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| LANG LANG: CHINESE MIRACLE |
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Chinese pianist. At age 26, Lang is one of the most famous classical
musicians in the world today. He has crossed continents several times and
performed in numerous cities around the world. His concerts usually sell
out. He has sold more than a million copies of his CDs and videos.
Lang performed in Tiananmen Square to celebrate the one-year countdown
to the Benijing Olimpic Games, he was a focus point of the Olimpic Games
opening ceremonies. One of the official pandas of the Benijing Olimpic
Games has been named after Lang.
musicians in the world today. He has crossed continents several times and
performed in numerous cities around the world. His concerts usually sell
out. He has sold more than a million copies of his CDs and videos.
Lang performed in Tiananmen Square to celebrate the one-year countdown
to the Benijing Olimpic Games, he was a focus point of the Olimpic Games
opening ceremonies. One of the official pandas of the Benijing Olimpic
Games has been named after Lang.
was concentrated on their single beloved one. Lang’s parents were sure their son would become the No.1 pianist in
China, and they were ready to do “whatever it takes” to see their dreams come true.
They paid half a year wages to buy an upright piano, and before Lang’s second birthday he started practicing music.
He began lessons at the age of three with Professor Zhu Ya-Fen. At the age of five, he won the Shenyang Piano
Competition and played his first public recital. When Lang was 9, he and his father moved from Shenyang to Beijing.
Lang’s mother stayed at home and kept her job to support the family. Lang started even more intense practicing to
enter Beijing’s Central Music Conservatory. Miserable life conditions, endless hours of practice, and his father’s
obsession with Lang’s future carrier pushed Lang beyond despair. In his autobiography “Journey of a Thousand
Miles” he described that part of his life especially vivid. Lang was accepted at the Beijing’s Conservatory.
He went on to win first prize at the Tchaikovsky International Young Musicians Competition and played the complete
24 Etudes of Chopin at the Beijing Concert Hall at 13.
When Lang was 15, he left China and, with his father, came to America to study at the Curtis Institute, a training
ground for the Philadelphia Orchestra. Lang, like all other students got his own Steinway grand in his room and a
full scholarship. (Later on, as a result of Lang’s enormous popularity with children, Steinway created the “Lang Lang
Steinway” designed for the early musical education of children. This is the first time Steinway has used an artist’s
name to produce pianos in it’s 150 year history).
China, and they were ready to do “whatever it takes” to see their dreams come true.
They paid half a year wages to buy an upright piano, and before Lang’s second birthday he started practicing music.
He began lessons at the age of three with Professor Zhu Ya-Fen. At the age of five, he won the Shenyang Piano
Competition and played his first public recital. When Lang was 9, he and his father moved from Shenyang to Beijing.
Lang’s mother stayed at home and kept her job to support the family. Lang started even more intense practicing to
enter Beijing’s Central Music Conservatory. Miserable life conditions, endless hours of practice, and his father’s
obsession with Lang’s future carrier pushed Lang beyond despair. In his autobiography “Journey of a Thousand
Miles” he described that part of his life especially vivid. Lang was accepted at the Beijing’s Conservatory.
He went on to win first prize at the Tchaikovsky International Young Musicians Competition and played the complete
24 Etudes of Chopin at the Beijing Concert Hall at 13.
When Lang was 15, he left China and, with his father, came to America to study at the Curtis Institute, a training
ground for the Philadelphia Orchestra. Lang, like all other students got his own Steinway grand in his room and a
full scholarship. (Later on, as a result of Lang’s enormous popularity with children, Steinway created the “Lang Lang
Steinway” designed for the early musical education of children. This is the first time Steinway has used an artist’s
name to produce pianos in it’s 150 year history).
Lang Lang During during the 50th Grammy Awards.
The photograph is courtesy of www.langlang.com
The photograph is courtesy of www.langlang.com
Lang Lang was born in 1982 in Shenyang. His father was a talented
musician who played the erhu, but was thwarted by Chinese
Cultural Revolution and worked as a police officer in Shenyang's
entertainment district. Lang’s mother, Xiulan, was former dancer, but
worked as a telephone operator. Combined family income was two
hundred dollars a month. The three lived in a small apartment
without heat on a local air-force base.
In the 80s Chinese government promoted “one-child policy” to curb
the population boom. As a result most of the families’s attention
musician who played the erhu, but was thwarted by Chinese
Cultural Revolution and worked as a police officer in Shenyang's
entertainment district. Lang’s mother, Xiulan, was former dancer, but
worked as a telephone operator. Combined family income was two
hundred dollars a month. The three lived in a small apartment
without heat on a local air-force base.
In the 80s Chinese government promoted “one-child policy” to curb
the population boom. As a result most of the families’s attention
At 17, Lang was asked to fill in for
Andre Watts during the summer
Ravinia Festival, in Chicago , who
was scheduled but was not able to
perform. His performance of
Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1 in
a long and a brilliant career” (Isaac
Stern).
Lang went to sleep at 6 a.m., and
literally woke into his new life.
When Lang turned eighteen, he
bought a house in Philadelphia for
about half a million dollars.
In 2004, he was appointed
International Goodwill Ambassador
to the United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF).
Andre Watts during the summer
Ravinia Festival, in Chicago , who
was scheduled but was not able to
perform. His performance of
Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1 in
a long and a brilliant career” (Isaac
Stern).
Lang went to sleep at 6 a.m., and
literally woke into his new life.
When Lang turned eighteen, he
bought a house in Philadelphia for
about half a million dollars.
In 2004, he was appointed
International Goodwill Ambassador
to the United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF).
Lang Lang and Schiller performing "Time for Dreams" at the ZDF EM2008 show.
visit www.schiller-tv.com