Tackling the notes

China's Wang Yujia will play 'the hardest concerto for pianists' in her upcoming concerts in Beijing and Guangzhou in March. Xu Jingxi finds out more about the greatly anticipated performance, a collaboration with conductor Daniel Harding and the 110-year-old London Symphony Orchestra.

It will be an explosion of talents in Beijing and Guangzhou in March when Chinese pianist Wang Yujia, British conductor Daniel Harding and the 110-year-old London Symphony Orchestra collaborate to perform in the two cities. The greatly anticipated program includes the two piano concertos from Wang's latest album - Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No 3, which is said to be "the hardest concerto for pianists", and Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No 2. It will also be an opportunity to honor Wang and Harding's respected mentor - Claudio Abbado, who passed away on Jan 20. The Italian maestro gave huge support for the two musicians at the beginning of their careers and helped them make a name in the world.

Rachmaninoff's piece challenges performers with almost all the techniques, such as exceedingly fast syncopation, heavy chords and grace notes rolling on the keyboard like pearls.