Latest news with #LangLang
AU Financial Review
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- AU Financial Review
China's piano man may be the world's best (and fastest)
It took less than an hour for all four concerts on pianist Lang Lang's Australian tour to sell out. If not quite a household name here, the 43-year-old from Shenyang is the word's most famous living pianist and enjoyed demi-god status in China long before he played to 4 billion people at the opening ceremony of 2008's Beijing Olympic Games.
Straits Times
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Concert review: Lang Lang and Disney make for crowdpleasing combination
Lang Lang played Disney classics at the Star Theatre on June 14. PHOTO: YONG JUNYI Lang Lang Plays Disney The Star Theatre June 14, 7.30pm Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Time Out
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Lang Lang talks roots, rhythm and the beauty of bridging cultures
Chinese-born pianist Lang Lang has long demonstrated music's ability to transcend boundaries. With remarkable talent and unwavering passion, he has captivated audiences the world over, performing with leading orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic. Beyond the concert hall, Lang Lang extends his artistry across genres, collaborating with musicians as varied as Herbie Hancock, Pharrell Williams and Metallica. His presence has graced the world's grandest stages – from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics to the Grammy Awards and the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. In a country known for its rich culture and diverse lifestyles, Thailand is home to a growing community of classical music enthusiasts who have long awaited the chance to experience this maestro live. That moment finally arrived thanks to the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra Foundation and who brought the world-renowned pianist to Bangkok for his debut solo recital. Held on May 31 at Thailand Cultural Centre, the sold-out performance was met with thunderous applause and standing ovations. Before he took to the stage, we sat down with Lang Lang for an intimate conversation. In this rare interview, he opens up about how he protects his greatest instruments – his hands – and what it means to connect cultures through his music. He even reveals which pop icon he'd love to collaborate with and shares a glimpse into life behind the spotlight. As this is your first solo recital in Thailand, how do you feel about performing for a Thai audience? 'I'm very curious, as this is my first time here. I've watched so many Thai films, especially those set in Bangkok, so I feel like I already have some sense of the atmosphere. Thai food is popular everywhere, so that's something I'm quite familiar with. But I'm particularly curious about performing a recital here. Thailand seems to be a vibrant and new market for classical music. I was honestly overwhelmed by the number of pianos and the quality of the facilities. It's really impressive. I hope tomorrow will be exciting. It feels like the beginning of a new journey.' How do you mentally and physically prepare for high-stakes tours? 'I try to get enough sleep. That's probably the most important thing. Without proper rest, performing becomes nearly impossible because it's just too exhausting. I always make sure to rest well. I also make a point of enjoying the food in each city, as it's one of the best ways to experience the character of a place through its flavours.' In a world filled with chaos, political tension and uncertainty, how do you think music can bring people together? 'That's a tough question. Music has important qualities because it can heal people's hearts and unite emotions while acting as a bridge between cultures. But making world peace through music alone isn't easy. It requires great willingness and kindness from people to ease tensions. Music can help with that, but achieving world peace through music remains very challenging.' Your finger technique is amazing. How do you create that push and pull feeling that makes your playing style so unique? 'For me, my approach to playing piano is different from other instruments. With most instruments, you can hold them and carry them with you. But with the piano, you have to connect with it. You have to hug the piano because you cannot carry it around. You have to be with the instrument to make a true connection. If you just press the keys without that connection, it feels like typing on a computer, not playing music.' 'Yes, I've met Lisa a few times in Paris. Maybe we'll collaborate in the future. Who knows?' What has been the most unforgettable performance of your career so far? ' I would say the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in 2008 was unforgettable. Another memorable moment was during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when Lady Gaga held a concert on social media called One World: Together at Home. I performed a song alongside Celine Dion, Andrea Bocelli and John Legend. We each performed individually from our homes, connected through social media. That experience was really special given the circumstances.' How do you create a meaningful connection between Western and Eastern cultures through your music? 'I grew up in China during the early part of my life, so I have strong Chinese roots. At the same time, I was exposed to Western culture quite early. My first competition was in Germany when I was 12 and I have been living in the United States since I was 14. This gave me the opportunity to experience both cultures from a young age, which helped me find a balance between them. The cultures are very different. America is very different from China and Europe sits somewhere in between, leaning more towards the US but still deeply rooted in old traditions influenced by the East. For me, it's about finding my own position. I want to maintain my identity while embracing the wider world. It's important not to stick rigidly to just one culture but to be open and embrace everything the world has to offer.' What are your future goals regarding your personal life? 'Right now, I have a son who is four and a half years old. He's at a great age where we can really talk and connect. He plays drums, and his biggest idols are The Beatles. He's supportive of me and says I'm doing well, but he definitely prefers The Beatles. Besides drums, he also plays guitar. If he wants to pursue music further, that's completely fine with me.' Who is your favourite band or musical group? 'I'm not really into pop music, though I do listen to it sometimes. If you ask me about my favourite band, I'd say something more harmonic. I do like pop, but I'm not crazy about it. I'd love to collaborate with a band like Coldplay. I really admire Chris Martin. However, compared to pop, I still prefer classical music. I enjoy combining styles, but classical remains my favourite.' What's your routine for taking care of your fingers? 'I take care of my fingers by using hand cream regularly and avoiding activities that could cause injury. I try to avoid anything too rough or sharp, like playing basketball. Otherwise, I just do normal daily tasks.' What advice would you give to young Thai musicians who want to pursue a career in classical music? 'I think it's amazing that there is a growing interest in classical music here. It's very positive for the classical music scene. This new energy is something everyone needs. My advice is to believe in yourself, keep learning and always work on improving. Stay strong and passionate.'
South China Morning Post
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Lang Lang, Renée Fleming, Tan Dun, Anne-Sophie Mutter among HKPhil 2025-26 season's stars
A star-studded line-up awaits Hong Kong Philharmonic concertgoers in its 2025-26 season, including pianist Lang Lang, soprano Renée Fleming, composer Tan Dun and violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter. Tarmo Peltokoski , who will become the orchestra's music director in the second half of 26, will conduct three programmes during the season, while the 25-year-old's fellow Finn Esa-Pekka Salonen will be composer-in-residence. This season's artistic partner, Italian Daniele Gatti, returns to conduct the Phil, as do British conductor Daniel Harding, music director of Youth Music Culture The Greater Bay Area, Singaporean Kahchun Wong, principal conductor of Britain's Hallé Ochestra, and German Anja Bihlmaier. Lang Lang will play Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor with the orchestra on December 11 and 13, when he will share the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall stage with Peltokoski for the first time. Soprano Renée Fleming, who will perform music from her award-winning album Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene with the Hong Kong Philharmonic in October 2025. Photo: Andrew Eccles, courtesy of Decca American soprano Renée Fleming will perform music by Handel, Fauré, Listz and contemporary composers from her award-winning album Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene on October 24-25. Her performances will be accompanied by a film commissioned from the National Geographic Society for the album.
ABC News
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
The piano has always been important on screen. Here are 10 times it steals the show
The piano has played a leading role since before we even had movies with sound. During the era of silent films, live pianists would improvise soundtracks to the action on screen. As the screen industry evolved the piano has taken on different feature roles. Sometimes it's the instrument itself as a star, and other times piano-filled scores help guide us through the film, almost like another character. Classic, cheesy or chic, there are so many memorable piano scenes, from Michelle Pfeiffer singing on top of a grand piano in The Fabulous Baker Boys, to Edward serenading Bella in Twilight. And there's the music we'll always remember, like Scott Joplin's The Entertainer from The Sting, or Beethoven's 'Emperor' Piano Concerto in The King's Speech. Whether it's just a moment, or the star of the show, here are a few of our favourite appearances of the piano on screen. So many of us first fell in love with the piano through cartoons. In 1946 Warner Bros. released their Bugs Bunny short Rhapsody Rabbit and soon after in 1947 Looney Tunes released The Cat Concerto featuring Tom and Jerry, which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short. Both use the music from Liszt's incredibly difficult Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in a musical competition with a pesky mouse. There are playful elements mimicking the affectations of pianists, like Bugs Bunny removing layers of gloves before playing or Tom wiping his hands off mid-performance. One of the most famous pianists today, Lang Lang, has shared that it was The Cat Concerto that inspired him to pick up the piano. In Jane Campion's The Piano, mute protagonist Ada claims early in her narration, "the strange thing is, I don't think myself silent. That is because of my piano." Ada's beloved instrument is set up early as her most true form of expression, with her emotions told through Michael Nyman's original soundtrack. Holly Hunter, who portrays Ada, took lessons to play the performance scenes herself in the film. In one of the most famous scenes, Ada is joyously reunited on a beach with her piano by her husband's neighbour, unknowingly igniting the love triangle that will drive much of the film's narrative. The most well-known track, The Heart Asks Pleasure First, based on a traditional Scottish song, is still a popular performance piece today, and has even been covered by metal and rock bands. The piano appears as friend, companion, solace and antagonist in the 1996 Australian film Shine, based on the life of pianist David Helfgott. Throughout the film, Rachmaninov's Third Piano Concerto represents the pinnacle of musical achievement and commitment to the piano, as well as Helfgott's desperate desire for his father's approval. The soundtrack features some of the piano's most virtuosic repertoire, mostly performed by Helfgott himself. David Hirschfelder's piano-heavy original score also melds in seamlessly, at times feeling like fragmentary echoes of the Rachmaninov concerto running through a traumatised mind. As hand double for the young Helfgott (played by Alex Rafalowicz), pianist Simon Tedeschi recalls filming sitting behind the actor wearing the same clothes and playing through his sleeves. "Chopin is very athletic, and you better believe that my core strength was improved after those two days because I had to counter his weight," Tedeschi shares. Are there many movie scenes more heartwarming than the moment in Big when Tom Hanks jumps onto the giant floor piano? Most 80's kids dreamed of being able to do the same. In the memorable scene, Hanks performs a duet with the owner of the toy company he works for, playing Heart and Soul with a playful transition to Chopsticks, both bonding over a childhood spent learning piano. The piano becomes almost a battle ground in the 1984 film Amadeus, which tells a fictionalised story of rivalry between real-life 18th century composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri. In one scene, where Mozart is presented to the Emperor, he is gifted with a piece of piano music composed in his honour by the court composer Salieri. Mozart proceeds to play the music back by ear, improvising and improving it on the spot in front of the incredulous, and slightly offended, Salieri. The soundtrack also features stunning performances of several Mozart Piano Concertos with concert pianist Alfred Brendel and the renowned Academy of St Martin in the Fields, conducted by Sir Neville Marriner. The piano was an important instrument during colonial Australia, with the first instrument arriving here in 1788. In the 1982 classic film based on the Banjo Patterson poem of the same name, the piano becomes a symbol of the blossoming romance between stockman Jim and the station owner's daughter, Jessica. The pair first meet as Jessica is painstakingly learning Beethoven's Für Elise. After exchanging words, Jessica's performance becomes suddenly more feeling. Later, she convinces Jim to help break in her father's prized colt while he is away from the station. The montage sequence is backed by the piano track, Jessica's Theme, which is still popular with pianists today. Yann Tiersen's piano-filled soundtrack for 2001's Amélie feels almost like a character of its own. As Amélie journeys through her fantastical world, the scores accompany our heroine on her self-created adventures with a sense of whimsy and wonder. In a recent video on social media, concert pianist Lang Lang shares he enjoys playing popular track from the score, La Valse d'Amélie. "It is filled with passages that feel like a fairytale," he shares. Jane Austen was an avid pianist and given how important the piano is in her narratives, it's unsurprising that it features heavily in both the 1995 BBC miniseries version of Pride and Prejudice as well as the 2005 film. Carl Davis's music for the BBC miniseries incorporates music from the era performed on period instruments. You hear piano performances featuring popular composers of the day like Handel and Mozart as well as English country dances. In the sprightly theme, the playing of Melvyn Tan features heavily, performing on the era-appropriate fortepiano. Dario Marianelli's Oscar-winning soundtrack for the 2005 film brings a different sound world to the story, but also references the popular music of the day. Marianelli has said he was heavily influenced by Beethoven's early sonatas. The score is beautifully recorded, featuring French concert pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet and the English Chamber Orchestra. As was proper for eligible young ladies during the Regency era, the piano is an important feature of the hit romance series Bridgerton. While displaying their talents as is expected of them, the piano helps to also show more of the inner personalities of the ladies performing. Eldest daughter Daphne is always trying to set a proper example, but her choice of music like Beethoven's tempestuous 'Waldstein' Piano Sonata echoes her passionate nature in private. The third Bridgerton daughter Francesca chooses the middle movement of Beethoven's 'Appassionata' Sonata, speaking to her introverted character, in direct comparison with her fiery sister. Alongside the Virginia Wolff novel Mrs Dalloway, Philip Glass's score for The Hours is a thread that ties together the stories of the three women we follow through the film. The piano is at the forefront of the music, connecting the women through time, from the 1920s to the turn of the 21st century. As one writer for the Metropolitan Opera highlights, the piano is an instrument historically associated with women, and domestic settings, so a fitting musical narrator for their stories. The soundtrack is haunting, filled with the multitude of emotions of the three women's life experiences.
