Xuefei Yang (Melbourne)

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 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 live in concert—an event that will linger in memory long after the final note.

This program is a sonic odyssey that carries you across continents, eras, and styles.

It begins with Isaac Albéniz’s Asturias, a Spanish classic whose driving rhythms and moorish flair immediately ignite the stage. The spotlight then turns to Australia, with two works by John C. Williams—When the Birds Return and Hello Francis—each imbued with lyrical warmth and a sense of place.

From there, we cross to Paris with Erik Satie’s introspective Gnossienne No. 3 and the lighthearted charm of La diva de l’Empire, evoking the eccentric elegance of early 20th-century France.

The mood turns meditative with Ryuichi Sakamoto’s Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, followed by Xuefei Yang’s own Xinjiang Fantasy, which draws on traditional Chinese melodies to create a rich, contemporary tapestry.

American jazz classics bring a new energy to the stage, with Jerome Kern’s Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and Billy Strayhorn’s Take the 'A' Train swinging through smoky ballrooms and vibrant city streets.

Next, we head to Latin America with Manuel Ponce’s tender Estrellita and playful Scherzino Mexicano, leading into the passionate tension of Astor Piazzolla’s La muerte del ángel.

Two iconic Brazilian works follow: Luiz Bonfá’s Manhã de Carnaval and Antônio Carlos Jobim’s A felicidade, each full of sunlit melancholy and gentle rhythmic sway.

The program closes with Paco Peña’s El Nuevo Día, a bright and optimistic piece inspired by Colombian musical traditions—a fitting end to this global musical voyage.