Lang Lang’s back to Japan since 2011! But what do we know about this brilliant pianist? Here is a brief summary of his life, his father, the competitions he entered at this youth, his role as music teacher, his own image on the “Classical Rock star”, which Lang himself shared with one of the Belgium TV programs.
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Lang Lang was a precociously-gifted boy. He first won a competition at the age of 5. He was only 11 when he won the first prize at one of the international competitions. As a child, he believed that being a good pianist is winning competitions. But numbers of challenges and experiences gave him a lesson: there’s a lot to learn from loosing.
His father always accompanied him to competitions. He was always supportive for Lang’s rehearsals and career, he even quit his job. Lang’s mother stayed home to earn money. The family asked their relatives for financial aid behind their beloved son, when they were seriously driven to the last ditch.
What was the father like? “A man of discipline, who taught me the importance of restraint”- said Lang Lang, “and that’s an essential part for being a pianist”.
Many of the renowned artists have struggled until they reach their brilliant career. Lang Lang is no different than other. He started his music education in Beijing when he was 9, but his teacher saw no talent in him and advised to abandon his dream to become a professional. But he never ran away from music and just kept on changing teachers. From this experience, he is determined to be a passionate teacher himself, who could inspire his pupils.
Not only a passionate teacher, Lang Lang is a gifted musician. His playing in front of a large audience reminds us a pop star. The artist well known for the critic “like a classical music rock star” and his flamboyant performance style, once said at an interview: “pianists need to act different characters according the composers”. For instance when playing Liszt, one should take his style and character into account. An enormous effort would be required.
He concluded the interview by shouting “Go! Classic!”. His path to draw the young generation into the classical music sees no end. Lang strongly believes a generation shift is essential to the market, a SNS is one of the useful tools. He is also keen on building schools to provide scholarship to young gifted students. This phenomena where classical music’s accepted more and more by such generation in China and the rest of the world (the Lang Lang effect) is a true evidence of his success.
With performances for the Queen of England, sponsors like Adidas, and concerts at the world’s most renowned venues, Lang Lang is indeed the rock-star of classical music.
Lang says he was first fascinated by his favorite TV show, Tom & Jerry. His life with music started by imitating the music on his piano.
Concerned with the future of classical music, he now wants to find new methods to reach and to inspire the young generation. Let’s see how this artist once called “musical genius” can offer with his golden heart and golden hands.
http://www.cobra.be/cm/cobra/videozone/rubriek/muziek-videozone/140403-mv-langlang-solo-bozarLang Lang Piano Recital
http://www.kajimotomusic.com/en/concert/k=415/ http://www.kajimotomusic.com/en/concert/k=416/Lang Lang