A fantastic journey
Each of the pieces bears its own unique significance to her, but among them, her favorite is the piano sonata by Liszt, as it accompanied her throughout her final semester at the Curtis Institute of Music in the United States.
When she first studied the composition, which was highly controversial and received harsh critique upon its initial publication, she found herself filled with trepidation, constantly concerned that her interpretation might not fully grasp its complexity.
"Playing Liszt's sonata at the end of a program is obviously strenuous and taxing, but, in a way, I think that embodies the spirit of the piece — the dramatic and conflicting life of Faust culminating in a transcendental ending," Wang says.
"Liszt's sonata is one of those works where there is really nothing to say afterward. I think this ending is not only a riveting conclusion to the 30-minute work itself, but also to the entire program."
