Classical Music Happy Hour – Yuja Wang: Superstar Pianist Plays Too Many Encores

Host: Emanuel “Manny” Ax
Guest: Yuja Wang
Date: March 4, 2026
Podcast by WNYC & WQXR

Episode Overview

In this lively, insightful episode, Manny Ax sits down with international piano superstar Yuja Wang to explore her musical upbringing, interpretive philosophy, infamous encores, and vibrant career. The conversation sparkles with humor, technical depth, candid personal anecdotes, and authentic exchanges—making classical music feel accessible and inviting. The pair take listener questions, play a whimsical game, and dig deep into what makes Yuja’s artistry so electrifying.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Yuja's Artistic Upbringing and Approach

• Musical Family Roots

  • Yuja describes her background:
    • “Mom dancer. Father percussionist.” (01:55)
    • Humorous note on discipline: “People mention about my posture? That’s all her [my mother’s] doing.” (01:59)
    • Piano as an ‘escape’ from her mother’s aspirations for her to be a dancer.

• Sight-Reading vs. Memorization

  • Yuja: “I’m only good at sight reading. I cannot memorize anything.” (02:14)
  • Manny’s praise: “You are, in fact, phenomenal at it.” (02:31)
  • On performing: “There are pieces that I learned before 20...I can be drunk and no sleep and whatever...it just comes out.” (04:58)

Interpreting Composers and Repertoire

• Connecting Works
  • Yuja approaches composers’ music holistically: “It’s like getting into that composer’s language…their complete works.” (03:20)
  • Example: Relates Beethoven’s sonatas to his symphonies and string quartets (03:20–04:47).
• Humor and Humanity in Beethoven
  • “He wrote out when pianists cannot play two hands together!” (04:01)
• Physical and Mental Stamina
  • On programming demanding pieces (e.g., a Rachmaninoff marathon):
    • “It’s about amount of notes that you have to play in a recital anyway.” (05:54)
    • “I did a big fat round note in the Tchaikovsky...it’s a very obvious one.” (06:26)
    • “No, it’s really like shut down the brain, I think, while playing.” (07:27)

Practice and Performance Philosophy

• Accuracy vs. Expression
  • On mistakes: “As I get older...that’s why it matters. I get less cross about [wrong notes].” (06:42)
  • “Shut down the brain...now I’m like ‘oh, but what expression?’ and then it’s like, ‘oh, that was not the right answer.’” (07:27)
  • Discusses the distinction between sight-reading, improvisation, and how the brain processes each (07:42)

Listener Questions Segment

Sonata vs. Concerto (Danny, New York)

• Yuja: “Piano sonata and piano concerto is in the same form, but concerto involves an orchestra.” (08:48)
• Manny expands: Describes sonata form: exposition, development, recapitulation (09:56)
• Both: Emphasize orchestral aspect as core difference (10:34)

Storytelling in Music

• “In Chopin ballades…rather than four stories, I try to think about it in a bigger structure of the four of them in one story.” (11:44)
• “For Beethoven sonatas, I feel the frame like an architect. More than the story…the harmonic language.” (11:50)
• “I try not to have anything influenced.” (13:04)
• On not listening to too many piano interpretations to stay original—listens to symphonic and chamber works instead.

Influence of Historic Recordings

• Does Rachmaninoff’s playing affect you?
  • “None of those very cheesy sentimentalities…did we hear a lot of play?” (13:29)
  • Admits to being influenced more by Horowitz’s recordings for Rach 3. (13:52–14:04)

The Encore Question (Betsy, Cortlandt Manor, NY) [15:02 – 17:07]

• Yuja’s Notorious Encores:
  • “I try not to play too many when I’m playing concertos because I did get a lecture from Leon Fleisher…He said I completely cheapened a gorgeous performance of Beethoven.” (15:16)
  • On being ‘grilled’ for not playing encores: “I was asked by three journalists: How can you be so mean, so cruel to your fans?” (16:03)
  • “Whatever I do is probably wrong. I started doing so many encores…because I felt bad. My first half was Schoenberg Opus 25, so I should give audiences some bon bons in the end…Sometimes I did go for like half an hour!” (16:15)
• Memorable Quote: “My feedback from audiences is like: we love the third part of the recital, which is the encore part.” (16:31)
• Manny’s Take:
  • “With an orchestra…there’s union rules for overtime.” (17:29)
  • Disagrees with Fleisher: “I think it’s wonderful to play a beautiful performance of Beethoven concerto and then to play fabulous performances of everything you do…It’s absolutely great.” (17:33)

Personal & Lifestyle Insights

• Travel Fatigue:
  • “I hate security. I hate waiting…The initial excitement of going through to see a new place is gone because I've been doing this since I was 16.” (22:32)
  • On returning to the stage after time off: “It needs practice to be on stage, actually…You know where it hurts the most after the first concert? My feet.” (23:12)
• High Heels and Performance Attire:
  • “It’s functional to wear a short dress because then I know where the pedal is. I can see it…It’s very liberating to know where your pedal is.” (25:07, 25:21)
  • On using technology: “Now I use a pedal to turn pages. That I do have to practice with the high heels to know the right time and the right touch.” (24:51)

Working with Pianos and Conductors

• Piano Selection
  • “I hate piano selection…A few months ago I played, I was like, this is really piano. And they told me I’m the one who chose it!” (26:02)
  • “One piano is like more ring top and more bang based…I just want both of them.” (26:38)
  • “Give me one piano and give me two hours of stage time…as long as I have that, I will feel it’s my own instrument.” (27:14)
• On Conducting vs. Playing
  • “Playing concerto is basically just like playing chamber music with a bigger group. I know very well who’s playing what.” (28:25)
  • Prefers not to conduct standard repertoire ("Beethoven or Mozart or Chopin") solo because of complexity (28:49)
  • “I might do it differently, but we’re still together because everyone’s flexible and malleable at that moment.” (29:26)
  • “I know how [Mahler 6] starts...I don’t even know how to read the winds. ...I’m sight-reading really well for piano, but then when I see the scores, it’s..." (30:09, 30:26)

Memorable Quotes

• On Performing Under Pressure:
  • “No, it’s really like shutdown the brain, I think, while playing.” (07:27)
• On Wrong Notes:
  • “As I get older…I get less cross about the [wrong notes]. I got the emotional cross. That’s why it matters.” (06:42)
• On Encores:
  • “Whatever I do is probably wrong…But also it was nice to play in a gorgeous hall. It’s like meeting an old friend.” (16:15)
• On Travel:
  • “It’s like a dichotomy of really life to a very glamorous one.” (24:17)
• On Piano Selection:
  • “I hate piano selection…Give me two hours on stage, not in a garage.” (26:02, 27:14)

Fun & Lighthearted Segments

Music-Inspired "Newly Dead Game" [31:06 – 35:38]

• The game tests Yuja’s knowledge of famous composers’ bizarre deaths.
• Standout moment:
  • Scriabin’s fate—“It’s the beard, you’re right. It’s the shaving.” (32:28)
  • Beethoven’s wine—“As Beethoven lay dying with a failing liver, his publishers thought, you know what he needs?... a case of wine!” (33:32)
  • Haydn’s head—“Actually, the answer is his head.” (34:48)

Quickfire Personal Q&A [19:56 – 21:25]

• Favorite drink after a long day?
  • “Something smoky and spicy...Like a mezcal [pineapple]. If it’s lighter, gin and tonic.” (20:03)
• Favorite book about music?
  • “Any novel by Murakami...for example, 1Q84.” (20:29)
• First album bought?
  • “Probably your [Manny’s] Chopin.” (20:42)
• First piece you loved?
  • “Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky. And then Chopin nocturnes.” (20:59)
• Current favorite orchestral piece?
  • Prokofiev’s "Scythian Suite": “Very primal, very mythical. Before humans had civilization. That childlike energy. Just raw.” (22:03)

Segment Timestamps

• Musical background and sight-reading: 01:47–04:47
• Approach to practice and mistakes: 05:10–07:38
• On musical influence and historic recordings: 08:13–14:12
• Encores—philosophy and anecdotes: 14:34–17:29
• Personal tastes and musical memoirs: 19:56–21:25
• Travel & touring life: 22:25–24:17
• Piano selection, mechanics, and performer’s comfort: 26:00–27:48
• Chamber music vs. orchestral playing and conducting: 28:25–30:51
• Composer death trivia game: 31:06–35:38

Tone & Atmosphere

Warm, quick-witted, self-deprecating, and inviting, with both host and guest mixing serious artistic insight with stories and humor.

For First-Time Listeners

Whether you want the behind-the-scenes grit of a touring virtuoso, insight into the pianist’s mind, or feel like you’re eavesdropping on a candid chat between friends, this episode offers a captivating window into the world and artistry of Yuja Wang, with enough technical substance and levity to entice newcomers and seasoned fans alike.