new lang lang video - have your say

[palika dunno]

For people who want real music with dept, passion and deep personal interpretations, try zimerman, pogorelich, horowitz, richter, andsnes, and so on.

If you want some circusy, showy music, try lang lang.

randomly, *** u 
had to be said, sorry 

[nicco]

randomly, *** u 
had to be said, sorry 

yeye, i know i get some enemies by saying this, but its just my opinion. Im sure lang lang is a cool guy and all but i just dont like him very much. Its a matter of taste really.

[palika dunno]

 a matter of sucky taste to be exact 
haha, no let everyone have his own taste....but...
 

[airasia]

first of all, dont go around calling people insecure piano wannabes before you know who you are talking to. I have both seen and heard enough of lang lang to make my opinion on him. I have wieved over 200 videos of different musicians and have around 100 GB with Mp3 on my PC, so my foundation of comparison is well founded. I am not judging him by this piece alone, but all the things i have heard of him, mozart sonatas, liszt don juan, things i have heard so much better from other pianists. This piece though imo does truly show what lang lang is. Im sure you can understand what i mean.

my apologies, but even though i quoted you it wasn't directed toward you, but the general feel i get from all these lang lang haters.

[yuc4h]

There was absolutely no musicality at all. The greatest waste of technique I have ever seen, sorry. If this would have been an mp3 recording, there would have been absolutely nothing to enjoy about. Now, this is more like eye candy (better to turn speakers off tbh)

Just listen to Hamelin's performance of Hungarian rhapsody no.2

[crazy for ivan moravec]

ah, even if i hate his playing that much, i still give him the time to enjoy his prodigious technique for now. there will come a time that he'll need to tame down and get  serious, not for his sake, nor for his listeners, but for music. his fame and fans should only be secondary factors to keep him going.

"serious" here means not allowing himself to be controlled by his crazy managers. i know for a fact that he says it himself that he's just doing too much of those concerts and that he can't do anything about it.

the problem is, he never had that difficulty with anything technical at all and the temptation is to rely on this "power" to make him succeed. and succeed does he, but not in a long time if he lets it take over him.

sorry to say, but those we call the music "elitists" are simply not elitists because they want to be perceived that way, but simply because music is first and foremost an art they value so much. and we need people like these to keep the masters' music alive.

but i just hope LL will mature. it doesn't have to be anytime soon. i give him 10-20 years. i'd be very excited to hear him by then, with such technique, whoa!

[houseofblackleaves]

The audio didn't exactly do this peice justice.



I bet that if we were actually there LISTENING to it, it would be much easier to listen to.  Then again... that's how it ALWAYS is.  I'm impressed, but it's not neccisarily the best piano video I've seen.

Definatly not LangLang's best either.

[rohansahai]

I concur. It made my goose pimples prominent .... serves the purpose.

[arensky]

insanely good.


Yeah it's too fast he rushes and distorts, it's shredder piano. And yet there's the subito piano, played with grace and lightness, the prresssitttisssimmmoooo scales, clear as Michelangeli, and several other nice touches. Then he slugs the piano and kind of ruins it but my god... the energy, power and command he has. A critic once said of the young Moriz Rosenthal, "such impetuosity may well subside with the years, as it did with Liszt and Tausig." I think that's what will happen here; at least I hope so.

For all the faults, I have to give him the top rating.

[jspash]

i've decided to have another go at watching this video after reading other people's opinions and here are my conclusions:

Watching video with no sound: Wonderful! Hilarious!
Listening to sound WITHOUT watching: My cat makes better music when she runs across the keys
Watching video with sound: I still don't understand the appeal of this guy, but i'll give him yet another chance because so many people here seem to like him. I would love to hire him to entertain at a party. What do you think his hourly rate is? ha ha

[henrah]

Yes I agree with you saying that it's a piece for watching and really listening.

This is a prime example of a piece you can watch without sound and not get bored, Hamelin's version is a prime example of something you can listen to and watch at the same time and not get bored, and Pogorelich playing Brahms Capriccio in F#minor is a prime example of something you can listen to without watching and not get bored. However, just listening to L.L's interpretation isn't the most fun thing to do, and the same goes for just watching Pogorelich's Brahms. I found this out through seeing Paul Lewis play Beethoven sonatas in Oxford. In the last one he played the Hammerklavier, which at points is impressive to watch (and listen to for that matter), but at other points I was getting bored and fidgety from watching him so I laid back, closed my eyes and listened instead. Let me say that it absolutely transformed the sound for me, as I was concentrating soley on that and nothing else. My what a great performer he is.

Some pieces are better for listening than watching, whilst others are better for watching than listening. And some fall into both categories, which Imho is Hamelin's Hungarian Rhapsody No.2.
Henrah

[elevateme]

well, its crap music, so i think he plays it really well.

if you think hes uncapable of playing musically, try listening to his chopin or something

[airasia]

There was absolutely no musicality at all. The greatest waste of technique I have ever seen, sorry. If this would have been an mp3 recording, there would have been absolutely nothing to enjoy about. Now, this is more like eye candy (better to turn speakers off tbh)

Just listen to Hamelin's performance of Hungarian rhapsody no.2

Are you and the others that are comparing this to Hamelin sure that you've heard Hamelin play the same Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 as in this video?  Cause this one definitely is not your average HR no. 2

[henrah]

That's the thing Airasia, they are talking about interpretation. They are comparing Hamelin's interpretation to Lang Lang's, or rather Horowitz's as someone said he was playing that.

Hamelin's cadenza can be mildly compared to L.L's performance, in terms of showing of technique; but in musicality, Hamelin comes out on top Imho.

But what some people here must realise is that this is my opinion, and others' opinions are their own. There are too many people belittling others on this forum for having an opinion different to there own, and making statements such as 'If you didn't like Richter, you're an arse wipe' etc etc. I just hope we can all pass this level of immaturity and take other peoples opinions with a bit of sugar and really think about why they might think that and their reasons behind it. Then you can truly understand why they like it that way, and why you do another way, and we can all live happily ever after.


Or atleast we could, but alas such is life...
Henrah

[jas]

I think it's just a hellish racket. Incredible technique, but he's like a kid with a toy. There's something very likeable about him, though. I suppose it's hard to dislike anyone who would jump up from a piano in the middle of a piece and demonstrate how it should go by doing all these mad computer game moves.

It kind of reminds me about what Heine said when he heard Dreyschock play, that you don't so much hear Dreyschock as "drei schock" of pianists. (Schock = a score, ie. 20)

Jas

[donjuan]

I suppose it's hard to dislike anyone who would jump up from a piano in the middle of a piece and demonstrate how it should go by doing all these mad computer game moves.

HADOKEN!! HADOKEN!! HADOKEN!!

[airasia]

That's the thing Airasia, they are talking about interpretation. They are comparing Hamelin's interpretation to Lang Lang's, or rather Horowitz's as someone said he was playing that.

Hamelin's cadenza can be mildly compared to L.L's performance, in terms of showing of technique; but in musicality, Hamelin comes out on top Imho.

But what some people here must realise is that this is my opinion, and others' opinions are their own. There are too many people belittling others on this forum for having an opinion different to there own, and making statements such as 'If you didn't like Richter, you're an arse wipe' etc etc. I just hope we can all pass this level of immaturity and take other peoples opinions with a bit of sugar and really think about why they might think that and their reasons behind it. Then you can truly understand why they like it that way, and why you do another way, and we can all live happily ever after.


Or atleast we could, but alas such is life...
Henrah

I totally agree with you for the most part, about understanding where people come from and everything, but I think you missed what I was saying.  My point was that this is a very different piece notewise than Hungarian Rhapsody no. 2.  I'm not talking about interpretation, but the piece itself.  We've never seen Hamelin play the same piece that Lang Lang just played so I'm saying that the people comparing Hamelin's HR (the regular one) interpretation with this one don't make sense.  I think (am not sure) this is the Horowitz transcription, so if you've heard Horowitz play it and think his is much better, then fine i don't care, but i'm saying you can't compare an interpretation of this piece to an interpretation of the original HR no. 2, which people are doing.

[henrah]

Right right, I see now. True true.

Don: eheheh, I'd love to be able to choose Lang Lang in a streetfighter match

[houseofblackleaves]

I just found another one that I haven't seen yet.

[emmdoubleew]

Hhahaha Don Juan's legendary post.

[jason2711]

I can't watch lang lang, though I find his performances of much calmer works to be very 'musical' (its an abstract term, but appropriate for this occasion).  That liebestraume video and the one someone posted on another thread of him playing the chopin nocturne opus 27/2 are good examples of this

I think when he gets to pieces like the hungarian rhapsody number 2, he looks more for the bravado in them than for any emotional content.  It does feel like a showy (and perhaps cheesy) piece, so maybe his interpretation may have merits.  I found it sufficiently crazy, though maybe a little harsh on the piano

[donjuan]

I can't watch lang lang, though I find his performances of much calmer works to be very 'musical' (its an abstract term, but appropriate for this occasion).  That liebestraume video and the one someone posted on another thread of him playing the chopin nocturne opus 27/2 are good examples of this

yes, he is 'musical' in the sense that if you were to translate what he plays into english, it would sound like:

"ooooohhhh I'm lang lang so MUUUUUUSICAL aaaaaaahhhhhooooo i got the tai chi moves too so MUUUUUSSICAALLL  yessss I can f^%k you in the ear with this piano Im so MUUUUUSSSICAAAALLLLLLLoooooohadoken!!oooohadoken!!ooo..."

Compared to Benno Moiseiwitsch or Artur Rubinstein, who focus on making the music what it should be -nothing more-  Lang Lang likes to show us all how to make himself look more 'musical'.. people say 'oh he's so musical' --> he isn't.  He clearly doesn't understand a *** thing about the music itself.  All he showed me in that liebestraume video is how badly he suffers from premature ejaculation and is still trying to perfect the squeeze-hold method on stage.

[zheer]

After watching the video of LANG LANG, it is obvious that he has a physical approach to piano playing like a drumer, un-like many of the other pianists we have grown to appreciate.

[henrah]

After watching the video of LANG LANG, it is obvious that he has a physical approach to piano playing like a drumer, un-like many of the other pianists we have grown to appreciate.

But technically the piano is a rhythm instrument regarding the way the notes are played.

But that nocturne he played at his carnegie debut was lovely, and in no way drummer like. In fact I'd love to hear a drummers version of that nocturn, though would get pretty boring due to the repetitive rhythm It's the notes that make it...
Henrah

[lisztisforkids]

Wow..That sounded like mud was in the piano. 

[lisztisforkids]

My God. He's absolutley disgusting.

[mila5405]

Alla videos by Lang Lang are wounderfull ,,
i think that Lang Lang is greatest pianist after Ashkenazy..

[what]

I don'tg know much about him, is he trying to be demonstrative or is that just the way in which he chooses to approach piano? Anyway, it's not bad, though I can't bring myself to watch for very long.

[henrah]

I think he's trying to make classical music more accessible. If you were to here exactly what he's playing in exactly the same way, but by an extremely introvert pianist who doesn't even move when there are loud chords like that (basically a statue other than their arms and hands) it would be extremely boring. Therefore he is adding another dimension to his playing, as it is the watching of him that is interesting.

I also think he's making it more accessible by exaggerating his emotions, thus making it obviously clear to the audience rather than having to rely on the musically intelligent to decipher what the music is saying. This is why I'm thinking that he is playing for the audience, where many pianists play for themselves and merely allow the audience to watch and listen.

[haarmonika]

.

[franz_]

When you see Lang Lang playing, you are asking yourself if you still want to play the piano. It becomes dangereous likes he play it. 1 big bang with his head against the piano and it's over with Long Dong.
I have no problems with his insane expressions, but I don't like the music he makes, maybe due to that.

&search=lang%20lang%20liszt
Another video with him and his Mister Bean axpressions. Although, his does some nice things.

&search=lang%20lang%20liszt
Schumann's Traumerei

&search=lang%20lang%20piano
Nocturne Chopin Op. 27/2

&search=lang%20lang%20piano
Schumann: Abegg Variations

&search=lang%20lang%20piano
Lond Dong with a violinist

&search=lang%20lang%20piano
This one you MUST have seen. Interesting to understand his point of view. You can see how crazy he is.

[quantum]

The vulgarity of how he bangs it out is so soothing!!!!

Must great musicality always equal refined playing?  I would rather it connote the insight of when to be refined, and when to be recklesly wild with abandon. 

FURY is beautiful.

[stevie]

The vulgarity of how he bangs it out is so soothing!!!!

Must great musicality always equal refined playing?  I would rather it connote the insight of when to be refined, and when to be recklesly wild with abandon. 

FURY is beautiful.

u is enlightened, u haf zeen da light, zmooth.

[airasia]

The vulgarity of how he bangs it out is so soothing!!!!

Must great musicality always equal refined playing?  I would rather it connote the insight of when to be refined, and when to be recklesly wild with abandon. 

FURY is beautiful.

agree 100%, smartest thing someone's said here in a while

[alejo_90]

Lang Lang's HR2 sucks.
Lang Lang's Rach 3 is worse than Helfgott's.
Lang Lang's Don Juan is awful.

I think Mr. Lang Lang has a very weird and exaggerated use of rubato, and a very hard tone.

Best
Alex

[airasia]

Lang Lang's HR2 sucks.
Lang Lang's Rach 3 is worse than Helfgott's.
Lang Lang's Don Juan is awful.

I think Mr. Lang Lang has a very weird and exaggerated use of rubato, and a very hard tone.

Best
Alex

Like quantum said, a very hard tone can be beautiful when the music calls for it.

[donjuan]

Like quantum said, a very hard tone can be beautiful when the music calls for it.

but this is Liszt, not prokofiev.

[stevie]

but this is Liszt, not prokofiev.

hahahahaa, ic?

[henrah]

So Liszt isn't allowed a hard tone when it's needed, and Prokoviev must be played with a hard tone all the time?

Or maybe I'm getting the wrong end of the stick...




... but what stick??

Randomly
Henrah