I was wondering what people think about Lang Lang. Some people think he is one of the greatest young pianists we have today. He is definitely one of the most famous worldwide right now, but does he deserve the credit? Many argue though, that he plays with no emotion, just with great technical ability and great big movements body making him 'fake'.

Sure, he moves like he's having a heart attack sometimes but that's what I like about him. There are so many concert pianists these days that they all appear to be the same! Only a small few of them stand out and Lang Lang does this by his unique performances.

Have a look at this. Pretty breathtaking even if people think that he's rubbish. His quirky personality is transferred to his piano playing and it brought thousands of people into classical music.

I was just wondering, how about a heated discussion? Is Lang Lang a fake?

Lang Lang is brilliant IMHO Very talented and is very aware in ensembles as he demonstrated with 7 other pianists at the 10th Verbier Piano Festival

For me, Lang Lang's not a fake. I saw him in concert last year playing Mozart K330, the third Chopin sonata, a handful of Rachmaninov preludes, Schumann Scenes of Childhood, Sonetto 104 del Petrarca and the Liszt-Horowitz Second Hungarian Rhapsody. Looking at the Mozart, and the Liszt Sonnet, his interpretation was questionable: the former was rushed, sparkling, but without intimacy; in the latter, he didn't really project the melodic line, preferring aimless fireworks. Together with his occasionally laughable mannerisms, it provides a fair amount of ammunition for critics. But I'm sure that it's not contrived. Equally, he's a very fine technician, and what's more, a superb communicator who really engages with the audience. Yes, I suppose that could amount to trite showmanship. But, to echo Noodelz, I think it's that sort of personality that could well get a wider audience for classical concerts in the future, and thus I'm very much in favour.

Were you there???

I too have seen him perform several times, and yes he is a showman, and yes he has tremendous talent.

Some people may not like the showmanship but it is no way a substitute for technical ability. His personality is big, and he obviously enjoys what he does very much. Such that he is able to transmit this love into his performances.

Last time I saw him play was last Summer in Paris, and it was Rach 2. He milked it for all the emotion possible, but hey it was Rach and Rach was written to be milked wasn't it?? Tremendous

Wow!! That video of lang lang playing the liszt is amazing! I dont agree that poeple should even start criticising him until they are of his standard.Anyway at the end of the day the world would be bland if everydody had the same interpretation of everything,wouldn't it?

i know this will annoy you all since everyone seems to like him...but all the big movements really annoy me. they just seem so over the top, and i think you can get the emotion into pieces without needing to wave your arms around and things like that. of course, I am not anything like this standard, and feel free to say that i shouldnt say these things... but anyway, i love this piece x

He looks brilliant to me, a total master of his instrument, so what if he uses his body to express his interpretation of the music...better than sitting there stiff as a board lol

My piano teacher saw him and said he was wonderful. My teacher said he kept his eyes closed though as it was otherwise too distracting!

If you don't like the body movements, then go and see Kissin...other end of the spectrum completely, but still an amazing musician.

I think Lang Lang is a fabulous pianist though his showmanship is over the top and distracting - possibly the modern Liszt?

I'm not annoyed; I agree with you - I find it aggravating. HOWEVER, the very fact that we're having this discussion means that it can't be an altogether Bad Thing. He knows what he's doing; there is no way he gets on like that when he's practising, or he'd need a bucket on the floor for the sweat! He's a showman, and if it brings in a wider audience to classical music, then that has to be a good thing. Personally, though, I prefer a more intimate performance, where the body movements are more subtle, and the drama comes from the music. But different strokes for different folks - this works for Lang Lang, and if I could make my fortune out of it, I'd do it too!!!

You'd think that wouldn't you? http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=...amp;q=lang+lang

Found it while looking for the Liszt video.

Wish I had a room like that to practise in, as well as his talent...

The Chinese channel that we have did an interview with Lang Lang a while back, and it kind of just backed my thought that he is a genius and a really amazing pianist! I agree with your thing about him looking like he is having a heart attack sometimes, but even that still looks really impressive...

How does he do this?!

It's very easy to do Lang Lang expressions actually. I was practicing them while playing the C major scale. Felt a bit dizzy but everyone clapped afterwards.

Video is quite cool actually, he's really getting into the music isn't he?

im not doubting his talent, I'm just saying that his particular style of playing irritates me!

I randomly remembered this thread again today, so thought I'd post.... I'm trying to get tickets for Lang Lang in Nottingham next month. It's not sold out yet so will probably get some *is excited* He's playing Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini... *squees*

If I get tickets, I'll try and remember to post back here, heehee...

Yes, it's puzzling to me, too. How can he (no matter how talented, musically) look like he is having a real heart attack and STILL be able to concentrate on the music at the same time?!

Any ideas?

I don't find this discussion controversial, I find it most amusing.

Fabulous!

You listen with your ears not your eyes.

The man is a brilliant pianist, gestures and all, and there is nothing remotely "fake" about his piano playing or performances. Shut your eyes and listen to the man's music.

Most concert pianists, indeed musicians of very many instrumental disciplines, have performance peculiarities. Glenn Gould used to grunt and crouch low over the keyboard. The Pekinel twins hum and sing along when performing, Oscar Peterson would throw a contortion or two duing a jazz riff, Burth Bacharach would sway almost to falling off the piano stool.

These people are musical geniuses and not one of us who regularly contribute to these forums are worthy, in piano playing virtuosity, to lick their boots. If we were taht good we would be on the concert tour and not wasting time here posting "sour grape" comments.

How were any of the comments 'sour grape'? I find it very irritating when people say you can't criticise someone unless you're as good as them at what they do (the most common expression of this being "could you do any better?"). That's utter rubbish. I can express an opinion on Beckham's footballing skills, without being able to score from 30 yards. I can say that I didn't enjoy a meal I ate at a restaurant without being able to make a salad. So I can say that I find Lang Lang's movements over-the-top and annoying (which I do by the way), without being a virtuoso pianist. Of course none of us are good enough to 'lick their boots' in terms of musical ability but that's totally irrelevant. Nobody claimed to be able to. All they did was offer their personal opinion (because, very surprisingly, musical is quite a personal thing ) on someone's playing. It's not jealousy, it's not a claim that I can do better, it's not saying that he's not a superb pianist, it's merely saying that I find the gestures annoying.

I haven't really got an opinion on Lang Lang having never seen him play, but AMEN to Trebor's post other than that.

One of my daughters Violin teachers played just like this guy. He did once have a complaint whilst playing for a local choral society. They where having a series of concerts and they asked him to tone it down as the audience was watching him and not the production or whatever it was. He was only 17 at the time. Each to their own.

Yes, I see what you mean and I agree.

I remember closing my eyes at a Belcea Quartet concert for precisely the same reason. One violinist was swaying and bobbing up and down from her seat continuously the whole time as if it were her habit rather than her expression and it was distracting but fortunately, when I closed my eyes, I got lost in the music and really enjoyed it in the end.

I think this distracts you from concentrating with the music...
If you close your eyes and just listen , you won't find him that brilliant.

After watching Lang Lang play, I have to say that he's a real talent and inspiration. Just listening to him play is inspiring.

Granted, he's not perfect, and I might have to say Yundi Li excels at romantic music - as for Lang Lang, some of his movements might be considered over-expressive...after all, music is communicated through the ear, not grand gestures, but I feel the way he moves around during his pieces is definitely a nice show effect. It also communicates much more emotion.

Finally, he's amazing technically. The tempo he played Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody at...wow. That shows great technique, even if I don't agree with his tempo choice.

I've got tickets for that night - looks like it's going to be a good night.

Looking forward to the Czech Philharmonic too.

A piano recital must be a performance and if the quality of music is good why not let the performer do what he likes, with regards to movement. I have heard a fantastic recital by Lang Lang, an beleive it is one of the best performances of that peice. It was the Berlin Phiharmonic summer night, and the peice? Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No.1. You must hear it!

Calm down !

Of course you can criticise to your hearts content anyone and everything in life. If you are going to criticise a professional pianist then of course the basis of your criticism is a personal like or dislike of the man and his method of playing. However bear in mind that your criticism is not based on any objective reasoning or indepth musical knowledge and ability at the level of Lang Lang. In other words you are not his peer and cannot, IMO, give a constructive and professional opinion. Vladimir Ashkenazy, Daniel Barenboim, et al are eminently qualified to do so. That's why they are chosen as panel judges, and critics and not the likes of you and me.

My patients have every right to criticise me with regards to "bedside manner", they are not qualified to criticise the way I practice medicine. Only my peers can do that.

I think bearing in mind that each person has a personal experience of music either in the concert hall or the radio etc, it is perfectly reasonable to either criticise or praise anybody who delivers the music or obstructs. In this sense it is a purely personal view. I have seen a number of musicians who completely get in the way of the music from my point of view and others who make the experience sensational. If I am paying money to listen to them, I don't think it is wrong for me to criticise or praise them accordingly. I presume you would praise someone who gives a great musical performance even though you might not be on their level and therefore unable to criticise, according to your thinking?

I would think it also depends on exactly what you are criticising. Many associated board examiners are unable to play the instrument that a lot of candidates are taking their examination in but they are offering a critique of what they hear.

As for your final point Roger, I criticised a hospital doctor once after he accused me of making up a story about my so called condition and discharged me from A and E. Three hours later I'd collapsed in the town centre and had to undergo urgent surgery for a nasty problem that the doctor had failed to investigate which led to a far worse situation. (he was very surprised to see me on the ward later). Whilst I accept I do not have his know-how as a doctor, I was perfectly right to criticise him and complain. I wish it had been his 'bedside manner' that was the problem.

There is nothing in Lang Lang's performances that get in the way of his music as far as I can see and hear. His gestures and mannerisms are peculiar to him and his performance style, he's an individual with a very indiviualistic style. The originator of this thread, I think, wondered if he was a 'fake', how absurd.

For professional reasons I will not comment on your hospital episode suffice it to say I'm glad you got it sorted promptly and that you are now in good health.

Thanks Roger. I think that for you, it means that you find what Lang Lang does extremely good and satisfying but there are those people for whom his rather large range of movements can be distracting and I guess it really is a personal thing. I have only seen TV footage of him playing and for me personally, I think it would get in the way. However, it is very clear that he is a brilliant pianist but not to everybodies liking for whatever reason. In the end, there are probably enough musicians to satisfy everybody on a professional level I think and as long as we are all happy with someone, that is probably the main thing.

(Just my opinion!)

In your opinion, and in your experience - as you say, "as far as I can see or hear": others may disagree, and just because they cannot play the piano like he does, does not mean that they are automatically wrong. If, once someone is beyond a certain level of "good enough", none of us lesser mortals is in a position to criticise, then basically there's no room for personal preference, or to say one person is better, worse, or more or less to one's taste. Which renders much musical discussion pointless, and many critics talking out of their behinds.

The argument "could you do better" is just a non-starter. Just because I can't play the flute like a professional doesn't mean I can't have perfectly valid opinions, and consider one flautists more or less good than another. Others may disagree - it's at least partly personal preference - but I'm not automatically wrong by virtue of not being of a professional standard.

No. I never wanted to. "The basis of my criticism is a personal like or dislike"...well yeah, the reason I listen and play music is a matter of personal like and dislike - it'd be silly to do anything else. I don't really want to judge music objectively, it takes the fun out of it. What you seem to be suggesting is that the best musician is the one who is most technically able which is a valid viewpoint, but I disagree. The whole can be greater than the sum of its parts in music - an individual and enthralling performance can make up for technical faults. With Lang Lang the reverse happens - his movements shut me out because, to me (that's right, another personal opinion), they do not seem particularly real. But for others it might be the thing that draws them in. Music's subjective - I don't think there is a right or wrong.

Are you sure about this? Firstly, we have usernames; nobody knows who's who. You could be Lang Lang yourself for all we know. Maybe Lang Lang was getting negative feedback about his mannerisms and thought he's start a thread here to see what the concert-goers really think.... We may not be worthy to lick his boots, but we help to pay his wages.

Not all good pianists and musical geniuses would want to be on concert tours. Some are there purely for the music and not for fame and fortune. And there are many more, despite their ability, whose nerves would render them incapable of playing in such a big arena.

And we all have our own way of wasting time; a concert pianist is as likely to dabble in music forums as watch Eastenders!

You're confusing being able to play with being able to listen. They're not the same thing. For my money, Lang Lang has a very fine technique, in the sense of having mastered the motor skills required to render the dots on the page into piano keys depressed. But like most sensible people, I don't really care much about that, however much I'd like to be able to do it myself. Neither do I care that he plays the Hungarian Rhapsody at breakneck speed - that has little or nothing to do with "music", and most or everything to do with "showmanship". For what it's worth, I don't think his gestures are entirely synthetic, as many of us (amateur pianists/musicians) sway with our eyes closed, lift our hands with exaggerated gestures during largo movements etc.

The argument, as I see it, is determining the balance in Lang Lang between showmanship and musician. I've only seen him play on TV a few times and I'd have to say that he's not my favourite performer. Neither, for that matter, is Kissin who is almost his polar opposite in terms of bodily expression. FWIW my favourite pianists are Martha Argerich and Angela Hewitt, neither of whom is noted for her theatricality (though apparently Argerich can be a bit of a prima donna).

Edward

"Are you sure about this?Firstly, we have usernames; nobody knows who's who. You could be Lang Lang yourself for all we know "

I think you're entering the realms of fantasy here Dulciana!



Are you using the collective unsubstantiated we? "We" only pay his "wages" if " we" bother to actually go and see him perform in a concert and pay for a ticket. Those here that have done that qualify in your category of "wage paying"







No I don't think I'm confusing playing ability with listening ability. I've no idea where you're coming from on that one, and have no idea what you're talking about apart from the fact that you have merely stated the obvious in that playing and listening are not the same thing. Ten out of ten for that remarkable observation

And his point? That just because people can't play like Lang Lang doesn't mean they cannot have an opinion about him. "Could you play like that?" is a lousy argument.



*gives up*

With respect Trebor, you're view is, I think, a little naive.

A concert pianist is, in a sense similar, to an actor. A performer, not just a player of the piano. He needs to excite, stimulate and captivate his audience. Of course he needs to be technically brilliant, no one wants to hear wrong notes and poor dynamics, but on the world concert stage you have to have all this plus the "X Factor", the quality and charisma to succeed in one of the most difficult arenas of all the arts.

Roger, if you do not feel you should comment on Lang Lang's piano playing, then don't. However, I should point out that this discussion is just a bit of fun - unlike the peer-reviewing case you mentioned - and there's no harm in people expressing what they think of it, no matter how unqualified you may think them to be. If the thread is bothering you as much as it seems to be, why not ignore it?

Why are you getting so upset?. Just ignore my posts if they upset you!

I'm not upset at all, hence the big smilie face at the end of my post. Look, here's an even bigger one .

That's nice, one big happy family.



BTW I did not understand your opening comment ...... Roger, if you do not feel you should comment...

the point is I did want to comment. Freudian slip ?

Just the realms of friendly sarcasm!

Which is exactly what I was saying. You were the one saying I should respect him for his technical ability because I'm not worthy to judge him. And I was saying there were more important things like the ability to communicate. For me, the movements detract from the performance more than they add. For others, it's different. Whatever floats your boat. So how is my view naïve?

But surley he should be able to "excite, stimulate and captivate" with just his music and piano playing, without the need of extreme movements. When listening to a recording of his playing, you can't see him, but you don't expect the music to be less captivating. I have seen a few Lang Lang videos ,I couldn't concentrate on the music because I was too busy watching him and often wondered why? and in my opinion his movements are over the top.

I'm with you on that!

I think Lang Lang is a very talented pianist, but i find his movements unnecessary. Yes, you can be over-expressive when playing a particulary moving piece and when nobody's watching, but to always play like that? My question is whether it's just how he plays or him showing off. If it's the latter, then it really outweighs however much technical ability he has.

A concert pianist is, in a sense similar, to an actor. A performer, not just a player of the piano. He needs to excite, stimulate and captivate his audience. Of course he needs to be technically brilliant, no one wants to hear wrong notes and poor dynamics, but on the world concert stage you have to have all this plus the "X Factor", the quality and charisma to succeed in one of the most difficult arenas of all the arts.

Except for the fact that the actor sends his message through his actions and words where as a musician will do it through music.

It depends on what you mean by the ''X Factor'' because personally, his huge movements repulse me, it's melodramatic and distracting.