Yuja Wang & Mahler Chamber Orchestra on Apr 23, 2026 | UCSB Arts & Lectures

Program
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 1 
Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 2

“This is one of those orchestras in which all are stars.” The Guardian (U.K.)

“No one can generate the roof-raising power from a Steinway that she does.” San Francisco Classical Voice on Yuja Wang

[Yuja Wang] is a “once-in-a-lifetime type of performer.” The Observer

Fresh off her electrifying 2025 duo tour with Víkingur Ólafsson, superstar pianist Yuja Wang returns to Arts & Lectures to conduct the Santa Barbara debut of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra from the keyboard. This distinctive collaboration represents another daring artistic move for Yuja Wang, who thus asserts a new level of creative leadership. For the MCO, already widely known for its lauded partnerships with pianists, Wang’s involvement magnifies the focus of international attention. Expect 19th- and 20th-century masterworks delivered with symphonic intensity and crystalline chamber clarity.