| |
| Summary of Critical Highlights |
| "The guitar world has a new star." Gramophone, July 2008 |
| “ A full house for this concert in the final leg of the SCO’s annual Highland Tour programme was rewarded with an outstanding evening of music, crowned by a wonderful performance by the young Chinese guitarist Xuefei Yang in Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez. There is no question that she is a star in the making…her reading of the solo role was beautifully shaped and highly expressive capturing the emotional impact and quintessentially Spanish idioms of the music to perfection. She responded to the acclaim with an encore.” Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Shelley, The Scotsman, 10 September 2007 review |
| "Ms. Yang demonstrates her feisty virtuosity, impeccable technique and sensitive musicianship in repertory ranging from Albeniz to arrangements of Western pop and Asian songs." Vivien Schwetizer, The New York Times
(22 April, 2007) review |
| "I was moved by the musicianship and the very person of this extraordinary young lady, discovery her for yourself." Jay Nordlinger, The New York Sun (20 February, 2007) original article |
| "The audience is completely enraptured." Oberbadisches Volksblah (English translation) (July 2002) |
| "It was great to hear you play. I wish you every success in the future and hope you will have the opportunity, you very much deserve, to play in many countries." John Williams (1995) |
| 2008 |
| "The guitar world has a new star." Gramophone, July 2008 |
| "The Albeniz and Granados, both transcribed by Yang, are played with exceptional clarity and a degree of poetry that only Julian Bream's account of the Valses Poetiques can match," Gramophone, July 2008 |
| "..who is Ms. Yang? A Chinese classical guitarist, and, really, one of the most extraordinary instrumentalists in the world." Jay Nordinger, New York Sun, June 2008. Full review of 40 Degrees North |
| "Ms. Yang plays her Spanish music, like her other music, fabulously: with sparkle, clarity, and flair. As I was listening to her in Granados's "Valses poéticos," I thought, "Alicia de Larrocha might play them this way, if she played the guitar." Jay Nordinger, New York Sun, June 2008. Full review of 40 Degrees North |
| "Xuefei is a marvellous player and this album is a delightfully entertaining listen." Review of 40 Degrees North, Classic FM, June 2008 |
| "Xuefei Yang is taking the guitar world somewhat by storm." Stephen Ritter, Audiophile Audition, June 2008. Full review of 40 Degrees North |
| "The Granados is also quite magnificent, with Fei capturing not only the zest but the melancholy that runs through many of these waltzes." Robert Levett, International Record Review,June 2008. Full review of 40 Degrees North. |
| "She also played the Carnival of Venice by Tarrega, and three pieces by Albeniz, showing in all of them the Spanish style, more than having learned it, is in her blood." Manel Cereijo, El Periodico, Spain, Jan 2008. Translation of full concert review. |
| "Chinese soloist Xuefei Yang approached the movements with much intensity and very moving and deep expression. Her interpretation was animated and multi-faceted." Rheinpflaz, following performance of Rodrigo's Fantasia para un Gentilhombre, with Deutsche Radio Philharmonie/ Paul Goodwin, 5 April 2008 |
“The young Chinese guitarist Yang Xuefei warmed the hearts of the audience on the coldest night of the winter with Rodrigo's exotic and touching Concierto de Aranjuez.”
www.lifeofguangzhou.com, 1 February 2008
|
| 2007 |
“…the brilliant, flawless recital from Xuefei Yang. The recital began with a magic rendition of Albeniz’s Cordoba and Sevilla… It was one of the best concerts I have been to in a long time.”
Bromley Guitar Society, bromleyguitarsociety.blogspot.com, 18 November 2007 |
“The prelude and dances of Bach’s Lute Suite No.4 shimmered and sparkled under her fingers.”
www.thisisnottingham.co.uk, 13 November 2007
|
“She has great technical ability but, because she is so naturally musical in her playing, her sound is never sterile. And she manages to dazzle without affectation or ostentation.”
Fort Worth, Star Telegram, 19 October 2007 |
“ A full house for this concert in the final leg of the SCO’s annual Highland Tour programme was rewarded with an outstanding evening of music, crowned by a wonderful performance by the young Chinese guitarist Xuefei Yang in Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez. There is no question that she is a star in the making…her reading of the solo role was beautifully shaped and highly expressive capturing the emotional impact and quintessentially Spanish idioms of the music to perfection. She responded to the acclaim with an encore.”
Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Shelley, The Scotsman, 10 September 2007 review
|
| "A great performance, brilliantly offset by the coolly-soulful playing of Chinese guitarist Xue Fei Yang in a clean, detailed and decisive performance of Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez" Michael Tumelty, The Herald (29 June, 2007) |
| "Yang, is one of the first international success stories of the Chinese conservatory system. As she backed Tritschler, it was hard for the powerful individualism of her musical personality not to assert itself from time to time." Andrew Johnstone, Irish Times (20 June, 2007) |
“…classical guitarist Xuefei Yang enraptured punters in the Ballroom area…”
Royal Festival Hall opening weekend, The Daily Telegraph, 11 June 2007 |
| “She’s an excellent guitarist with a refreshing, individual sound. The many nuances in her performance evolve naturally, without any sense of calculation or excess. Xuefei’s playing is characterized by a clear, light touch and delicate tonal sensitivity. She can play with speed and precision..or she can exhibit flowing, romantic expressivity.” Fanfare Magazine, May 2007 |
| "Ms. Yang demonstrates her feisty virtuosity, impeccable technique and sensitive musicianship in repertory ranging from Albeniz to arrangements of Western pop and Asian songs." Vivien Schwetizer, The New York Times
(22 April, 2007) review |
| "She displays her superb technique in a scintillating performance." Robert Baxter, The Courier Post(25 February, 2007) review |
| "I was moved by the musicianship and the very person of this extraordinary young lady, discovery her for yourself." Jay Nordlinger, The New York Sun (20 February, 2007) original article |
| "The artist turned out to be very special, combined technical brilliance with insight and charisma." Sarah Bryan Miller, St. Louis Post - dispatch classic music critic (30 January, 2007) original article |
| "From Beijing to Wimbledon, this is consummate guitar playing from a lady with no equal; brilliant stuff." Romance de Amor, Barry McCann, Classic FM, 25 January, 2007 |
"This recording is an outstanding example of the solo classical guitar at its very best." Romance de Amor, Sane Turner, Music Web, 2006 original article |
| 2006 |
| “…Beauty of tone, musicality… articulation and dexterity in rhythmically demanding passages… Enchanting.” Croatian Music Institute Recital, Vjesnik, 23 November 2006 |
| "Her technique is flawless, but as well as being an impeccable technician, she also displays great feeling for the music...A superb album." (5 stars). Romance de Amor, Classic FM Magazine, November 2006 original article |
| "...an exciting virtuoso performer. Get this CD, and hope for many more from a unique artist. ...exemplary sound and presentation." Albert Kunze, Soundboard Magazine, 2006 USA |
| "The Chinese artist showed enormous musical ability, sensitivity and, most admirably, the perfect interpretation and understanding of the different styles of each composer." Whole review, Alejandro Fernandez, News Paper of Monterrey, Mexico (10 August, 2006) |
| "Yang Xue-Fei is an absolute master of the instrument, but her considerable technical command of the guitar is only part of the equation. She is a remarkable musician." Concert review, Elaine Schmidt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, USA (12 February, 2006) original article |
| "Gifted musician Xuefei Yang uses the guitar as a bridge between Chinese and European music... Chinese culture is refined, poetic, expressive and adaptable - qualities that are mirrored by outstanding Yang's musicianship." Si Ji, GSP Recordings, Richard Foster, Evening Press, York (9 February, 2006) |
| "The Classical Guitar…in Yang’s capable hands… becomes an eloquent conduit between the musical traditions of Europe and Asia. Yang created a filigree of delicate tones, harmonizing colours with sounds."
Richard Foster, Evening Press, York (31 January 2006) |
| 2005 and before |
| "Xuefei Yang is proving to be one of the great classical guitarists of the day. Yang is not to be missed." (Whole article) Oliver McGhie Classical Guitar Magazine (July, 2005) |
| “It stood out a mile that Yang was a truly remarkable player. Her repertoire was as intriguing as her technical prowess. This is unquestionably an unusual talented player, worthy of at least five stars.” Howard Thomas "Croydon Advertiser" (July 18, 2003) |
| “It was guitarist Xuefei Yang who gave the most surprising recital, her guitar created an astonishing variety of sounds, from bell-like harmonics to weird scrapes and noises.” (Whole article) Tom Service Guardian (January 13, 2003) |
| “But the star was the Chinese guitarist Xuefei Yang. In Xiaoyong Chen's Static and Rotation she turned sweet, charming overtones into a wild sound like a hailstorm on a window. And, playing with similar brilliance in Robert saxton's Night dance, Timothy Salter's Equipoise premiere and Britten's Nocturnal after John Dowland, Yang's easeful virtuosity won the day.” (Whole ariticle) Matthew Connolly The Times (January 14, 2003) |
| "Xuefei Yang is already among the best guitarists in the world" Badische Zeitung (English translation) (9th July 2002) |
| "The audience is completely enraptured" Oberbadisches Volksblah (English translation) (July 2002) |
| “Guitarist Xuefei Yang, whose ascending star is already confirmed.” Tim Panting, Classical Guitar Magazine (May, 2002) |
| “Praised by all who have heard her.” Colin Cooper, Classical Guitar Magazine (April, 2001) |
| Review from the Classical Guitar Magazine " Gendai Guitar" in Japan (In Japanese) |
| “Amazing, recommended without reserve.” CD review on HiFi Sound (2000) |
| “Elegant and convincing.” CD review on Musical Instrument (November, 2000) |
| “Your playing is very beautiful and I am sure you have a great future with your music making.” David Russell (1997) |
| "It was great to hear you play. I wish you every success in the future and hope you will have the opportunity, you very much deserve, to play in many countries." John Williams (1995) |