| |
| 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) |
| 2010 |
“The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly a
stunningly virtuosic arrangement for solo guitar of the G minor Violin
Sonata BWV1001, where Xuefei Yang proved to be a most impressive
advocate for her instrument.”
The Strad Magazine,
May 2010 |
“As meticulous a technician as she is a musician,
the Chinese guitarist avoids the rubato-filled affectations so many
guitarists espouse and she manages to highlight the individual lines of
contrapuntal passages while still maintaining a sense of momentum and
rhythmic flow.”
The Washington Post,
March 2010. |
| 2009 |
“This
lady’s guitar playing is something rather special…
so controlled, so disciplined; and so musically emotional. And, where
oh where did she learn to play a tango so seductively, so outrageously
South Americanly laid back as she did in her final piece by
Albeniz...The variety of her playing is monumental… the
finely chiselled phrases, the delicately imprinted counter and sub
melodies a feature of all her playing.”
Wiltshire Gazette
& Herald, June 2009. |
| 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) |