I've just booked to see Lang Lang at the Manchester Bridgewater Hall in January, just wondered if anyone
had seen him before and what their opinion was?

He's a great pianist...but he likes to show off a lot.

He jumps up and down on his seat and has a tendency to really bash out chords....i don't particularly like him.

you can see his stuff on youtube.

I've seen him a few times now. He is a showman, but an incredible musician with loads of charisma. I'm sure you will love his performance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuiQ0Ihn8Go

But I think that's why I like him because he's not 'too serious', he 'keeps me entertained
I will go to see him one day.
for now I am going to see Vengerov in January, Lang Lang will probably be next.

Just wish I had a minute amount of either of their talent.

I saw him at an outdoor concert in Glastonbury in 2006. Michael Eavis (of the Glastonbury festival) organises some outside concerts in the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey every summer... with one "clasical" concert night. There are fireworks etc at the end. I took my Dad in 2006 who used to be a concert pianist and was a bit worried as he hated "Showy" pianists, but he really enjoyed it and was impressed at his skill!!! It was with the Royal Philharmonic.
The kids can move around as well as these concerts are outdoor... and they got his autograph at the interval. It was a lovely evening . He was fabulous and he wasn't really showy.

There was a previous thread on Lang Lang here.

I have to say, though, I do find his 'moves' quite disturbing...

Car Expert

Hmmm....don't hold your breath. Maxim still has trouble with his right arm and so far all concerts are cancelled up to the end of the year . Hoping he will be OK by the New Year, but it might take a little longer, he will need some rehearsal time after he has been pronounced fit.

When a person can play like that, I think they can be forgiven for showing off

I love this paragraph in The Guardian's review of "The piano shop on the left bank":


"The music critic Charles Rosen recently caused much displeasure among musicians in America by pointing out the obvious truth that a pianist has no means at all to control the piano's "tone": she can only hit the keys with greater or lesser force, play concurrent notes more or less legato, and work the pedals at more or less appropriate moments. All the arm-waving and torso-screwing in the world, by your standard melodramatic soloist, cannot alter this simple mechanical fact."



I the Bridgewater Hall, OrrelPostman - it only takes just over an hour from Leeds and I go as often as I can. I probably won't be going to the Lang Lang concert though - I must admit I'm not keen on his style of playing.

I guess this also explains why it is so incredibly easy to play the piano well -- just about anyone can more or less hit the keys and pedal at the right moments. It also explains why all the great solists and amateurs alike sound pretty much the same...

It's all in the definition of 'tone' I suppose.
As long as pieces are more complex than only one key being hit, the fact that the tone of an individual key cannot be altered is rather irrelevant.

Humans are actually tremendously complex creatures.
We not only hear through our ears, but also our eyes.
If you perform experiments of people listening sight unseen to a performer such as Lang Lang versus seeing and hearing him live, very different subjective experiences will be reported. The same goes for those listening to a confident ABRSM student give a complete and generous performance before an audience versus one with sunken shoulders, a frown, fear in the eyes and uncertain, ungraceful movements.

The last concert I was privileged enough to have enjoyed Lang Lang's performance was an unforgettable experience. He literally brought the house down. The virtuosity demonstrated in the Horowitz - Liszt transcriptions was indescribable. Of living virtuosi, only Arcadi Volodos or Marc-Andre Hamelin have impressed me to that extent. His rendition of Schumann's Album for the Young was deeply musical. (And yes, the recording broadcast later was also excellent)

I wouldnt pay tuppence to see Lang Lang whether performing on the piano, or anything else for that matter

I heard him play in Norfolk in a recital as part of 'Music in Country Churches' and he was absolutely fantastic. The audience was spellbound.

I also thought how charming and kind he was to the students in That TV Show We Aren't Allowed to Mention. I think he's so attractive - if I was a few years younger................................
(Though being married to a genius may not be all plain sailing)

I've seen Lang Lang twice. Ignore the remarks about him showing off. His playing is pure passion and brilliance. I've been to hundreds of concerts in my life, all sorts of music, and he is way and above anything else. With that amount of talent I would be leaping around on the piano stool as well. That is a result of how much he puts into the music. Prepare yourself for a fantastic night to cherish for along, long time.

It's amazing to hear the different views that people have on Lang Lang. I just expected everyone
who had seen him, to say he was fantastic.

What did happen to the thread about this? I had to record the final programme, so deliberately didn't look at the last few posts as I didn't want to know the winner beforehand. But then when I went back after watching it, the thread had vanished.

Yes, he was very kind to the students, but I can't say I enjoyed his playing on that occasion - it seemed to be a question of how fast he could play and very little to do with expressing the music.

Until I saw Soph15's link I had never seen Lang Lang play. There's another pianist - Faisal Say -(I hope I've got the name right) who also gesticulates a lot. I've seen him on television - perhaps others have too.

At a serious level it is rather distracting. But I can't see why musicians can't be unstuffy sometimes.

Ditto.

There is just no need for such a display. If he put half the energy into playing that he does into flailing about like a pigeon trapped in a shopping centre then THAT would be something worth listening to.

The real talent is in the pianists like Horowitz, who can convey the emotion through their playing rather than their actions. If you havent seen his performance of the Rachmaninoff 3rd concerto on youtube i suggest you go and find it. He hardly moves at all, but my god what a fantastic performance. And you can watch him comfortably without being afraid he's going to fall off the piano stool. When pianists flail about, the audience are always nervous that they are going to miss a note or collapse at the end of the piece. You want your audience to relax and listen to you.

Listen to Lang Lang on a CD or with your eyes shut and he's not as great as people make out

[quote
Yes, he was very kind to the students, but I can't say I enjoyed his playing on that occasion - it seemed to be a question of how fast he could play and very little to do with expressing the music.
[/quote]


Yes, that's true, but maybe he was trying to lighten the atmosphere and just have a bit of fun as everything had been so serious.

I'd really like to see Lang Lang. Whilst we're on the subject can anybody recommend any good CD's of his?

when i was at Birmingham Conservatoire, i was in the same elevator as him, - at first i wasnt sure if it was him, but then i was - i should have got his autograph but never mind.

In terms of technique i would say that Marc Andre Hamelin or Boris Berezovky would have the edge over him, and yet Hamelin is quite a restrained pianist to watch. Even Liszt was often criticised for his flamboyance and gestures, but i really think you are what you, and you play how you play.... and with Lang Lang aka Bang Bang it's not an act, but just the way he is. Wish i had some of that ability though.

QUOTE:
It's amazing to hear the different views that people have on Lang Lang. I just expected everyone
who had seen him, to say he was fantastic.

---------------------

Interesting that those who wouldn't want to see him in person yet have a strong opinion based ???, never have bothered to see him...

I agree that Lang Lang has a more flamboyant style than an amateur Englishman from the countryside might have, but his movements are indeed functional and serve both technique and the performance. He is a talent and a treat. But perhaps too much for some sensibilities.

Sour grapes perhaps?

I really don't think what anyone said is ''sour grapes'' as these same people probably all have a lot of admiration for other famous pianists, some of whom have as much or more ability then Lang lang. If i could play like Lang Lang and had his repertoire, I 'd be happier then any rich man, but there are other pianists who I'd prefer to listen to.

that hits the nail on the head tbh

I'm really looking forward to my daughter's birthday present to me - seeing Lang Lang at the Royal Festival Hall on Monday. I'll report back after that.

Fazil Say it is. He is a good improvisor and jazz pianist too, (though not sure about his improvisations in the Brahms )

(BTW I've been to his house in Istanbul - now that was a good night )

I wouldn't go and see him.......but then I'm not really a concert goer and I probably wouldn't go and see many people anyway........ But I did enjoy watching him on that programme - yes, he was very kind to the students, and I thought the improvising session on Happy Birthday (or whatever it was they used) was fun.

With regard to VIOLINIST's post, can anyone recommend a good CD of his to buy.

On the whole I agree that Lang Lang is an impeccable musician of incredible talent

he has got excellent technique, expression muscality etc.

However, even though I love his playing, and i acknowledge he IS good, I don't particularly enjoy his body movements. I trust completely that he is feeling the music, but it sometimes seems quite exaggerated. Still, on the other hand, I may be wrong!

His carnegie hall performance was superb!

Well, Lang Lang's performance was absolutely superb last night. His energy is incredible! To anyone who thinks that "Bang Bang" is a suitable name, I'd say go and see him. Yes, he does do some very loud playing, where appropriate, but he can also play incredibly pianissimo, and all degrees of dynamics in between, all very expressively. His programme included Mozart, Schumann, Granados, Liszt and some Chinese pieces - not named in the progmamme - which were exquisite miniatures in varying styles. Magic! His warmth of personality comes over, too and at the end he was happy to shake hands with whoever wanted to as they passed him on their way out - after three encores, yet he seemed to come over as unassuming! I like the way he acknowledges the entire audience - he was effectively "in the round" last night. I couldn't help comparing him with Stephen Gough, whom I saw at the Birmingham Conservatoire last year. He came over as a cold, aloof character and although his playing was technically excellent, it did nothing for me at all. The main thing I remember about him was the fact that he was wearing what appeared to be emerald green carpet slippers! Lang Lang wore a black suit with sparkly collar and edges.

Thanks for the feedback Suepea.

No problem - hope you enjoy the concert in January. I wonder if it is the same programme?

This is what his programme states;

Schubert Piano Sonata No.20 in A, D959
Bartok Sonata for Piano
Debussy Preludes (selection)
Chopin Polonaise No.6 in A flat, 'Heroique'

As I'm a big Debussy fan, I'm really looking forward to that.

I finally got to see Lang Lang last night at the 2008 re-scheduled concert for the
Bridgewater Hall and I’ve got to say, he was absolutely fantastic.
Anyone who hasn’t seen him, I would thoroughly recommend they do so.
I do agree with some earlier posts, he is very passionate about his music and there is
no doubt he is a showman, however, the talent comes shining through.
As I said earlier, I’m a big Debussy fan and enjoyed his selection of Preludes, but the
highlight for me was his playing of Chopin’s Polonaise in A flat major and
Etude no.3 in E.
First Class.

I was there too.
Really enjoyed the concert.