Lang Lang (60 Minutes)

[ryguillian]

This post is a general conversation starter: I was wondering if anybody had caught the "60 Minutes" episode on Lang-Lang, I myself didn't see it... but about 10 minutes after it was over I got a bazillion instant-messages from misc. people saying things like, "Lang Lang is the best pianist in the world!" (A title which Marc-Andre Hamelin holds, in my opinion) ... Did "60 Minutes" really sensationalize this mediocre pianist that much? I am not a fan of Lang-Lang I think his nickname "Bang Bang" is very appropriate, I think his performances lack intellect, temperment, and musical coherency and his cheap sentimentality is as transparent as glass.

An example of this would be his recording of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 where his first and second movements completely lack feeling and seem detached and subdued... and then a torrent of noise (and I emphasize noise) in the third movement... it's as if he thought the third movement were the only one worth playing... rather sad, and this is just a taste of the artists's immaturity at the keyboard.

I've heard that Lang-Lang has been playing since he was three, and I don't think his playing has matured since then.

[Floristan]

1.  He's young and might grow up.  I know, Yundi Li is young, too, and plays way better the Lang Lang, but you never know.  Lang Lang could mature into a good or even great pianist.  Personally I wouldn't put money on it, but it's possible.
2.  For some performers, it's more about showmanship than it is about pianism.  This may not make for good music, but it can make for an entertaining show.  Like Liberace.  A left-handed compliment, to be sure, but there's room for a Liberace right now, so maybe Lang Lang....
3.  I realize his publicity machine is working overtime generating these stories about the incredible obstacles he and his family had to overcome to get him where he is today, but even if only some of it is true, it's pretty incredible that he plays as well as he does, let alone has the attention of a large part of the world.  So a little credit where due.