There are a lot of great pianists in the world today, but few can boast the charm and charisma that Chinese superstar pianist Lang Lang exudes both on and off stage. The concerts he has held at major music venues around the world have sold out, and he has received numerous awards in his career.
In addition to his professional success, Lang Lang has also stolen the hearts of thousands around the world. Thousands of Chinese kids take up piano to follow in his footsteps in what is referred to as the ‘Lang Lang effect’. So what makes this 33-year old Chinese musician so special?
Here are a few facts about him that might explain why Lang Lang stands out as a superstar:
1. He found his motivation early
Like most children, Lang Lang began learning piano early and his disciplinarian father ensured he put in his practice hours. However, unlike most early beginners, Lang Lang found his true motivation when someone told him he wasn’t good enough.
By nine, the prodigy felt a failure when a conservatoire professor told him he had no talent. He went into brief retirement – until the age of 10, when he took it up again with renewed fervour. By 20 he had two dozen concertos under his belt and a public profile that has expanded year by year. Now he is on the road some 300 days a year. Via The Guardian
Although he is a mentor to thousands of pianists, Lang Lang is humble enough to recognize other accomplished musicians in his specialty.
Lang Lang can put himself down more adroitly, and with more wit, than those critics who cannot see beyond his audacious showmanship and extrovert playing. Can it be that someone w
ho plays Happy at the Grammys with Pharrell Williams can also perform exquisite Rachmaninov? His biggest admirers – among them Simon Rattle, with whom he has recorded concertos by Bartók and Prokofiev, and Daniel Barenboim, his great mentor – certainly think so. His own piano heroes are Vladimir Horowitz, also a great showman; and Maurizio Pollini and Martha Argerich, decided introverts. Via The Guardian
Despite his superstar status and busy schedule, Lang Lang makes time to learn something new in his trade and will put in his practice hours before any performance.
Where does he live? …“On a plane,” is his half-serious answer, qualifying it to “between New York and China”. He takes time off in the summer, to rest and learn new work, currently Spanish composers Albéniz and Granados…
Lang Lang’s off to do two hours practice before his concert. “All that sitting down,” he says as we part. “You have to be fit to be a pianist: muscles, breathing, flexibility. Via The Guardian
4. He finds ways to make playing piano fun
Lang Lang enjoys playing piano and classical music, and does not understand why these two should not be considered a fun activity. He has a lot of naysayers as a result, but that does not slow him down.
Lang Lang’s features cloud momentarily when he considers the gainsayers. “It makes me sad. It stings a little, yes, but I have to ignore it. We all accept, even enjoy, the way sports stars or Hollywood actors behave. I want to show that classical can be cool and fun too. Is that so bad?” Via The Guardian
5. He uses his gift to benefit others
Lang Lang is always willing to give back to the community. He was even appointed a UNICEF International Goodwill Ambassador to help raise funds for earthquake relief.
6. He is passionate about developing young musicians
The accomplished pianist founded the Lang Lang Music Foundation in an effort to inspire young people to believe that music can make life better.
It was the chance of a lifetime for 100 students from the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra school who got to perform with superstar pianist Lang Lang at the Orpheum Theatre’s stage on Tuesday.
The celebrated musician is in Vancouver for a sold-out concert at the Orpheum Theatre tomorrow night.
All of the high school and elementary school pianists are from the VSO School of Music, and they doubled up to play on 50 pianos on the theatre’s stage. Via CBC
7. He pursues other passions
In addition to his music career, Lang Lang is also a basketball fan, and is even considering taking up marathon running.
Photograph: Rhys Frampton
So is the 33-year-old Chinese pianist, who started up at the age of two after seeing a Tom and Jerry cartoon featuring Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No 2, now the Google of the piano? Given his multiple talents – from international soloist to musical ambassador to exuberant bling-and-glamour fashionista (he has his own perfume, headphones and, coming soon, piano-themed Swiss watch) – maybe it’s not an improbable comparison. Via The Guardian
Lang Lang, piano superstar, offers his secrets to musical success
Chinese superstar pianist Lang Lang will perform at a sold-out show in Vancouver on Wednesday night, teaming up with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, for an evening of Beethoven and Mozart.
On his tour across North America, he’s also been spending time with music students, as part of his work through the Lang Lang International Music Foundation, which promotes music education around the world.
Most notably, in Vancouver, he hosted a public performance and class called ‘101 Pianists’, playing alongside 100 students, who doubled up to perform Schubert and Brahms on 50 pianos at the Orpheum Theatre. Via CBC
The Return of Lang Lang
It seems that the term superstar is tossed around ever more freely nowadays and nowhere more so than in the world of music. While the rampant overuse of the term is far more prevalent in popular music genres, the classical musical world has not itself been immune from this phenomenon. That being noted, it is a very safe bet that almost everyone would agree that the Chinese pianist Lang Lang is currently the one undisputed superstar in the classical musical firmament. Via ArtVoice
Virtuoso Pianist Lang Lang Wants Kids to Be Excited About Classical Music
It’s rare for a classical musician today to have mainstream appeal and garner critical acclaim simultaneously. Selling out symphony halls but having star quality beyond them is fine line to walk, but one Lang Lang does to perfection.
At only 33, the Chinese concert pianist has played with just about every top philharmonic orchestra across the world, graced the Grammy stage two years in a row—once with Metallica and again with Pharrell—kicked off the Beijing Olympics in front of more than 4 billion people, and collaborated with classical conductors like Sir Simon Rattle and jazz legends like Herbie Hancock. Via Co Create
![imagine... - Do or Die: Lang Lang's Story (Winter 2012) [BBC]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6khZk6LCDUw/0.jpg)
Chinese superstar pianist Lang Lang will perform at a sold-out show in Vancouver on Wednesday night, teaming up with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, for an evening of Beethoven and Mozart.
It seems that the term superstar is tossed around ever more freely nowadays and nowhere more so than in the world of music. While the rampant overuse of the term is far more prevalent in popular music genres, the classical musical world has not itself been immune from this phenomenon. That being noted, it is a very safe bet that almost everyone would agree that the Chinese pianist Lang Lang is currently the one undisputed superstar in the classical musical firmament. Via ArtVoice
It’s rare for a classical musician today to have mainstream appeal and garner critical acclaim simultaneously. Selling out symphony halls but having star quality beyond them is fine line to walk, but one Lang Lang does to perfection.
