Wavelet Blog

Sarah Chang, although not as well-known as Itzhak Perlman or Yo-Yo Ma, is recognized as one of the most talented and influential performers of the world. She earned her celebrity status in classic music since she was 10. By age 15, she has already collaborated with most major orchestras. Her album that plays Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto recorded with London Symphony Orchestra is one of first several classic music albums I bought and still remains as one of my favorite. I like her romantic interpretation of these master pieces. She played Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in Napa Valley Festival del Sole.

The following video was recorded when she was 15, playing the same piece.

I was speechless and felt so sad when I heard Michael Jackson passed away. The first time I listened to his song, ‘Bad’, was when I went to Xiangshan (香山) Park. A couple of 20-something youths played his cassette through the tape recorder. It’s like nothing I’d ever heard. It’s almost subversive. At that time of China, his songs were often linked with hippies or rogues, something unconstructive to the society. Later when I worked part-time for my teacher’s software company, I heard his song, “Beat it”, first time from a CD player. The sound had never been cleaner or more striking, the music resonated through the long corridor and it is still hovering in my head today.

To western audience, Michael Jackson is King of Pop; to many Chinese, he opened a new world. Whatever controversies he has, no matter if they are true or not, in music, he is a legend and he is my hero.

In the latest episode of “American Idol“, Carrie Underwood & Randy Travis sang Randy’s No.1 hit “I told you so”. It brought back a lot memory of my undergraduate days. I heard this song in the most popular TV show of that time in China, ‘正大综艺’. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the original MTV video online. I am not young and not any more the boy who tasted what love is for the first time, but it is still a very beautiful and touching song.

Flint Center

As a long time classic music lover, this is my first time to go to a concert. The concert was performed on 7/9 at Flint Center by San Francisco Symphony as part of 2008 “Summer in the City” events. Three programs were played,

Bach: Toccata and Fugue
Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor
Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition

The central piece, also the most popular one, is mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto. It is played by Stefan Jackiw. At age 23, Mr. Jackiw is a young and charming presence, and he plays with a smooth yet sensitive style. The violin has the power to penetrate the indifference and cynicalness we put on, and touch the very weakness of our heart. Mr. Jackiw’s play just does that to me.