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Emerging from the twilight of China’s Cultural Revolution, a period where Western musical instruments and music were banned, Xuefei Yang was the first guitarist ever admitted to a Chinese conservatoire. At ten, her debut recital won her a concert guitar from the Spanish Ambassador; at fourteen, Joaquín Rodrigo attended her Madrid concert, and Sir John Williams gifted two of his own instruments to Beijing’s Central Conservatoire for her studies.She has since captivated audiences in over fifty countries— including appearances at Carnegie Hall and the BBC Proms —and has collaborated with Ian Bostridge, Roberto Alagna, Sir James Galway, and major orchestras worldwide.
Classic FM named her one of the 100 Top Classical Musicians of Our Time, and BBC Music Magazine ranks her among the Top Six Guitarists of the Century.
From pioneering cross-cultural commissions to reimagining ancestral melodies, Xuefei Yang continues to expand the guitar’s horizons with every note. Don’t miss your chance to witness her in “What a Wonderful World!”—an event that will linger in memory long after the final note.
“What a Wonderful World!” is a sonic odyssey that carries you across continents, eras, and styles.
Drawing on her depth of expression and adventurous spirit, Xuefei opens with the fiery flamenco of Albéniz’s Asturias, immediately igniting the stage. You’ll then wander the bohemian streets of Paris in Satie’s intimate Gnossienne No. 3 and playful La Diva de l’Empire, before journeying to the Far East with Sakamoto’s haunting Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence and Xuefei’s own Xinjiang Fantasy, an evocative piece infused with traditional melodies.
Feel the heartbeat of South America as Manuel Ponce’s Estrellita and Scherzino Mexicano give way to Piazzolla’s stormy La muerte del ángel. The mood shifts to Brazil’s golden coast in Bonfá’s Manhã de Carnaval and Jobim’s wistful A felicidade, then swings into New York jazz clubs with Garner’s Misty, Kern’s Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, and Strayhorn’s spirited Take the ‘A’ Train. Finally, surrender to the moonlit romance of Tárrega’s Recuerdos de la Alhambra and the dawn-fresh melodies of Peña’s El Nuevo Día, bringing this journey full circle.
Don’t miss this transcultural celebration—reserve your seat now and experience why critics hail Xuefei Yang as one of today’s most thrilling guitarists.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
1401 Ballentine Blvd, Norfolk, VA 23504, USA, United States
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