Pianist keys up for a new Dream

As one of Malaysia's leading pianists, Claudia Yang has spent two decades touring the world and working with top international musicians. Even as she was getting used to this way of life, an idea has lingered in her mind: to re-interpret the classic Chinese tale, A Dream of Red Mansions, as a piano concerto.

"I first read the book when I was young, and I had repeatedly read it as I grew older," says Yang, 40. "Each time, I would find a new understanding of the cultural background and the connotations of the story."

The idea has finally been realized. Yang has teamed up with the Hungarian composer Gyula Fekete and adapted the literary classic into a piano concerto, also titled A Dream of Red Mansions.