What do you think about Lang Lang?

[Bonehelm]

For me, I can't stand him. His playing is absolutely vulgar and unnecessarily bombastic...he also lacks a good sense of musicality and originality of just about everything he plays. He seems to be very talented at showing off; If I were him I would choose to become a clown at the circus instead. Just for your viewing pleasure (Yes, sarcasm intended): I decided to provide links to the worst performances of any piano playing I've ever heard--all bought to you and made possible by the "virtuoso" Mr. Lang Lang.

Hungarian Rhapsody #2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwv-rg7YQZY (completely ruins the piece)
Fledermaus, Op.56: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxdynChtyyo (unnecessary glissandi at the end)

He has VERY bad tone as he bangs on the keys too much. One chord overlaps with the other as he plays at an extremely rapid pace. Everything just sounds like noise-- yes, noise, nothing more. He's like the exact opposite of Horowitz, whose playing is very clear and precise. His gestures and motions of the arm/hand are also noticeably over exaggerated and awkward....all that just contributes to making him look like a monkey trained to do tricks and entertain people. Oh, did I mention the overwhelming amount of wrong notes? Disturbingly enough, he doesn't seem to care about what the composer has in mind when he composed the piece. All he wants to do is to finish the piece ASAP and add as many whams and bangs to impress the audience.

Truly a Bang Bang. I'll give him one thing: his technique and ability to move his hands at that speed is outstanding (but I won't say he's unparalleled).

[springrite]

I attended ONE Lang Lang recital a few years ago and his playing was surprising good! The only thing is that I had to keep my eyes closed, since I could not standing looking at his facial contorsions!

BUT, I agree that of all the recordings I have heard of his, none are satisfactory. The few videos I have seen are also not very good -- for the exact reasons that you have given. So, I am left bewildered as to why. Was the excellent recital I attended a one-off?

He undoubtedly has talent. Maybe eventually he will grow out of this bombastic funk.

BTW, from the few interviews I have seen or heard from him, he came across as a rather immature young man.

[Bonehelm]

I attended ONE Lang Lang recital a few years ago and his playing was surprising good! The only thing is that I had to keep my eyes closed, since I could not standing looking at his facial contorsions!

BUT, I agree that of all the recordings I have heard of his, none are satisfactory. The few videos I have seen are also not very good -- for the exact reasons that you have given. So, I am left bewildered as to why. Was the excellent recital I attended a one-off?

He undoubtedly has talent. Maybe eventually he will grow out of this bombastic funk.

BTW, from the few interviews I have seen or heard from him, he came across as a rather immature young man.

I agree with the interview part. ESPECIALLY when he starts to speak English. He's absolutely horrible at it and he doesn't even know. I also dislike how he makes fun of a lot of people in his interviews (Not a personal attack, rather playfully, but still). I just don't understand how could one study classical music, that is a high form of art, and still be as immature as this. I'm a lot younger than he is and I can already tell he lacks good judgement and communication skills.

[springrite]

I agree with the interview part. ESPECIALLY when he starts to speak English. He's absolutely horrible at it and he doesn't even know. I also dislike how he makes fun of a lot of people in his interviews (Not a personal attack, rather playfully, but still). I just don't understand how could one study classical music, that is a high form of art, and still be as immature as this. I'm a lot younger than he is and I can already tell he lacks good judgement and communication skills.

He is worse in Chinese, where he has better command of the language to demonstrate that his immaturity is geniune and not caused by a lack of familiarity with a certain language.

[Bonehelm]

He is worse in Chinese, where he has better command of the language to demonstrate that his immaturity is geniune and not caused by a lack of familiarity with a certain language.

So you happen to understand Chinese. Would you like some links to an interview with school kids he had a while ago? He played quite a few pieces there and his replies to the questions that were brought up were hilariously cheesy and lame.

[springrite]

So you happen to understand Chinese. Would you like some links to an interview with school kids he had a while ago? He played quite a few pieces there and his replies to the questions that were brought up were hilariously cheesy and lame.

Thanks but no thanks. I more or less know what that might be like. He did some similar things here in China.

[daPonte]

I just don't understand how could one study classical music, that is a high form of art, and still be as immature as this. I'm a lot younger than he is and I can already tell he lacks good judgement and communication skills.

But this does not necessarily translate into poor or immature musicianship. Have you read Mozart's so-called "Basle Letters?" Wolfgang was no slouch--He could tickle the ivories quite well and could compose a catchy tune to boot! Moreover, in his own time, he too was considered flashy, brash, and immature...

[Harry]

I attended ONE Lang Lang recital a few years ago and his playing was surprising good! The only thing is that I had to keep my eyes closed, since I could not standing looking at his facial contorsions!

BUT, I agree that of all the recordings I have heard of his, none are satisfactory. The few videos I have seen are also not very good -- for the exact reasons that you have given. So, I am left bewildered as to why. Was the excellent recital I attended a one-off?

He undoubtedly has talent. Maybe eventually he will grow out of this bombastic funk.

BTW, from the few interviews I have seen or heard from him, he came across as a rather immature young man.

I fully agree with that after seeing some footage of a interview with him, and samples of his grotesk playing, all show, no substance, story for me!

[Harry Collier]

But this does not necessarily translate into poor or immature musicianship. Have you read Mozart's so-called "Basle Letters?" Wolfgang was no slouch--He could tickle the ivories quite well and could compose a catchy tune to boot! Moreover, in his own time, he too was considered flashy, brash, and immature...

Good point. The link between an artist's personality and emotional development and his or her playing is not an obvious one. Many composers, conductors, pianists and violinists have been pretty nondescript -- or worse -- as people.

[Holden]

I heard Lang Lang on the radio a couple of weeks ago playing Kinderszenen and it wasn't too bad but nothing to write home about. The most telling thing I've seen is where he is part of an LvB masterclass with Barenboim (Op 110 I think). It's obvious that he has no idea about Beethoven whatsoever and I thought that DB was very patient. However, he is now part of the DG stable and that would guarantee him many accolades and sold out concerts from the philistines who are in the ascendent amongst concertgoers.

[mahlertitan]

Lang Lang is bad, yet you guys are talking about him all the time, what about Li Yundi, or other Chinese pianists?

[bhodges]

I have not heard any of Lang Lang's recordings, but I have heard him live, twice, and both experiences were positive -- even in repertoire I don't really like.  In September 2005 he did the Chopin First with Maazel and the New York Philharmonic; I was prepared to dislike him, but he was tremendous (albeit with some of the extraneous movements that some have criticized him for). 

Last fall he did the Beethoven First with Jansons and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, beautifully.  And his body movements were even less distracting this time.

I'm hearing him in a few weeks, again with Maazel and the NY Phil, in Beethoven's "Emperor" so we'll see how that goes.

--Bruce

[Todd]

Lang Lang does have a new LvB concerto disc.  Perhaps I should sample it.  Perhaps not.  I've never listened to a complete Lang Lang recording, though what I have heard didn't make me want to rush out and spend my money on any of his discs.  As to Yundi Li, he's technically secure but bland and with little to impart to the music.  Maybe in a decade or two.

[mahlertitan]

I don't think Lang Lang is bad, personally i never crticize artists who can play better than i do.

[Bunny]

I've been disappointed with Lang Lang's recordings since the 60 Minutes profile brought him to my attention.  However, he regularly sells out concert halls, so there are large numbers of people with money who do like him.  The only album he has made that has been critically acclaimed is one of Chinese music.  As I haven't bought it, I can't say anything as to its quality. 

He's young with technique to burn, so hopefully he'll mature into that talent.

[Don]

I heard Lang Lang on the radio a couple of weeks ago playing Kinderszenen and it wasn't too bad but nothing to write home about.

That was likely the same performance that he has on his "Memory" disc.  I find it ordinary.

[BachQ]

I enjoy his Hung. Rhap. no. 2 ........

[PerfectWagnerite]

I think he's okay, no better or worse than anybody they run out there on the major labels lately.

But he doesn't seem like the brightest bulb on the X-mas tree to me.

[Szykneij]

Did Pianist Lang Lang Intend To Snub The U.S.?
January 24, 2011
 
At last week's White House state dinner honoring Chinese President Hu Jintao, classical pianist Lang Lang played the song "My Motherland," which is widely seen in China as anti-American. Host Melissa Block speaks to Lang Lang about the controversy, asking whether he intended to snub the U.S.

http://www.npr.org/2011/01/24/133187969/Pianist-Lang-Lang-On-His-Controversial-Music-Pick?ft=1&f=1014

[Mirror Image]

Lang Lang is technically proficient, but he lacks emotional depth and a grounding in the history of classical music, and more importantly, the composer's music he chooses to perform. I try to avoid him like the plague, because he's not a musician I'm not interested in hearing again.