Yuja Wang Essentials

The easily scandalised classical world spent much of 2011 talking about this stylish pianist's miniskirts—but it's the galvanic force of her technique that is the real story. It takes courage to go up against Maurizio Pollini's classic Deutsche Grammophon recording of Stravinsky's tricky “Three Dances from Petrushka”, but Wang's aggressive, precise version matches up just fine (and was even put out by the same storied label). In addition to the modern recitalist's core catalogue of show-stoppers by Chopin and Liszt—and the guest soloist's repertoire of concertos by Rachmaninov and Prokofiev—Wang has shown a facility for less familiar works too (particularly the etudes of György Ligeti).