Lang Lang (I like him) -- Summit Meeting with Barenboim in PS blog

[m19834]

Firstly, super cool that the blog exists here on PS, and that this youtube video has been posted there !  It's a pretty great video in my opinion, perhaps for several reasons, one of the main ones being that I am currently working on the Appassionata, as well (and I really love the piece).

I wanted to start this thread though because I hate to say it, but I actually really like Lang Lang himself so far as I watch him on videos.  Obviously I don't actually know him in person, but what I see of him in some of the things I have watched (a few months ago I watched some series on him that was maybe a 14(?) part interview with him), I think he's kind of a cool guy  .

So far my take on him is that he is this kinda normal, or somehow down to earth guy, who is young in life, but especially young at heart, who has a good facility at the instrument, and his zest for life comes through in his artistry.  One of the biggest things that people say regarding him though is that his artistry is lacking ... in some sense, that might be true (though I don't actually think I am one to judge at this point), but at the same time it is actually representative of his own level of being as it currently is.  If I could say it, in some respect he doesn't seem ALL that different than many individuals out there working their buns off in the practice rooms, having great hands, great fingers, so on and so forth.  Maybe that's part of why people don't want to like him. 

In some respect, that's not really his fault though.  He just happened to get in the spotlight, and he just happens to truly love that life in a sort of boyish way.  I don't know, I think he's kinda cute ... hee hee.  Has anybody seen the movie "Truman Show" ?  It stars Jim Carey as an individual whose world was literally created around him.  He is the only one in the world who doesn't know that he lives inside of a man-made world, and the rest of the world watches him on TV since he was an infant. 

Somehow Lang Lang strikes me as being in a similar situation.  He is perhaps not the seasoned artist that some of the vintage players and legends are or have been to us, but these are different times.  We just happen to have this public figure in Lang Lang where we will have the opportunity to see his phases of development and growth, and he as a person seems compelling enough that people are unwittingly charmed. 

I guess there just seems like something about him as a person that is a bit of a breath of fresh air.  Even though Lang Lang is in the middle of the whole scene that reportedly made Duchable throw his own piano into a lake, and even though Lang Lang seems to enjoy it, I guess what strikes me is that he seems like a boy who is just at home in it in somehow an innocent yet deeper way than individuals "out there" whom are just trying to get their foot in the door by charming the right people, and saying the "right things" whenever they get the chance.

Probably everything in Lang Lang's life could disappear tomorrow and what he is doing may be living a bit of a dream, but somehow I think he knows that.  It's like he is on a wave and has simply chosen to ride it, with critics and fans watching ... and all.  That takes guts.

While I know that what artists are "supposed" to be doing as Classical Piano artists is expressing the music in a rich and artful way, and perhaps Lang Lang's playing can be criticised as lacking that, artists are also "supposed" to just be themself.  And, even if Lang Lang's gestures may seem like they are sometimes a bit contrived, in the bigger arch in life, by chance, we just happen to be seeing him at a time where he believes that's the right thing to be doing.

Well, mainly, I wanted to finally say that I kinda like Lang Lang ... hee hee.  Bye !

[db05]

I like him too. 
Lang Lang is mine mine! 

[olszewski]

.

[opus10no2]

Lang Lang is talented, hard working, and a great promoter of music.

I feel that people speak badly of him out of resentment for his fame and position as the 'biggest thing in classical music'.

Does his talent justify this? On a purely musical level ; no, there are perhaps hundreds of young instrumentalists worldwide with as much musical ability.

But the difference is, he is entering popular culture, and to be in the position he is demands a unique personality.

He has the personality(and the promotional backing behind him) to reach to a wider audience and compell them to give the music a shot.

[olszewski]

.

[m19834]

However, I have to say I don't care for his playing at all. Why? To be honest, his gestures at the piano don't bother me. Young pianists since Liszt have been labeled as showmen and Liberace's', but as long as these gestures don't conflict with the music, I see no problem. What does bother me are his excessive exaggerations.

Yeah, I just have to quickly say that when I commented on his gestures, I didn't mean to say that this aspect of his playing is the thing that makes him or his artistry unmusical.  That is just one aspect of him and his playing that tends to get cast under critique.

[olszewski]

.

[shingo]

I agree with K here, there is that 'down to earth' aspect to him, another aspect for which I admire him is his willingnesss to teach and help others out. He makes a good point in one of his interviews when he says that although people should serious towards music and thus a serious musician, you don't have to be a serious person in life.

If anyone hasn't watched 'Lang Lang: Dragon Songs' yet I reccomend they do. It's a great documentary about him returning to China and has some information on his childhood etc. After hearing so much dislike of him on here a few years ago I decided to find out about him and this really made an impression on me.

[m19834]

Thanks shingo, for seeing the point of what I was writing.  It must have been the documentary that you are talking about which I had watched.  I don't remember how I found it myself, but out of curiousity I just kind of started to watch like number three or something, and I found myself deciding to watch the entire thing from the beginning... hee hee.  I have to admit, I became a bit entranced and his character as a person is what made me want to watch more.

I actually thought it was a *very* interesting documentary in *many* ways.  Firstly, it was of course interesting to find out more about him.  But, it was interesting to watch him being hailed by the producers as a kind of piano/music hero (at least how the whole documentary was set, this is how Lang Lang ends up coming accross anyway), when I know that people whom have been in the profession for a long time would not view him that way.  Obviously there was something about those whom don't know music inside and out the same way that some artists might, those individuals really don't know the difference and really do see what he is doing as an utmost success within the field.

Also, within in the documentary that you are talking about, it does show him giving masterclasses and lessons to others who are so incredibly inspired by him that they have a form of worship for him. 

At some point, the narrator (or whatever he would be called) made a comment about Lang Lang's earlier teachers not being sure he had the talent to have a career in piano.  The commentator (maybe that's the better word) said this in a tone of voice that indicates that those teachers were incredibly wrong for thinking that, as though the commentator were kind of making fun of those teachers for thinking that.  The thing is, those teachers were both right AND wrong ... hee hee.  And, so is the commentator ... hee hee.  I guess I just saw this little instance as a sign of the times or so.

Does Lang Lang have the artistry of some of the "greats" ... in my humble opinion, I would say probably not.  That USED to be one aspect that defined the kind of career that somebody like Horowitz had (though of course, his playing can be and is ripped apart by people as well).  So, in that respect, no, perhaps Lang Lang wasn't fit for the kind of career that people used to have.  Lang Lang, though, is perfectly fit for the exact kind of career he DOES have, and to the less cultured or less experienced in the business concert-goer, the career Lang Lang has is on par with the kind of career that somebody like Horowitz had.  Those careers aren't the same though, really.

Part of what I found interesting about the video in the blog here on PS is that Lang Lang was willing to put himself in the position of the student, in the hands of Barenboim, even in broadcast.  Though Barenboim probably has critics as well, it is probably appropriate that Lang Lang were the one being coached and Barenboim were the one coaching ... in that situation.  However, Lang Lang's reputation amongst the population he has reached through his playing would probably put him on the same level as Barenboim, since perhaps many people woulnd't know the difference really between their playing.  If you see what I mean.

I think that the fact that Lang Lang was willing to be put in that situation says something about his kind of character, and about his actual love for what he does.  That is where sometimes he seems to have a kind of boyish charm, even to me, who is not as knowing as it gets when it comes to artistry, but I am not as unknowing as it gets, either.

[olszewski]

.

[m19834]

I think, to have somebody like Lang Lang hailed by so many as an artist that he is or is not, but treated by the world in large as the same kind of piano hero as an artist like Horowitz, for example, and then to have a rush of people interested suddenly in classical music and the piano itself in a way that has never been before ... well, in a way it makes certain facets of the art more important as well as potentially more complicated, too.

In some sense, having a rush of people interested in piano and classical music like never before, yet having them not understand the difference between somebody like Horowitz and somebody like Lang Lang, is nearly missing the point of having people interested in classical music and the piano at all.  And, I think that this is kind of the main challenge now for the art and for the field in general.  Basically, what are we going to do about that ? 

There is so much information now out there, so many opinions, so many seemingly different ways to go about things ... the idea of subjectivity has become one of the most valued elements of "artistry" to many people.  There is almost becoming a kind of division, in a sense, within the field.  There is Pop Classical piano, and then traditional classical piano.  There are those things which have been passed down through generations, preserved within the mentor/apprentice relationships, and then there is everything else.  While I am not currently judging, I do think that this is generally how many people think.  

Okay, NOW I go back to piano .

[iroveashe]

He's not the greatest artist ever but I like him too, I really don't understand why people hate him. More than the technique I admire the joy he seems to get while playing. I also want to mention I love the Barenboim masterclass, and I think Lang Lang is one of the best pianists in all of that cycle of Beethoven Sonatas masterclasses.

Has anybody seen the movie "Truman Show" ?  It stars Jim Carey as an individual whose world was literally created around him.  He is the only one in the world who doesn't know that he lives inside of a man-made world, and the rest of the world watches him on TV since he was an infant.

Great film in my opinion, and the thought of Jim Carrey playing the piano Lang Lang-style with silly and exaggerated expressions makes me giggle.

[m19834]

Can someone please link this documentary?

I am trying to find it on youtube, I am just assuming it was the "dragon song" one that shingo mentioned, but I don't recall.  So far I can't quite find what I am looking for.  If I find it I will come back and post the link !

[opus10no2]

The point made above regarding whether the average novice music listener would prefer an established great pianist's playing on a purely musical level is interesting.

Sublety is the key difference, and is a less subtle performance a good way for people to get into a more subtle form of music?

It depends on the individual, but I'd be inclined to say yes.

[olszewski]

.

[m19834]

Is it this one perhaps, titled "Memory"?

heh ... no, that wasn't the one, and I figured it out shortly into the video, and decided to turn it off and go take my shower like I am SUPPOSED to be doing, but then a few fascinated minutes later, I found myself sitting there watching it still, only remembering that I was going to turn it off and go take a shower.  And then, I started wondering why I couldn't stop watching him and I wanted to turn it off again but watched the whole thing ... ha ha.  Sorry !  I don't know what the deal is !  For some reason I really like him a lot  .

[opus10no2]

Lang Lang and Karli, sitting in a tree.. 

[m19834]

Noooo, there's no tree  .  My crush is only this big :  |      |

Crush on Lang Lang

|       |  = 7 space crush
|       |

compared to a possible

|                                                                                                       |
|                                                                                                       |

= 103 space crush

[iroveashe]

For some reason I really like him a lot  .

Maybe it's the way he talks?

[db05]

Noooo, there's no tree  .  My crush is only this big :  |      |

Crush on Lang Lang

|       |  = 7 space crush
|       |

Crush on Karli:  |                       |  = 23 spaces
Crush on m1469: |                                                    | = 52 spaces

You can still catch up.

PS. I would gladly sit on a tree with you, but wouldn't a sofa be more comfortable?

[m19834]

Db, sorry, but you're more or less just a character in the forum whom I don't feel I can take seriously.  Anyway, I actually don't care if you like M. "better" or if you actually like any portion of who I am  .  And, btw, I thought you were moving on  .  Generally, yes, sofas are more comfortable, but you're not who I would imagine sitting there with  .  Now leave me alone.

[db05]

Db, sorry, but you're more or less just a character on the screen and in the forum, like a lot of other screen names are.  Anyway, I actually don't care if you like m1469 or any portion of who I am  .  And, btw, I thought you were moving on  .  Generally, yes, sofas are more comfortable, but you're not who I would imagine sitting there with  .  Now leave me alone.

What's that " " for?
I thought you were starting to get fun, but you're being serious on me. 

Db, sorry, but you're more or less just a character in the forum whom I don't feel I can take seriously.

Then why are you taking this seriously?

*is confused*

[m19834]

F*ck off.

[db05]

F*ck off.

Hey, just trying to get along and not be too serious.   
What's up with that?

[concerto_love]

Humm, yah well. I like Lang-Lang too and I have read his bio in kino  .


Cai really is Lang-Lang's sister!! 

[pianowolfi]

I really like this 

[csharp_minor]

^ I liked that too he performed that at the Proms last year, I enjoyed all his performances hes very relaxed at the piano he makes it look so easy. So personally I don’t mind Lang Lang either, he can get a bit over the top at times and that could I guess make him seem ‘fake’ in a way. But I think he is a generally very enthusiastic and down to earth guy, I would like to go and see him perform one day. This month hes doing like a master class / workshop or something in London teaching a Shubert piece to all kinds of people but you need to be at least grade 3 to come...sigh ( actually I would be far too shy to come! ) 

[shingo]

I am trying to find it on youtube, I am just assuming it was the "dragon song" one that shingo mentioned, but I don't recall.  So far I can't quite find what I am looking for.  If I find it I will come back and post the link !

It used to be on youtube in about 5 parts but they have all been taken down now. I just had a quick look on google but can't find anywhere else that is hosting it for streaming. Best to keep your eyes open though as it may come back anytime.

I watched it online before purchasing it so if anyone didn't know the documentary is included in the CD + DVD versions of the album Dragon Songs but note that the DVD maybe in Region 1. I watch it about once every month so it was well worth the purchase for me  .

Humm, yah well. I like Lang-Lang too and I have read his bio in kino

I have been trying to get hold of that book since the summer, but it was only on sale in the US. Whenever I looked to see if there was one on eBay or amazon it was always very expensive to ship. However my pre-ordered copy could be in my hands within the hour!

[opus10no2]

F*ck off.

I tried my first passion fruit today!

[general disarray]

Well, mainly, I wanted to finally say that I kinda like Lang Lang ... hee hee.  Bye !

I think he's a very likable guy, too.  And I think he just might grow into a fine and respected artist. 

But get over the crush:  I'd bet $100 on his being ghey.  He's too talented and expressive to be something so ordinary as straight.   

[m19834]

He's too talented and expressive to be something so ordinary as straight.   

Seems like a pretty massively stupid thing to say.

[thalbergmad]

That was a mild response.

[general disarray]

Seems like a pretty massively stupid thing to say.

Really?  You're kidding, of course.  I mean, gay people have to live with their civil rights denied in every culture and to hear, insultingly, that this refusal is about their "perversion."

I insinuate that Lang Lang might be extraordinary by being other than straight and you call this comment "massively stupid?"

What?  I can't refer to straight people as being "ordinary" without you getting your back up?

You ought to try to be gay and experience how your sensitibilities would be rubbed raw on a daily basis.   

[m19834]

Really?  You're kidding, of course.  I mean, gay people have to live with their civil rights denied in every culture and to hear, insultingly, that this refusal is about their "perversion."

I insinuate that Lang Lang might be extraordinary by being other than straight and you call this comment "massively stupid?"

What?  I can't refer to straight people as being "ordinary" without you getting your back up?

You ought to try to be gay and experience how your sensitibilities would be rubbed raw on a daily basis.   

Yes, you have perfectly summed up the whole of me and everything that I could have meant.  Well done  .

[ahinton]

You ought to try to be gay

Can that possibly be a remotely serious and practically possible recommendation?

and experience how your sensitibilities would be rubbed raw on a daily basis.   

If K (or anyone else) has "sensitibilities", I for one might be intrigued to learn of the results of their being rubbed any which way on a regular basis...

Best,

Alistair

[general disarray]

"sensitibilities"

Best,

Alistair

The "Miss Grundy-esque" consistency of your typo monitoring is duly noted.  One hastens to correct:  "sensibilities."  And rubbed one way or the other, frankly, is beside the point.

Nevertheless, the gentleman's light hand is always appreciated.  Furthermore, one can only hope that the April performance of his Grieg Variations meets with the warm reception it deserves.  It's an inspired composition.  You have my respect, for what that's worth.

(And that this for me is post "666" should cause you no alarm.)