"Stunning."-The New York Times
"[Among] the top twenty teens who will change the world."-The Wall Street Journal
"Lang Lang took a sold-out Albert Hall by storm. ... This could well be history in the making."-The Times
Lang Lang started his piano studies when he was three years old, and won his first medal two years later. At the age of 13, he won first prize at the Tchaikovsky International Young Musicians Competition. At 15, he was awarded a scholarship by the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. And at 20, he was named the winner of the first-ever Bernstein Award.
Lang Lang, originally from China, is one of the top professional pianists in the United States, and has performed with all of the world's leading symphony orchestras including the New York Philharmonic. Lang Lang, together with Yao Ming, a Chinese-born basketball player for the US National Basketball Association, has become one of the idols from China among American teenagers.
He won his fame dramatically. At the Ravinia Festival held in August 1999, 17-year-old
Lang Lang filled in for an indisposed Andre Watts and performed Tchaikovsky concertos with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He shocked the audience with an amazing gift for music, and became world-famous overnight.
China Pictorial: In recent years, many talented young musicians like you, Chen Sa, and Li Yundi have emerged in China. Do you have any comment on this?
Lang Lang: Chinese people live far away from where classical music was born, so any achievement they make in the field may surprise Westerners. Westerners think it is deserved for Western musicians to perform well, but it is surprising for Chinese musicians. As more and more Chinese pianists win prizes, become famed, and give remarkable performances, Westerners not only feel surprised, but also applaud us and present us with honor and glory. We are able to perform with their best orchestras. I think this is a delightful change.
China Pictorial: You need to travel around for many commercial performances every year. Are you tired of such a lifestyle? How do you achieve a balance between performances and studies?
Lang Lang: Many musicians have devoted all their lives to making remarkable achievements. Nevertheless, not all of them realize their dreams. I have traveled around the world for a touring circuit, and sometimes feel tired because I have to spend too much time on flights. When I put all my heart in performing on the stage, however, I feel I am lucky to be a musician, because I forget all other things except playing piano at that moment and [that] I am doing what I like to do.
China Pictorial: As a pianist born in the East, do you feel it is a little difficult to understand and perform Western classical music?
Lang Lang: There are differences between Western and Eastern cultures. But music can show all aspects of life and bring one to another world. Colorful and lyric, it goes beyond any national boundaries and expresses all the kinds of feelings that one can feel. I feel only music can express all the contents of my soul. Music exists by itself, and what we need to do is to display it with our emotions and excitement. Actually, music already stands there and speaks out itself.
China Pictorial: You are now an idol in the hearts of many Chinese children who practice piano. They hope to be a person like you when they grow up. Based on your own experience, what do you want to say to them?
Lang Lang: Innateness and diligence are not enough for one to win fame, and there are
many other factors you need to consider. What you also need to include is opportunity and individuality. As a performer, you need to communicate with people not only through music, but also languages. You need to make friends. You should be optimistic and have a kind heart. [So that] you can understand and respect the people around you and are willing to listen to their advice. You should learn from others, not only in respect to music but also all other aspects. You need your audience to like you.
China Pictorial: What would you like to be next? A composer? A conductor? Or something else?
Lang Lang: I hope to present classical music to all people-I mean everyone. I have some communicating work to do. For example, telling my personal experiences to youngsters who love to play the piano, as well as those who know little about music but intend to know it. I will play more and more Chinese music. I hope ten years later when you walk along the street, everyone can tell something about Beethoven, Chopin, and Tchaikovsky, as well as our own Chinese composers.
Lang Lang reunites with his music teacher, Zhao Pingguo, after a four-year separation.
Lang Lang and his father, Lang Guoren. His father plays an important role in his life. The photo was taken in 1990, and at the time Lang Lang had not become famous. His father, however, always believed he would be successful.
(China Pictorial March 5, 2004)
