Comments on: Concert Review: Xuefei Yang in Seattle, WA

By: Williams Doyle

Williams Doyle — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:50:06 +0000

I’m sorry to say that I disagree. I saw Xuefei give a concert with a non-guitarist friend, and she did not like it.
At the time I thought this odd, seeing how Xuefei plays so brilliant technically and with conviction.

But today I have to concur with my non-guitarist friend. I dislike many of Xuefei’s playing choices, and see them as being culturally distorted (meaning for example: when she plays “El condor Pasa” she has no idea how to interpret it truthfully and with cultural reference!).

Some more examples: I dislike Opera-singers playing pulsating pop-songs. I dislike Chinese guitarists playing Paganini. (I also utterly dislike Fisk playing Paganini – just by the way!)

That said, I do want to mention that Xuefei’s performance of Barrios’s Un Sueno en la Floresta is truly stunning, and does indeed have good phrasing, voice-command and a love that makes it worth my while experiencing her interpretation.

By: David Leadbetter

David Leadbetter — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:41:06 +0000

Xuefei Yang is superb and is encouraging many people to love the classical guitar and its music. She is technically brilliant but more importantly communicates a love of the music she plays and the instrument itself. She is above the criticism she is receiving here.

By: Michael Lottin

Michael Lottin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:26:34 +0000

Interesting comments.

I believe writing a quality review, is in itself an art.
There are superb collections of musical critiques that were written in previous periods. Look at the critiques that Berlioz wrote for example.

As to guitar-centric critiques…
they are just that: miserably guitar-centric and serve to show the very smallish world that most guitarists live in.

Any comments relating to “culture, cultural context, interpretative choice or something interesting” to quote Jeff, are almost always lacking in guitar reviews. And up till recently, it was customary to give the kind of candy reviews that Jeff refers to.
In other words: only superficial content and praise.

This is a rather terrible state of affairs. Most guitarists today are miserable, and true critiques and reviews should be cleverly written to show this.

The minimum quality that I expect of reviews, is the following by Peter Baker:
http://www.emiclassics.co.uk/release.php?id=94637071427

By: Jeff Lowe

Jeff Lowe — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:42:10 +0000

Actually the review mentioned above is also not much better.

By: Rich Fong

Rich Fong — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:51:30 +0000

If you do indeed respect my opinion you certainly have a strange way of verbalizing it. I think you need to learn to express yourself a little more maturely.

By: Jeff Lowe

Jeff Lowe — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:55:30 +0000

I dislike candy comments… that’s all.

Yes a performer can be good, but that still doesn’t mean that they need a candy review. Talk about culture, cultural context, interpretative choice or something interesting.

Only beginners write about stuff like “She then played the Brouwer Sonata”, “This piece is to me just plain fun to listen to”, “There are not a lot of melodies you end up humming to yourself afterwards, but it leaves you thinking a bit about the guitar and it’s possibilities.” etc.

PS: But Xuefei Yang is not good. (My opinion of course. You’re entitled to yours and I value and respect it as yours.)

By: Rich Fong

Rich Fong — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:59:30 +0000

Jeff… Very constructive comment. You offer no opinion of your own, just a link to a short blurb from someone who didn’t even attend the same concert. Like I said, very constructive. Thanks for participating.

By: Jeff Lowe

Jeff Lowe — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:58:38 +0000

This review seems to have been written by a kiddie who just discovered the guitar

Why not consider this review:
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.music.classical.guitar/msg/e220e07264f3cb3e

By: Bobber

Bobber — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:53:11 +0000

Excellent review thanks! I have never seen her play live. I hope I get a chance some time soon.

By: Mikkel

Mikkel — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:49:06 +0000

It sounds like a really good recital! It seems like she has matured a lot the last couple of years playing a lot less known pieces, now she just has to get rid of her smallman (just my opinion of course ).