I had an immersive experience performing Florence Price’s Piano Concerto in One Movement with Mississippi Symphony and Crafton Beck. Below is part of the interview:
Young pianist Wang is excited to solo on the Gershwin and Price works. “Music is a universal language that you speak. Of course, there will be some different dialogues and there will be different dialects, but I think after all, music should be inclusive. Music should be generous and should be open and welcoming,” Wang says. The American composers had a larger vision, to wrap more colors into the music and create a new, distinctive voice. “In my opinion, [Gershwin’s] music is just so natural and organic — almost like an American Schubert or Mozart. There’s so much delicacy and there’s so much ingenious harmonic changes and the rhythmic play — it’s just a masterpiece.”