What's wrong with Lang Lang?

[lau]

Why do you guys hate him so much? 

[lisztisforkids]

Why do you guys hate him so much?

I dont hate him, But I definitly dont like him either. I kind of think he fakes his playing and emotions a lot the time. When I watch him play I have a mixture of  and  .

Why do you like him so much?

[mosis]

We hate him because he sucks.

[stevie]

 

[arensky]

We hate him because he sucks.

This is not constructive or informative. WHY does he "suck"? If you're talking about Death Metal this sort of mindless 7th grade grumbling response is acceptable. But this is about higher things, a more advanced plane of musical existence. Please elaborate, we want to know why you feel the way you do. And who do you like? And whether we agree with you or not, we will all learn something in the discussion, hopefully. 

BTW I think Lang Lang is an extraordinary talent, and a much needed breath of fresh air in the largely stuffy world of classical piano, which is choking on it's own inbred conceit. I don't care for a lot of what he does, I HATE his mugging and mannerisms, but you know what? He's invloved, and completely comitted to what he does, he seems to be fused with the piano when he plays. I will be listening to a recording or watching a video, and making the usual clinical evaluation of what I am hearing and seeing, a lot of it is immature and unfocused (just like the young Horowitz), and suddenly, without knowing it, I am caught up in it like I'm in a hurricane, loving it and him, even though mah mature professional musician bad self knows better....better than what? 

Time will tell if Lang Lang will prevail, or wash up on shore like so many talented young performers evantually do, for a variety of reasons. I think he will prevail. In the meantime, enjoy him for what he is, an extraordinary pianist, one of the greatest ever, like him or not. The only thing wrong with Lang Lang is that he is excessive and overboard a lot of the time, and has those faky physical mannerisms. Hey, maybe they're genuine...but I think he does it for effect.

Just close your eyes, listen, don't watch....

[thalbergmad]

I am looking forward to how he plays in 50 years time.

[cherub_rocker1979]

I am looking forward to how he plays in 50 years time.

Me too, I agree with everything that arensky said.

[I Love Xenakis]

I hate lang lang cause he has a unibrow.  That arrogant ***, thinking he doesn't have to worry about his upper facial hair like he's some *** god among mortals.  He makes me sick.

[pita bread]

Anyone who can flail his arms like a kid having a seizure and still get all the notes right in the finale of the Prokofiev 3rd commands respect.

[danyal]

I was looking through a cd store yesterday and came across some or other live recording of his and the 1st track was about a minute long and labelled "applause". I didnt know whether to laugh or throw my hands up and scream at the audacity. I ultimately ended up doing both.

[Siberian Husky]

its difficult for me to admire technical talent..i congradulate..and recognize this talent..but admire it?..i cant..it isnt my choice not to..there is just nothing that draws me to it..his emotional input in music is obviously fabricated to say the least...

[zheer]

1st track was about a minute long and labelled "applause".

           NO way, i would ask for a discount. I might also put the CD calmly on the floor jump in the air and land on the CD with my righ foot.

[danyal]

I might also put the CD calmly on the floor jump in the air and land on the CD with my righ foot.

Tempting, yes, but that would've meant paying for it and thus losing out on the prokofiev concertos I bought instead. Not really worth it.

[harmelodic]

This is not constructive or informative. WHY does he "suck"? If you're talking about Death Metal this sort of mindless 7th grade grumbling response is acceptable. But this is about higher things, a more advanced plane of musical existence. Please elaborate, we want to know why you feel the way you do. And who do you like? And whether we agree with you or not, we will all learn something in the discussion, hopefully. 

BTW I think Lang Lang is an extraordinary talent, and a much needed breath of fresh air in the largely stuffy world of classical piano, which is choking on it's own inbred conceit. I don't care for a lot of what he does, I HATE his mugging and mannerisms, but you know what? He's invloved, and completely comitted to what he does, he seems to be fused with the piano when he plays. I will be listening to a recording or watching a video, and making the usual clinical evaluation of what I am hearing and seeing, a lot of it is immature and unfocused (just like the young Horowitz), and suddenly, without knowing it, I am caught up in it like I'm in a hurricane, loving it and him, even though mah mature professional musician bad self knows better....better than what? 

Time will tell if Lang Lang will prevail, or wash up on shore like so many talented young performers evantually do, for a variety of reasons. I think he will prevail. In the meantime, enjoy him for what he is, an extraordinary pianist, one of the greatest ever, like him or not. The only thing wrong with Lang Lang is that he is excessive and overboard a lot of the time, and has those faky physical mannerisms. Hey, maybe they're genuine...but I think he does it for effect.

Just close your eyes, listen, don't watch....

I saw Lang Lang at a master class recently - beforehand, I've only heard his recordings and never have seen him perform live.

One of the most striking things about him is that he is really young, but at the time very human and geniune.  In his comments he kind of alluded to the fact that his own playing still needs much seasoning, and that in the past he was oftentimes "too wild."  As far as his facial gestures, from what I could observe, they appear geniune.  Even when he was conducting a student, he appeared to be deeply moved by the music.

Also bear in mind he was raised in another culture (non-Western) and that he was also very sheltered as a child.

For myself, the jury is still out and will be for at least another decade or so, but he certainly has all the tools necessary to become one the greats of his era.

[g_s_223]

He has gone up somewhat in my estimation for learning the Tippett Piano Concerto for a live concert performance. This is an exceedingly difficult piece (rhythmically and awkward writing), and it certainly merits an occasional outing.

[lau]

He has gone up somewhat in my estimation for learning the Tippett Piano Concerto for a live concert performance. This is an exceedingly difficult piece (rhythmically and awkward writing), and it certainly merits an occasional outing.

k

[alejo_90]

I was looking through a cd store yesterday and came across some or other live recording of his and the 1st track was about a minute long and labelled "applause".

HAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH What an *** !
HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

[BoliverAllmon]

He has gone up somewhat in my estimation for learning the Tippett Piano Concerto for a live concert performance. This is an exceedingly difficult piece (rhythmically and awkward writing), and it certainly merits an occasional outing.

did he record it?

[contrapunctus]

Lang^2  just cannot seem to stick his head up his @ss as well as other pianists can. It is a shame, really.

[paris]

all of you who're spitting on him, may i ask, how many of you actually have seen him on concert? or even heard his music?

i see a lot of jealousy going around here and comments like ''he makes me sick'' make ME sick. you might not like his music, but there's absolutely no reason for statements such as ''lang lang sucks''..would you mind to explain the part where he..err..sucks?!

speaking of music and talent, he's not just a technician. at all. i've heard him live last monday playing chopin e minor concerto and i can only say if he wasn't great artist he couldn't make me wanna cry. he has his own interpretation of it, which i personally don't have to prefer, but the way he attracts audience to listen him, beautiful tone colours are really breathtaking. his music is so natural, like he sings.
besides, previous comments on his arogancy- i didn't see it at all. in fact, he was very natural and kind, like he's normal guy, just with one tiny little difference....that he's one of the greatest young pianists.


lang lang sucks..
what a silly people..

[zheer]

all of you who're spitting on him, may i ask, how many of you actually have seen him on concert? or even heard his music?

lang lang sucks..
what a silly people..

  I would put LANG LANG in the same ROom as Kissin and Hameline. After listining to LANG LANG at his C  Hall debut and after listining to Kissin when he was in his early 20's play a solo program ay Royal Albert hall in london, i would say Kissin was more heart warming. If you think that LANG LANG is a great Virtuoso, think again , Hameline would show LANG LANG a thing or two about piano playing. No doubt about it these three pianists are great pianists.

[luvslive]

Why must we constantly compare musicians as if music were some sort of competition.  I am grateful for anyone who is able to perform well, I could never stand the constant pressure they are under.  You do have to believe in yourself to get up and perform.  But you should also let the music speak through you.  Maybe Lang Lang has more of himself in his playing than letting the music speak?  Is that what is being said?  Oh and it is silly to have a track of applause, wonder what the thought was behind that..

[e60m5]

I am a Lang Lang fan.

[paris]

  If you think that LANG LANG is a great Virtuoso, think again , Hameline would show LANG LANG a thing or two about piano playing.

so what's your point? i don't have to ''think again'' to know which one i like more. hamelin is also a great pianist with brilliant technique but i find his music a bit shallow. then again, that's just my personal taste. however, there's no need for trying to convince me in something other zheer 

[infectedmushroom]

First, I didn't like Lang Lang so much either, but now I started to listen more to his music and I like it more and more.

I understand if people don't like to see Lang Lang playing, cause of the many expressions on his face while playing. I really had to get "used" to that too, but now I'm fine with it.. Or, just close your eyes and listen to the music. 


Also, I think Lang Lang is funny, look at this video of him:


https://rapidshare.de/files/14738484/Lang_Lang_going_crazy.avi.html


 

[zheer]

Also, I think Lang Lang is funny, look at this video of him:


https://rapidshare.de/files/14738484/Lang_Lang_going_crazy.avi.html
 

  He reminds me of my 8 year old cusin, thats haw he acts around people when he is in a good mood, infact he acts exactly like LAN LANG now that he has a yellwo belt in Karate.

[zheer]

. however, there's no need for trying to convince me in something other zheer 

  What makes you think that i am attempting to convince you in something other, isnt that a little self centerd. 

[citrine_peridot]

I was looking through a cd store yesterday and came across some or other live recording of his and the 1st track was about a minute long and labelled "applause". I didnt know whether to laugh or throw my hands up and scream at the audacity. I ultimately ended up doing both.

the applasue is a communication between the player and performer...  an essential part of a  live performance...

 and audacity? I suppose that you never heard the tracks in those Horowitz 's live  CDs.

if you to use the time to practice piano instead of talking about these silly matters, maybe your technique wouldn't be that *something* ...until then, you can just say those bitter words and let others assume that you have nothing better to do...

I am not a langlang fan by any means， i just think that LL is still very young compare to most pros...there is plenty of time for him to tone down and grow up. In the mean time, I suggest you guys to shut up and practice. (I will do the same thing)

[prometheus]

Applasues kill your ears. They are random noise, terrible. And loud too. Why don't they all write the performer a personal letter and send that.

[stevie]

Applasues kill your ears. They are random noise, terrible. And loud too. Why don't they all write the performer a personal letter and send that.

it sets a vibe, a tone, a luminous erotic hermaphrodite with twin phalli.

[paris]

  What makes you think that i am attempting to convince you in something other, isnt that a little self centerd. 

 

[daniel patschan]

The mindblowing thing about Kissin is that he could already play with the deepest musical impact and technical control at a very early age. Just listen to the Abegg-Variations or the symphonic studies on his Carnegie-Hall CD. This is some of the most fabulous piano playing that exists on record/CD. It is simply not human - he is and has always been a true genius ! A genius in terms of mechanism and musicianship. Lang Lang has also a hair-rising technique (Don Juan, Prok. 3-3); what i am missing is simply to be moved. One gets the feeling that it's not so difficult what he is doing musically (apart from the mechanical component). But more than that, he has sometimes really irritating ideas on how pieces should sound like. In the 3rd Liebestraum he simply ignores, no he destroys the climax. Everytime i listen to Kissin i feel: "99.99999999% of the world population wouldn't be able to play like that, even after 100 years of practice".

[transitional]

I came here to say this:

- Everyone hates his mannerisms (body turning, etc.) but doesn't everyone do that when they play? Lang Lang just does it a lot.
- He plays with emotion, not ridiculously much but it's there. He has amazing technical abilities though, if you value something else, try another musician. Does everyone have such amazing technique? I certainly don't.
- Does NOT fake his emotions. Everyone plays with emotions, whether they think the do or not.
- Somehow this article makes me think higher about him: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/24/arts/music/lang-lang-piano.html
- He can play the black keys etude with an apple in the right hand.
- He can play La Campanella.

Not the biggest Lang Lang fan but he doesn't deserve the criticism he gets. If you're wondering, my favorite pianist is Schnabel.

[ego0720]

I like Lang lang. His expression is his way to remember the song.. everyone has ways to help them journey through the music and that’s his way. One criticism might be his overcommercialism. And he always has to make a professional (ie hard) arrangement of even easy Disney songs. But I watched him on #thepianist.. he seems a really cool guy. He also exercises restraint in criticizing ppl to express themselves.. and I notice as a teacher he focuses more on a person self expression (interpretation) than carping on technicalities. When teaching other pianist I recall back in 2002 ish.. he would say to the student “I’m not as good technically like you but…” as goes on how to make the music yours rather than a contest on execution or playing the song perfectly.

[lelle]

Lang Lang is a skilled pianist but does not play according to my taste. There is nothing objectively wrong with him because there is nothing right or wrong in music, just what you like and what you don't like.

[wankimx3]

I like lang lang too, even though sometimes I feel his interpretations for certain pieces need to be more historically informed.

I also don't get why so many people dislike Lang Lang. My music major classmates in Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, most of them do not like Lang Lang. Even my music theory teacher. I was scratching my head when she said she doesn't like him, and even discourage us to listen to his performances.

.....why? Lang Lang is a very good pianist! I absolutely liked his way of performing, and his exaggerated facial expressions and body movements, to me, is a sign that he's very immersed into the music.

Unlike my classmates who like pianists like Horowitz, Martha Argerich, Mitsuko Uchida and other more "proper" historically informed pianists, I am more interested in Lang Lang, for some reason.

Honestly, I didn't really like those pianists who just perform and they have near to zero facial expressions. When I watch such pianists who just play pieces in a proper way without putting much facial expressions, I tend to get easily bored.

Honestly when so many people hate on Lang Lang, I bet they are hating on him because they think Lang Lang is being "improper" in the "proper" classical music world and they are basically cringing upon his exaggerated facial expressions and body movements as something that is too showy or over the top, and being too improper in the traditional classical music world.

But even though I knew their reasons for disliking him, like being too "improper" and not historically informed, I still find Lang Lang fascinating.

Tbh, my only favourite pianist is Lang Lang. I don't have any other favourite pianist except for him. I honestly find him very versatile. He can play baroque music to modern contemporary like Disney music.

Even though he's not historically informed and not playing in a "proper" way, I still find him intriguing and liked him for being so immersed into every single music that he performs.

He's also versatile due to the fact that he's not just performing in concerts like most proper pianists do, but he also expanded his experiences by participating in Chinese variety shows and even collaborating with my favourite Chinese singer, Zhou Shen.

I don't see anything bad about him. So I don't get why people hate him so much :'(

But I guess music is subjective, and there are people who are going to frown upon the unconventionals of seemingly "improper" pianists. But I won't. I always keep an open mind

[transitional]

This video gives a really unbiased breakdown on Lang Lang's strengths and areas he is weaker at. I fully agree with Barenboim - he plays with amazing passion that sometimes goes a little too far. Great pianist that has tiny faults in specific areas. (Amazing video for tips on the Appassionata 1st as well!)

[ego0720]

I like lang lang too, even though sometimes I feel his interpretations for certain pieces need to be more historically informed.

I also don't get why so many people dislike Lang Lang.

In general, people don’t like change. Also, it seems to follow the same pattern of technical vs entertainment that’s universal.

Lang lang is like David Blaine (street magic). Many magicians hated on him bc, tbh, his first show used many tricks of the average performer one can find in most local magic shops. And he got a strong response from the audience. At that time many experts, accomplished in their own right, still struggle to find what works. Yet here was someone that just bulldozed their way into stardom using average gimmicks. Despite such usage, he’s a fantastic performer and he found his character and theatrics. That is the art of performing. He brought us into a different immersion that wasn’t on stage. He’s the first to open a street performance and that 1) made accessible what was unknown to most 2) freshened up the scene. This was a time when all performance was always on stage and he filled that void of “can this be done on the streets”. Another venue with same dichotomy between “experts” is professional wrestlers (yes wwe). You have a group of technical wrestlers who just don’t get pushed bc their personality doesn’t shine but really good on the mat. They focus on the technicality and they don’t work on the theatrics of the business. Then u get Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson or Stone Cold Steve Austin or John Cena who all are terrible at wrestling but phenomenal microphone skills.. and that’s what brings viewership.

What Lang Lang did was find a way to insert his name into the conversation. He has the global recognition and being a household name. I think where most experts may not get is the business side of mainstream as separate success. It’s not dictated by experts in the field but by the collective perception of the whole (expert and mostly non-experts or laymen) which to be frank is a real unknown as to how that works. Nobody can predict what the next blockbuster would be and Lang Lang did that. The entertainment aspect of showmanship is more important for laymen but distracting to traditionalists. For experts, these are shallow qualities of a technician but that makes big impact on regular joe. Anyways that’s just how the world works not exclusively in piano universe but everywhere else. As an expert it’s silly to be dismissive to the point of invalidation on these types of success. One doesn’t have to like or love Lang Lang but to be neutral and tolerant would be a fair approach than that of negativity. Popularity shouldn’t sway a person one way or another but in Lang Lang case it seems to break the traditional rule of “focus on the piano music” and isolate all other distractions. It goes back.. people don’t like change.

[transitional]

Guys, if you think Lang Lang has crazy mannerisms, take a look at this. Just found out about this person, it's crazy how far it can go. Doesn't even seem natural by this point!

[kosulin]

Nobody takes Lola seriously IMHO. Her short skirts, botox lips, angel wings, etc, are used to attract attention and views to her clips despite her complete lack of musicianship IMO. She is a doll who knows how to hit right keys at the right time.
Lang Lang is definitely a top musician (not great IMO because my list of great pianists is very short and does not include any of 21st century pianists yet). Unfortunately it does not look like he recovered completely, and technically he is more limited that 10-15 years ago. While I cannot watch his video from last years because of his mannerism, I still enjoy many of his earlier recordings a lot.

[transitional]

Exactly! And people say Yuja Wang has crazy dresses. 

Lang Lang, while not the best, is a perfectly capable pianist who can do many things. I don't pay attention to their mannerisms too much, but if it is too crazy like Astanova's and is used to compensate for poor technique or musicianship, then it becomes a problem.

[perfect_pitch]

Nobody takes Lola seriously IMHO. Her short skirts, botox lips, angel wings, etc, are used to attract attention and views to her clips despite her complete lack of musicianship IMO. She is a doll who knows how to hit right keys at the right time.

Maybe, but she ain't as bad as THIS person:

Or the idiotic "I'll stare at the camera multiple times to make it seem like I'm really emotionally invested in the music"...

Every time I watch that I seem to get the same song in my head:

   

[transitional]

Maybe, but she ain't as bad as THIS person:

Gosh, that's crazy. And this one, quite over the top for a Chopin prelude I sightread:

[lostinidlewonder]

People tend to critique those who stand out and have success, why? Because they are failures and feel better to denigrade those with success.

[ravelfan07]

I dont hate him, But I definitly dont like him either. I kind of think he fakes his playing and emotions a lot the time. When I watch him play I have a mixture of  and  .

Why do you like him so much?

He is definitely an over exaggerator, although his playing is usually really good

[transitional]

This thread is making me annoyed. Lang Lang isn't the best, but he's certainly the most overhated pianist out there. IMO his Hungarian Rhapsodies are pretty good and bring out the bravura and excitement these Rhapsodies demand. Also they're much more technical and not too emotionally invested, so while not the best, I think he pulls out the music from 2 and 6 pretty solidly.

https://forums.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/2388924/all/lang-lang-plays-liszt-hungarian-rhapsody-no-2.html

[bryfarr]