The name “Lang Lang” has now become a household name to Washington’s critical concert goers. This world-class pianist recently returned to the Kennedy Center last month to join the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) in performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major. The major applause from the audience prompted three curtain calls and even an encore performance. It was a mesmerizing experience for many that night.
“I am really inspired by [Washington, D.C.]. The audiences [here] have a very good understanding of classical music. We have very good [two-way] communication,” stated the 30-year-old Chinese pianist. His two-week residency in November included a series of recitals as well as sold-out concerts along with Christoph Eschenbach, who is the music director for both the NSO and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
The New York Times praised Lang Lang as the “hottest artist on the classical music planet”. However, there are times when his unconventional performing style results in controversy for some. Nonetheless, he has still managed to impress various audiences all over the world for more than a decade with his unique, natural and powerful performances accompanied by world class orchestras. According to Lang, the most memorable performance that he had so far was in Beijing, China where he performed for more than five billion viewers during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics.
He also mentioned that another milestone for his career was an unanticipated debut at the renowned Ravinia Festival near Chicago in 1999. Back, he was merely 17 years old when he was called upon at the last minute to replace a fellow pianist who fell ill. He went on to play Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO). It was an incredible success, which earned him international fame. He credited his breakthrough to Eschenbach, the music director of CSO during that time, with whom Lang had developed a deep, professional and personal bond up till today.
Lang also has his parents to thank for who he is today. Their ambitious vision and strict education helped in shaping his success. “My parents supported me very much when I was studying the piano, as well as after I started my career. They bought a piano for me very early and took me to the best teacher in the city [ Shenyang in Liaoning Province]. Later, my Dad quit his job and took me to study the piano at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing,” he recalled. You can read more about his story here.
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