Internationally acclaimed musician Alex Kwok-Wai Yu visited Southern Utah University on Dec. 5 to instruct a masterclass and give a recital that evening. Yu has given solo performances in several prestigious halls, such as Carnegie Hall and the Grand Theatre in Hong Kong Cultural Centre. He has won awards in the American Protégé International Romantic Music Competition as well as the Vienna New Year’s Concert International Music Competition. Currently, he is based in New York, where he performs as a clarinetist, a recorder player and a conductor.
Yu instructed a clarinet masterclass at 1 p.m., giving SUU clarinet students insight into their repertoire and different musical approaches. Later that evening, he performed as the highlighted artist in a recital in Thorley Recital Hall at 7:30 p.m.
The recital began with Joseph Bologne’s “String Quartet in C Minor,” performed by Urs Rutishauser playing first violin, Joie Whittaker playing second violin, Linda Ghidossi-DeLuca on viola and Ka-Wai Yu on cello. Within its two movements, the piece contains an intense “Allegro moderato” contrasted with an emotional “Rondeau.”
Yu took the stage with “Three Romances” by Clara Schumann to continue the program. He was accompanied by Christian Bohnenstengel, SUU’s professor of piano. Originally written for violin, the romances have been transcribed for the clarinet. The three movements provide different musical backdrops, with the opening “Andante molto” creating a melancholic feel, which is quickly juxtaposed with the second movement’s light, joyous feel. Finally, the third movement features flowing melodies imbued with a touch of introspection.
Rutishauser joined Bohnenstengel and Yu on stage for the next piece, “Five Pieces” by Dmitri Shostakovich. The clarinet, violin and piano trio features three dance melodies — the gavotte, waltz and polka — as well as a prelude and an elegy.
After a brief intermission, the string quartet and Yu returned to the stage for the highlighted piece of the recital, Brahms’ “Clarinet Quintet in B Minor.” Among the best works composed for clarinet quintet, the piece bears resemblance to the works of Mozart while retaining a distinctly Brahmsian touch. The four movements contrast one another, offering an opportunity to showcase the virtuosic nature of the clarinet.
Yu’s performance was live streamed and can be found here. For more information regarding the SUU music department, visit the music department website.
Story by: Gracie Butterfield
Photos courtesy of SUU Music Department
Editor: Tessa Cheshire
accent@suunews.net
