HEAR IT - Humanity's Expressive Artists Reveal & Illuminate Truth

Video Review HJ Lim - Rachmaninoff Etude-Tableau N.5 op.39, live 2009 HJ plays Rachmaninoff Op. 39, #5 It is seriously difficult to describe how great is this recital excerpt. Having listened to/watched this video many times, I experience it as one of the most powerful, poetic, passionate, and penetrating, if petite, piano performances I have ever had the privilege to perceive or ponder. The all-too-common criticism of Asian virtuosi, along the axes of technical mastery versus expressivity, appear vapid and meaningless regarding HJ Lim, in the face of her unique yet complete integration of both. There is nothing cold about this virtuosity. There is nothing contrived in this expressivity. Our current era is dominated, if not flooded, by crisp, clean, clear, and yet mostly homogenized stage virtuosity. HJ Lim dives fearlessly into the composer's emotions, bringing luminosity to even the deepest and darkest of abysses. All thirsts of Spirit and Soul are here slayed. I open

Rachy III: Yuja Wang and Xian Zhang I enjoy and admire Yuja Wang's musical interpretations; both her performance videos, and studio recordings. I am familiar with many of her online offerings, and rate most all of them highly. And her live DGG Rachmaninoff III and Prokofiev II with Dudamel in Venezuela ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbjklh1WuUw) is a fine performance by both, and a super-virtuoso's bravura throw-down to her peers! >>> Denis Matsuev had performed Rachmaninoff II and III in one concert in Moscow, and HJ Lim performed Rachmaninoff I, II, III, and the 'Paganini Variations' over three consecutive days in Barcelona. >>> However, unlike Yuja's two-concerti evening, neither of those other Herculean efforts were pre-planned and engineered to be recorded for CD release. Overall, Yuja's control of the instrument is masterful and complete, featuring a full and bright tone color palette, crisp and clear articulation, a ready power