Richarlita You at Central Park West

Richarlita You

On Saturday November 15th, 2025, I attended Richarlita You‘s recital at Robin Shoemaker’s salon on Central Park West, New York.

Richarlita You is currently returning to the stage after a two-year hiatus. Her repertoire for this concert was more a musical biography than a typical concert program. Each work represented a segment of her journey from childhood in Taiwan to life in the United States.

Schubert Impromptu B-flag major D.935 No. 3

Ms. You opened with Schubert’s delicate, wistful B-flat Impromptu. She described it as a reflection of her childhood, and of the moment she committed to becoming a pianist. I thought I recognized that moment in the sober, almost somber close of this otherwise uplifting work.

Liszt: La Campanella

Liszt’s notorious étude followed. While there was some tension in the delivery, it was vigorous and entertaining. I particularly enjoyed watching the pianist’s repeated-note technique from my front-row vantage point.

Scriabin: Sonata No. 2 in G# minor Op. 19 “Sonate-Fantasie”

The emotional center of Richarlita’s program began with Scriabin’s Sonata. In it she recognized echoes of her early years after crossing the ocean to the United States, finding a “path that we shared” in Scriabin’s oceanic composition. Her interpretation was heartfelt and evocative.

Richarlita You

Debussy: Clair de Lune

For Richarlita You, this work is a personal refuge. During her challenging early months at Juilliard, Spotify serendipitously selected Debussy’s Clair de Lune for her while she walked around Lincoln Center under a full moon. Her luminous performance carried that sense of serenity.

Brahms: Intermezzo in A major Op. 118 No. 2

Introducing Brahms as her favorite composer, Richarlita You mentioned the poignant story of Brahms’ love for Clara Schumann. The Intermezzo in A major Op. 118 No. 2 was Richarlita’s way of inviting us all to take a moment to think about the people that we love, and to cherish the precious relationships that we have with our loved ones.

True to the composer’s Andante teneramente (tender) marking, Richarlita’s Intermezzo wrapped us in warm, melancholic beauty.

Chi-Lien Hung: Memories (from Five Pieces for Pianoforte)

Richarlita You found  Chi-Lien Hung’s Memories in a bookstore by accident. The score reminded her of her home town and the land she grew up in  (Taiwan). This light, reflective pentatonic gem had an authentic Chinese feel.

Richarlita You with Robin Shoemaker

Balakirev: Islamey “Fantasie orientale”

Balakirev’s Islamey is a notoriously difficult work. The composer himself acknowledged that he couldn’t play some parts of it. Originally written in 1869, Balakirev revised it in 1902, adding alternative passages (ossias).

This was Richarlita You’s debut performance of Islamey, a bold way indeed to mark her return to public performance. Aside from the difficulty, this was a musically interesting experience. It is based on folk music from the Caucasus in Russia, giving it a certain brooding Russian taste.

Final Thoughts

Richarlita You’s recital was a brief musical autobiography, presented with elegance and considerable skill. The program’s personal thread was fascinating, and the intimate salon setting made the experience all the richer.

For those who missed this performance, the same repertoire is listed for her Groupmuse recital scheduled for Saturday January 17th, 2026.