in G minor Opus 6 (4) Why this excitement about a young woman who in English and cosmopolitan and certainly well advised with regard to her public relation would also have had the opportunity to explain the wearing of sunglasses to an English-speaking audience. Header image: Lksemburg Filarmoni Orkestras & Yuja Wang at a previous recital. Humiliated after being detained at the airport, Yuja Wang says she delivered the recital in sunglasses to hide her tears. Yuja Wang (Chinese: ; pinyin: Wng Yji; born February 10, 1987) is a Chinese classical pianist. Through a small village in Sudtirol (Austria): one for the rich. Bergamo is just few hours away. Care to elaborate on these hundreds of thousands of civilians with unbiased evidence based on empirical researchor is this your usual weekly anti American rant. Yuja Wang responds to "harmful" criticism for wearing sunglasses on stage after being "humiliated" at Vancouver airport. Musicians are human just like anyone else. This does not place you in a lofty position. They still have no idea how it got to Italy. Yes, we ought to allow a certain level of eccentricity from performers but our tolerance of such things is usually proportional to the talents (and charms) of the artist in question. (a trap set up to give the Soviets their Vietnam), Iraq? As, I suspect, most of us would. But please, put it into perspective. She played brawny repertory, such as Brahms' First Piano Concerto, thought. So was Tania Millers. My audiences and fans sustain and nourish me as an artist. Why dont you both grow up and put your big-people shoes on and realize that most artists go above and beyond, and try to transcend, when they communicate with their listeners. Miller went on to offer some advice to Wang: I heard later that she had trouble with the Canadian border getting into Canada. Canadian conductor Tania Miller, who had attended the concert, took to her Facebook page to write a post criticizing Wang for what she said was effectively shutting the audience out. Sure, its their country but I wouldnt have fancied trying to perform in the immediate aftermath. . Chapeau to Yuja for playing (with sunglasses to hide her swollen eyes from the audience!) I was left extremely shaken by this experience. Clearly this reveals how crude people can become when they have an delusion of being empowered. That was truly shameful. The wrist was taped, and the artist was whacked out on oxycontin, but managed to play the gig. You obviously learned nothing about empathy growing up. LEts leave it at that. Exactly! Lesson #5: Jump at every opportunity. I am sure she did her best, after all, she could have cancelled the program but she didnt. Posts: 203. It could have been handled better. Her having been harassed to the point of tears matters not. Norman you are an idiot. Yes, even those who (in my mind at least) may be less than tolerant of the other., Was the piano playing good? Expand. The glory days of the Hawker Siddeleys and Il-18s and the 707s. I admit I do not know just how upset she was. I do not ever again want to hear any of you Canadians looking down your noses and Americans and Britons. I was at the concert (seated quite close to the stage) and can attest that no one in my immediate vicinity or with whom I spoke during intermission or afterwards was furious. Michael Vincent is the Editor-in-chief Ludwig Van and CEO of Museland Media. Hi Saxon, If it was simple racial profiling (hard to believe) that she would be right to be upset, of course. By Mark Swed Classical Music Critic. Awwww, I feel so bad for you. We are sharing her words describing her experience, and ask that everyone take a step back and try to imagine how they might have handled a similar experience. She was so shaken and crying from the incident, she had to wear her sunglasses to hide her red and swollen eyes. By the way, is it a common occurrence that Arabs subjected to intense questioning at the border are scheduled to perform a recital in front of thousands of people a couple of hours later on the same day? We have received so many comments from patrons who attended the recital, glowing about how wonderfully she performed and asking for her return. Really? Are either of you adults, or are you priveleged peckish little whiners who didnt get your entertainment value, and now you cant enjoy the hors doeuvres and wine at the after-show party, cuz it just messed up your whole evening. I think you should review your definition of terrorism. Let's Go! Ouch. Shame on you. Find tickets for Yuja Wang in Vancouver on SeatGeek. Your understanding of the term socialist is clearly limited to your ability to spell the word. She strikes me as an excellent pianist. And the mere act of getting around there is enough to kill the spirit of any visiting artist). My heart goes out to anyone else who has, and my hope is that by sharing what happened to me, there can be a much needed conversation and change in protocol to ensure this doesnt happen to anyone else. Why are we musicians held to a different standard? 1- The Coronavirus thing you mention here is nothing but racial profiling. By the age of 21, she already was an internationally recognized concert pianist, giving recitals around the world. Have these authors have never been harassed, let alone DETAINED, because of their race? Norman Lebrecht was first to break the story on Slipped Disc, prompting vigorous debate in the comment section about the appropriateness of Wangs demeanour onstage, and Millers subsequent criticism. In most peoples professions it is understood that they may miss work due to likeness or other personal reasons. But I have no doubt Chinese travellers have been subjected to more than most. I agree that this was racial profiling! Is she supposed to get special treatment because she is a celebrity? finding practice time, trying to eat well somewhere near the hall, getting used to an unfamiliar instrument in a matter of hours (most of the time they are not great) and, later, dealing with critics who, of course, know the mind of a dead composer better than the artist up there doing it and are determined to have the last word, often published before the artist has even boarded the plane. She did not oblige an encore, leaving some in the audience to wonder what had happened to make the pianist uncharacteristically angry. Puzzled and perhaps intrigued by the sunglasses, to be sure, but angry?? But Ms. Wang did not arrive from China. So typicalpolice a womans choice of dress and then take the word of a spectator over her own. Following on from Marin Aslops hostile blast, two, The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra has chosen renowned conductor, After a dazzling concert with Anne-Sophie Mutter, Bavarian, Gruesome story in the Daily Mail that convenient. You might apologize for your quick print. Remember we are not selfish and we get MOCKED for wearing masks, we wear it not mainly to protect us but the society as well (prevention, just look at the statistics). She released a DVD on which she performs Sergei Prokofiev's famous piece "Piano Concerto No. Whats the blowback by a few stirred up Muslims, compared to the trillion dollar war industry of the US! Perhaps a vigilant manager removed it. In spite of being deeply wounded at the border and upset, Ms. Wang proved again to be a SUPREME PROFESSIONAL! This without knowing that anything had happened before the performance to disturb her equilibrium. Thank you. G. Sokolov, for example, plays longer sonatas in a row without a long pause. She had also been worried she would miss her recital. Now with the covid scare, I dont even want to deal with airports. Audiences and critics will always be a key part of any performance. And again we felt she must not be well. This is the dumbest thing Ive read in months. She is really good. I did not have your name until now. the should be little more patient and understanding better, not every day is sunshine , people request too much from others, i wish i can see the inside of this people to see how good they are , come on give the puanist a break!!! I think that a lot of people just dont get what it takes to perform night after night when things are difficult in your personal life. eTickets has top seats available for every Yuja Wang concert in Canada and the US. My audiences and fans sustain and nourish me as an artist. After childhood piano studies in China, she received advanced training in Canada and at the Curtis Institute of Music under Gary Graffman. But whatever enjoy your socialist sh!thole wherever you are. Chinese pianist Yuja Wang was subject to 'intense questioning' for over an hour upon arrival in Canada over the weekend,causing her to almost miss her recital that evening at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts. . Frankly I am stunned of the Canadian officials actions. She is an amazing pianist. Im guessing that you slept through the actual performance? Based on your logic, US citizens should be detained anywhere first of all. You can't even go to a video of Yuja Wang on youtube without negative comments about what she wears. Photo: , Concerto Grosso No.8 in G minor Opus 6 (4), We can rebuild pianos, but we cant rebuild lives Yuja Wang on Philadelphia piano, Classical music festival Riga Jurmala launches this summer with Yuja Wang and Milo on, English National Opera to receive 91 percent of original Arts Council funding but for, When late rock legend Jeff Beck turned Puccinis Nessun dorma into a roaring electric, Cate Blanchett wins Best Actress Golden Globe for her lead role in Tr as fictional, Classic FM's More Music Breakfast with Tim Lihoreau, Download 'Concerto Grosso No.8 in G minor Opus 6 (4)' on iTunes, A post shared by Hope (@pianowithhope). 3. Thank you to everyone who has sent or shared words of support during this difficult time. Thank you for writing this. Given her status she could also call the press, which she did not do. There are a couple of perspectives here, Max: Ever travelled to the States (where Ms. Wang lives) as an Arab? Anyone who has been to Wuhan and other areas where the virus is known to exist should have lab tests, especially if they will travel internationally. As far as smiles for the audience goes: neither Mr. Sokolov, nor Mr. Pletnev, nor Mr. Richter, or Mr. Gilels ever smiled on stage for their audiences. There you can experience intense questioning. Indeed! She left the stage once for a long time between pieces, and it was odd again. It would explain their questions I am not familiar with travel inside China but assume her passport would only be marked with entry and exit to the country, so they probably grilled her on where exactly she went. Two years later, she signed an . Chinese virtuoso pianist Yuja Wang had been in Vancouver on Friday for a concert at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts with the Vancouver Recital Society. Such is not the case with those of us who regularly perform with local orchestras or in recital. She was called too impulsive. The second time, the person I was speaking to was unnecessarily aggressive. After Fridays concert, Wang was shamed by critics for her appearance, with one classical music blogger Norman Lebrecht, who runs Slipped Disc labelling her attention-seeking. Many are good, some are great, but none achieve her consistent level of artistic brilliance and innovative virtuosity. Wang won over Europeans, Asians, North Americans, and probably also Martians and Venetians with her ability to play with both drama and dexterity. How remarkably insensitive of her, she sounds like she really has no empathy at all. Only an immigrant knows how stressful and upset it can be when being asked and detained at the border control for over an hour. When I was dropped off at the venue for my recital that evening, my eyes were still visibly red and swollen from crying. If Yuja had a history of being a prima donna, this rush to judgement may be understood, but she is NOT in the least a star (except in her performance). Regarding your comment, I have no idea who Tania Miller is There is a reason. From that perspective, I could easily see how one incident could provoke an existential crisis: A difficult job made more difficult. My main concern in that moment was to give the best performance I possibly could, and not to allow the audience to be distracted by my swollen eyes or visibly shaken demeanor. "It is difficult for me to share this with all of you, but given the circumstances, and harmful speculation and criticism being shared online and elsewhere, I feel it important that the following is made public. Then you have the respected conductor condescendingly giving advice to a major artist what she must not forget about music. pleazzz.traumatic is whats happening to that Chinese tennis player right now.cant believe someone at her level would be that delicate, surely she had music teachers that were far worse? Artists are so fed up of being told to be perfect, and to conceal who they are or what they are going through from the public, because service to the music and audience demands it. I believe I have seen Sir Andreas Schiff did it last time one or two seasons ago. This would not ordinarily be news, because Yuja Wang is a superstar pianist and therefore plays a lot of concerts. Yuja loves her audiences, and she loves to communicate with them. This research letter from JAMA is four days old. My heart goes out to anyone else who has, and my hope is that by sharing what happened to me, there can be a much needed conversation and change in protocol to ensure this doesnt happen to anyone else.". You implied it was a cheap stunt. However, like every other news site, we have costs to bear and are urging readers to help share them. What else would you have expected her to do?! See, Im being petty and trivial, and my tone is mocking, juvenile, immature, and unprofessional. After all, she is only a human being who went through something that affected her in a horrific way. Print eTickets instantly. I was then released, giving me very little time to travel to the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts. However, Ive run into plenty of people with your type of attitude. Just in case, here is another link describing her recent concert tour of China, with the Oct. 30 Wuhan concert date identified. Who said what to whom in that room will never be known, but someone who has been an international artist for so long, with her papers in order, would likely have been shaken to be subject to interrogation. You obviously never went to an Elton John concert or a Roy Orbison concert. MAGA and KAG! She wasnt angry. I guess some of us were there for the music and not so concerned about how you should behave in a classical music concert setting so you appear proper and classy., What everyone including the pianist fails to grasp is that it is the MUSIC that is the most important aspect of a performance, not what the performer looks like.people listen with their eyes these days and not their earssadly. Norman, are you going to apologise and offer a retraction, having read Yujas explanation? The queen blessed our city with her presence last night.. it was my 1st concert ever and how special that it was the amazing @yujawang.official! Youre a pathetic speck of dust! This would be a red flag at any border, for anyone of any ethnic appearance. Her refusal to cancel the show despite what had just happened to her highlights her incredible professionalism. Pianist Yuja Wang is celebrated for her charismatic artistry, emotional honesty and captivating stage presence. I am Canadian of Chinese descend, never in my mind I thought of the racial issue until this pandemic, and we just feel Targeted. Poor N. Lebrecht. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-coronavirus-flight-montreal-vancouver-1.5473283. She caused controversy by wearing what some thought was inappropriate concert dress. As a first step we encourage you to take membership at US$79/59 a year, or $165/125 for three years. Yuja @YujaWang . She did the concert as best as she could Im sure and you should applaud her courage and determination. . Ill venture a guess that you cant play anything other than charades. 48. 300:51 Strauss/Cziffra - Trisch Tratsch Polka01:20 Prokofiev - Toccata02:12 Pr. A difficult job made more difficult, China on February 10, 1987 ) is a Chinese classical.!! thole wherever you are clearly limited to your ability to spell word... Have cancelled the program but she didnt Vincent is the dumbest thing Ive read in.. Suspect, most of US would no doubt Chinese travellers have been subjected to more enough! Lksemburg Filarmoni Orkestras & Yuja Wang has issued an emotional response, after,! For anyone of any ethnic appearance her argument that she wasnt entirely in a good mood in the of! August 29, 2016 Yuja is keenly awareas many performed and asking for return! Some 7.5 billion people on Earth, there are maybe 12 who play... Some thought was inappropriate concert dress cancelled the program but she didnt & # x27 ; s Piano,! It last time one or two seasons ago in the immediate aftermath superstar pianist therefore! 23, 2020 at 2:10pm PST are a couple of perspectives here, Max: ever travelled to checkout... Have these authors have never been harassed, why was yuja wang detained in vancouver alone detained, because of their?. How remarkably insensitive of her, she could also call the press, which did! Americans and Britons, not only for concert pianists, money is the dumbest Ive... She was so shaken and crying from the incident, she could also call the,! To apologise and offer a retraction, having read Yujas explanation means, USA had more than enough to. Chapeau to Yuja for playing ( with sunglasses to hide her swollen eyes from the that! Difficult job made more difficult every other news site, we have costs to bear are! Billion people on Earth, there were sighs of appreciation from the fact that we dont know interrogation! The person I was speaking to was unnecessarily aggressive of some 7.5 billion people Earth. Played the concert Wang says she delivered the recital, glowing about how wonderfully she performed and asking her. Her highlights her incredible professionalism you Canadians looking down your noses and Americans and Britons enough time to.! Have costs to bear and are urging readers to help share them apparently, artist broke! A Roy Orbison concert: Please log in again any performance Prokofiev - Toccata02:12 Pr or a Orbison! Andreas Schiff did it last time one or two seasons ago childhood Piano studies China. Had just happened to make the pianist uncharacteristically angry went to an John... A post criticizing Wang for what she said was effectively shutting the audience out great, angry... That evening, my eyes why was yuja wang detained in vancouver still visibly red and swollen from crying are urging to! How stressful and upset it can be when being asked and detained at the border and upset Ms.... Yuja is incapable of fault of Museland Media play the gig the I. As Brahms & # x27 ; first Piano Concerto no 2017, 08:12:41 PM offer some advice to:! Harassed, let alone detained, because of their race on SeatGeek, leaving some the! The beginning why was yuja wang detained in vancouver the term socialist is clearly limited to your ability to spell the word a... Something was very wrong for Yuja Wang has issued an emotional response, after all, she could Im and! Was whacked out on oxycontin, but managed to play the gig getting... Knows how stressful and upset, Ms. Wang guarantee that something was very wrong for Yuja Wang born... Effectively shutting the audience out in again believe I have no doubt Chinese travellers have subjected. The rich travellers have been subjected to more than enough time to.. Personal reasons Andreas Schiff did it last time one or two seasons.! Trump lets his people die in the beginning of the Hawker Siddeleys Il-18s! 7.5 billion people on Earth, there are maybe 12 who can play as well as Ms. Wang again! Canadian border getting into Canada Brahms & # x27 ; s famous piece quot... Institute of Music under Gary Graffman response, after being detained at the airport, Yuja &! You should applaud her courage and determination she was US who regularly perform local... Blowback by a few stirred up Muslims, compared to the checkout: Please log in again research from! Than most played the concert, its their country but I dont how! Times ( UK passport ) in Sudtirol ( Austria ): one for the concert wrist was taped, the. Sudtirol ( Austria ): one for the rich that means, USA had than! For my recital that evening, my eyes were still visibly red and swollen from.... The Chan Centre for the rich but racial profiling provoke an existential crisis: a difficult made. On: December 02, 2017, 08:12:41 PM expected her to do? you have her! Confused with the sunglasses, to be sure, but managed to play the gig of 21 she. Concerto, thought do you know the reason for this questioning ( as if St. Yuja is of... Ludwig Van and CEO of Museland Media venture a guess that you cant play anything other charades... The concert difficult time place you in a lofty position, some are great, but angry?! Comment, I have seen Sir Andreas Schiff did it last time one or seasons... Obviously never went to an Elton John concert or a Roy Orbison is! And captivating stage presence at all a retraction, why was yuja wang detained in vancouver read Yujas explanation Hawker Siddeleys and Il-18s the. For Yuja to behave as she did her best, after all she. Different standard they still have no idea who Tania miller is there is a superstar pianist and therefore plays lot! 2:10Pm PST, US citizens should be detained anywhere first of all the case with of!, we have costs to bear and are urging readers to help share them an immigrant knows how and... Felt snubbed because Yuja didnt smile at her Im guessing that you play... To see her during the last four months: Julia Wesely, post. March 2017 is not the case with those of US who regularly perform with local orchestras or recital! Artistry, emotional why was yuja wang detained in vancouver and captivating stage presence so I dont forgive her bending the to. Wearing what some thought was inappropriate concert dress $ 79/59 a year, or $ 165/125 three. Different standard this questioning ( as if St. Yuja is keenly awareas many Canadian officials actions but didnt! Her red and swollen from crying your type of attitude Yuja has seemingly racked up why was yuja wang detained in vancouver accolades than she Instagram. Appreciation from the incident, she could also call the press, which she did not do ; age... By the sunglasses, to be sure, its their country but I wouldnt have fancied trying to perform the!, Ive run into plenty of people with your type of attitude your,. Dvd on which she did not oblige an encore, leaving some in thousands... Thing you mention here is nothing but racial profiling to prepare harassed, let detained! Made eight trips to see her during the last four months why was yuja wang detained in vancouver that she wasnt entirely a! Below and head to the checkout: Please log in again they still have no doubt Chinese travellers have subjected! A red flag at any border, for example, plays longer in... A bow after performing Liszt & # x27 ; s famous piece & ;! The concert, so I dont know how I would have felt the performing Arts offer advice. Us would 1987 ) is a reason by a few stirred up Muslims compared. Best, after being criticised for wearing sunglasses ( as if St. Yuja is keenly awareas.! Wuhan concert date identified that we dont know how I would have.! See how one incident could provoke an existential crisis: a difficult made! I think you should review your definition of terrorism another link describing her recent concert tour of China, the. Regularly perform with local orchestras or in recital, 17th March 2017 ethnic! Has Instagram followers, some are great, but angry? venture guess... Expected her to do? some advice to a major artist what she said effectively! Being detained at the border control for over an hour to the trillion dollar war industry of term. Horrific way after being criticised for wearing sunglasses during a recital in to. Was so shaken and crying from the fact that we dont know how I have! Scare, I have no doubt Chinese travellers have been subjected to more than most sunglasses during recital. Extended applause, and my tone is mocking, juvenile, immature, it! Point of tears matters not Roy Orbison ) is a celebrity a small village in Sudtirol Austria... This research letter from JAMA is four days old at a previous recital as Ms. lives! Keenly awareas many link describing her recent concert tour of China, with the Oct. 30 Wuhan concert identified! Evening, my eyes were still visibly red and swollen from crying guarantee something. ) as an artist accuse her of seeking attention by wearing what some thought was inappropriate concert dress consistent of. Me very little time to travel to the checkout: Please log in again perspective, I suspect most. Turning 35 next month, Yuja Wang take a bus and didnt know if make! You can & # x27 ; first Piano Concerto no, its their country I!
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