A brilliant performance by 26 yr old Lang Lang at last night's proms on BBC4. Mentored by Barenboim this guy has to be one of the most outstanding piano virtuoso's currently on the concert circuit. And what about his little 9 year old protegy Mark, both of them giving short shrift to the Schubert piano sonata for four hands. Simply amazing!

Amazing pianist, but am I the only one who finds the random hand gestures etc annoying?

Thoroughly enjoyed the prom thought the commentators use of the word 'paternal' almost sounded like a Freudian slip little Mark just looks like a little Lang Lang - no insinuation meant there at all, but even their body movements were the same.

Also, what did everyone think of his interpretation of the Mozart? There is no doubting his technical ability, and I really enjoyed it, but did think that if any of us mortal folk tried to get away with that much rubato in Mozart in an exam we would be on dodgy ground.

I liked his playing of the Mozart sonata best. I also enjoyed the two Chinese pieces. It was interesting that young Mark Yu played the whole Schubert Fantasia from memory - the music was for Lang Lang. There was some excellent camerawork on the fingers. All in all a really good recital, the more programmes like this we get, the happier I am to pay my licence fee.

If you watch them carefully - not so random, every single one is timed to perfection and moves at exactly the right speed for him to maintain his pulse and the mood that he is conveying.

Having only recently got my Grade1 I feel very humbled. An oustanding perfromance by both artists.

As Lang Lang matures he is losing some of his earlier youthful exuberance and utter showmanship which I think is serving him better now. I like that he is generally very smiley too when he plays as if he is thoroughly enjoying performing. And young Marc was fantastic - a name to watch for the future I hope.

I felt his Mozart was a little too...well... romantic I suppose, for Mozart - but even so I enjoyed his interpretation which despite this was still convincing (and if I could half as well...etc..).

Looking forward to Znaider's Beethoven now!

Nine years ago I suspect that this program would have been played faster, with a few more mistakes and a lot less artistic depth. Under Barenboim's mentorship he has changed from a brash teenager with buckets of technical bravura into a performer of great art. Close your eyes and ignore the body language - just listen. Not only is he a performer but he in turn is mentoring that 9 year old - three cheers for that. Also, aren't those Chinese pieces his own arrangements - the Bartok of Beijing perhaps?

That was a great Sibelius 2 from the Gustav Mahler Youth Orch under Sir Colin Davis last night, though co-ordination as they slipped into last movement from the third was a bit dodgy, maybe they werent watching him. Now I know we have had threads about 'movers and shakers' type of players, but some of them in the orchestra made you dizzy just watching!. In particular the principal flute (with piled up red hair) , principal clarinet, and principal oboe. They appeared to me to me showing off somewhat knowing the camera would be on them at the solo bits !

I was particularly impressed with the bassoonist.

And had Znaider had a perm? I don't remember his hair being that curly last time I saw him. Wonderful concert though. This was the one I would have gone to if I had felt OK, so glad it was on TV.

No-one ever doubted the ability - his Mozart K311 has always been stunning - but then - he has always sat still to play it - not like when he was mudering Liszt's compositions. Has he completely stopped jumping up and down on the piano stool then?

Let's hope that he re-records the second Hungarian Rhapsody, and that this time takes a bit longer than eight and a half minutes over it.

While I don't always like or approve of some pianists' interpretations of what they play, I must say I find it interesting to hear how they differ. If we were all to be academic about everything we might as well just plonk for a 'definitive performance' - possibly enhanced - on cd, and listen only to that. I've played slow Haydn and Mozart movements - and Bach - and found myself wanting to romanticise a little - in the best possible taste, of course - but then, who's to say my taste is the same as somebody else's? I didn't see last night's Proms, unfortunately, and can't comment specifically about Lang Lang's performance there; I must admit, though, that I usually prefer the likes of Angela Hewitt. But variety is the spice of life - and I wish I had a fraction of Lang Lang's talent and obvious appeal!

I just cannot stand Lang Lang, I want to turn off when he appears. Same reason as I cant stand Wayne Marshall . Plays most things far to fast for 'show'.

Is it his appearance you don't like or his interpretation eg if you heard a recording of his without knowing who it was - would you still turn it off?

I have to say he has lost a lot of his earlier flamboyance as he matures. And I have always thought him a wonderful musician on many levels.

I take your point, Ive ony usually seen him on television, so maybe I should try a recording. Wayne Marshall on the organ I can spot a mile off from a recording.

I was just thinking this. I've only ever seen him on TV and I usually end up in fits of laughter when I watch his "over the top" performances. I always end up watching him but never really listen to his music. Next on my "to-do" list...get a CD from Lang Lang....

I was lucky enough to see the Prom live at the weekend and it was truly wonderful to be in the hall, the atmosphere was extraordinary.

Tasha

I've just watched the recording.. I was wondering how they managed to get the audience to be so quiet between movemments, and to wait at the end of a piece without bursting in straight away beore the last note's died away? Was there an announcement ? Or a man with a placard saying' Don't clap YET'? Perhaps Tasha can tell us.

Overall, I enjoyed it more than I thought I was going to, tho' I'm never going to like that particular Liszt transcription.

We were a very well behaved audience and clapped at the appropriate moment.

You certainly were - probably the best all season ( apart from the slight ripple before the Polonaise) . I was just curious as to how this minor miracle was achieved.

As it was broadcast about an hour and a half after the concert, I suspect our bad behaviour was edited out. The actual concert was two hours long without an interval. Those of you who watched it on TV would not have seen the encore either.