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Chinese pianist Yuja Wang joins Rolex’s talented array of musical representatives
In tandem with the company’s numerous initiatives involving sports, the environment, the arts and innovation, Rolex has been dedicated to supporting musical talent for the past five decades. This focus represents a key element of the iconic watchmaker’s enduring commitment to promoting artistic excellence and enriching global culture.
Engaging with an eclectic array of musical artists, Rolex displays impeccable, wide-ranging tastes in its selection of testimonees. Partners include opera great dame Kiri Te Kanawa, mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli, tenor Jonas Kaufmann, pop-jazz crooner Michael Bublé, sitarist Anoushka Shankar, bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel, soprano Sonya Yoncheva and conductors Gustavo Dudamel and Sir Antonio Pappano.
Featuring on another of Rolex’s carefully curated lists of representatives, Chinese pianist Yuja Wang is among the finest talents of her generation. Wang is renowned for her passionate performances and electric stage presence. Here, she discusses her inspirations, style and pursuit of perpetual excellence.
In January, when you played a Rachmaninoff marathon at Carnegie Hall in New York, you changed your dress for each piece. What was the thought process behind that?
Everyone may have heard Rach Two (Piano Concerto No 2 in C minor) and Rach Three (Piano Concerto No 3 in D minor) before, but other works by Rachmaninoff are not so popular. By changing the colour of my dress for each piece, people will associate the pieces with this colour in the future, thinking “this is the green Rachmaninoff piece” or “this is the red Rachmaninoff piece”, turning the music into colours, which is fun.
The best performance dresses are those that expose the arms and shoulders, which feels more relaxed when playing. I start from a more functional perspective, but it seems that people think a lot about my outfits, which is quite interesting.
You’re famous for your dramatic bowing style. How did that come about?
Yes, many people imitate me! In fact, when I first bowed like this, it was actually to relax after the performance. Also, in my high heels, if I don’t bow quickly enough, I’m afraid I won’t be able to stand up steadily.
