Lang Lang Hand Syncs some of the time

[Kapellmeister27]

It's True.  LAng Lang really can't play piano very well .  He just half plays and makes some really exaggerated motions while pretending to play on a cleverly disguised player piano.  I know this because I was recently at a concert where he was playing teh Rach 3 and during the very end of the 2nd movement he scratched his nose accidentally during a fast run but the piano kept playing.  What was interesting was when the audience confronted him and made him play for real on a different piano, although he had good technique and such,we realized that the mechanical piano played much much more musically and with much more depth of emotion and thought than he could by himself.

[Hmoll]

Drop the crack pipe, and step away from the computer.

[Ludvig_Van_Me]

"when the audience confronted him"


Yeah, lol   whatever mate   


lol

[Etude]

he scratched his nose accidentally during a fast run but the piano kept playing. 

I'm sure if you examine closer, you'll find that he didn't really scratch his nose, but he was actually executing a rapid scale.

Sorry, but you're talking crap.

[Kapellmeister27]

Hmm, nobody seems to have gotten the main point.  That is, the sarcasm about LL's musicality versus that of the mechanical piano

[pianonut]

Do any of the famous performers borrow sweat?  I've often wondered how they work it up.  Is it mental or physical.  It's kind of interesting, that itch on the nose from sweat dripping down the brow and rolling down to the tip of the nose.

I've never physically sweated from playing Brahms Pagannini variations, Beethoven's Walstein and Tempest.  Does this mean that I have no feelings, and am not mentally sweating out every drop of emotion...or does it mean that women sweat less because they are used to constant stress in their lives anyway.

Last "why" question:  do performers have to like what they perform, always, to get across meaning...or can performers play some things they really don't care for, but evens out the program?  do you think of the audience first, or remain true to your own tastes? 

[Hmoll]

Hmm, nobody seems to have gotten the main point.  That is, the sarcasm about LL's musicality versus that of the mechanical piano

Jokes are never funny when you have to explain them.

[Ludvig_Van_Me]

Yes it is possible for someone to perform a piece they don't like with  emotion and feeling, hard though.


Why would they study it to start with? It'll be like sitting down to watch a 50 hour long movie that you hate and then at the end give a summary presentation in your own words, I bet you won't sound very passionate or excited, same with the piece you'll just can't wait for it to end.

All Depends on how insincere you can be.........

[Brian Healey]

Do any of the famous performers borrow sweat?  I've often wondered how they work it up.

It's actually not too hard to break a sweat. Stage lights can get pretty warm, especially at large venues that have huge lighting systems (Carnegie for instance). And formal wear doesn't "breathe" very well.


Peace,
Bri

[galonia]

LOL - the original post is hilarious.

It's actually not too hard to break a sweat. Stage lights can get pretty warm, especially at large venues that have huge lighting systems (Carnegie for instance).

Yes, try performing under lights.  Even just sitting still under lights, only moving to turn pages, can result in a fair bit of dampness in one's clothes - some lights are terrible.

[noelle]

Yes it is possible for someone to perform a piece they don't like with  emotion and feeling, hard though.


Why would they study it to start with? It'll be like sitting down to watch a 50 hour long movie that you hate and then at the end give a summary presentation in your own words, I bet you won't sound very passionate or excited, same with the piece you'll just can't wait for it to end.

All Depends on how insincere you can be.........

Not much different than what an actor must do when he/she doesn't get the first choice role auditioned for!
There's a lot of music I've learned and hated, but I've put myself to the test to see if I could convince the listeners that I like it.  In most cases, I pass.  Barely

Unless it's really cold (and thus, my hands are stiff and rebellious and I can hardly play at all) I often sweat from playing piano or cello ... or recorder!  Okay, kidding on the last one.  It's because I get really focused, which makes me very warm (happens during school when I'm writing tests, and such), and thus I sweat. 

[lostinidlewonder]

There is a stupid thing that hangs in the piano music world. That is the tall poppy syndrome. I even get it and im not on the international scene!

"why is he doing that? hes not the best there is. they do this instead?! shock horror" Or blah blah blah. Or you get critics who say, you didnt play all 3 movements so you suck, or this or that. There is always something.
Lang Lang just as Helfgott just as whoever else tries to make it nowadays, will get scrutinized, rumors and carp will always arise. Hes earning heaps of money so i guess he wouldnt give a sh*t what anyone says about him anyway

[lostinidlewonder]

There is a stupid thing that hangs in the piano music world. That is the tall poppy syndrome. I even get it and im not on the international scene!

"why is he doing that? hes not the best there is. they do this instead?! shock horror" Or blah blah blah. Or you get critics who say, you didnt play all 3 movements so you suck, or this or that. There is always something.
Lang Lang just as Helfgott just as whoever else tries to make it nowadays, will get scrutinized, rumors and crap will always arise. Hes earning heaps of money so i guess he wouldnt give a *** what anyone says about him anyway

[jeff]

It's actually not too hard to break a sweat. Stage lights can get pretty warm, especially at large venues that have huge lighting systems (Carnegie for instance). And formal wear doesn't "breathe" very well.


Peace,
Bri

and nerves could contribute to sweating too

[rachfanatic]

Lang Lang is a total legend. Anyone who dissis his playing in my opinion are just jealous at his superiority at a keyboard. Not everyone can play Tchaikovsky 1 at the age of 12. Just lighten up and enjoy the music

[BoliverAllmon]

sounds like you need to lighten up and get your head out of LL's butt

[galonia]

BoliverAllmon, he could be a reverse tibidi

[Waldszenen]

Lang Lang is a total legend. Anyone who dissis his playing in my opinion are just jealous at his superiority at a keyboard. Not everyone can play Tchaikovsky 1 at the age of 12. Just lighten up and enjoy the music

I wouldn't give half a sh!t if he could play the Tchaikovsky concerto when he was a baby - he's still crap.

[tumababa]

I wouldn't give half a sh!t if he could play the Tchaikovsky concerto when he was a baby - he's still crap.

So then why not put your money where your mouth is? Can somebody post a few recordings of the same piece with different pianists at the helm?

Sorry if that's confrontational but I have a problem with the statement "he's still crap". 

Cheers

[dinosaurtales]

Do any of the famous performers borrow sweat?  I've often wondered how they work it up.  Is it mental or physical.  It's kind of interesting, that itch on the nose from sweat dripping down the brow and rolling down to the tip of the nose.

I've never physically sweated from playing Brahms Pagannini variations, Beethoven's Walstein and Tempest.  Does this mean that I have no feelings, and am not mentally sweating out every drop of emotion...or does it mean that women sweat less because they are used to constant stress in their lives anyway.

 

Well, it might just mean you don't have the right hormones - yet! I am at "that age" where I sweat just thinking about a piece!  The Prokofiev Suggestione Diabolique really gets me going!  It's really awful actually.

[Waldszenen]

So then why not put your money where your mouth is? Can somebody post a few recordings of the same piece with different pianists at the helm?

Sorry if that's confrontational but I have a problem with the statement "he's still crap". 

Cheers

Well it ain't my fault you have a problem with critique - it seems with your attitude you wouldn't last three seconds as a professional pianist in the real world.

[BoliverAllmon]

BoliverAllmon, he could be a reverse tibidi

true

[hazypurple21]

Lang Lang is a total legend. Anyone who dissis his playing in my opinion are just jealous at his superiority at a keyboard. Not everyone can play Tchaikovsky 1 at the age of 12. Just lighten up and enjoy the music

Anyone who disses his playing his jealous? Well yes, some of the time, this is true. But what about the people who just find his playing to be mechanical, or not to their liking? As impressive as it is that he could play a high level piece at a young age, he's no longer a prodigy. As the old saying goes, it's not what you play, but how you play it, and I'm not talking about getting all the notes right.

[BoliverAllmon]

Anyone who disses his playing his jealous? Well yes, some of the time, this is true. But what about the people who just find his playing to be mechanical, or not to their liking? As impressive as it is that he could play a high level piece at a young age, he's no longer a prodigy. As the old saying goes, it's not what you play, but how you play it, and I'm not talking about getting all the notes right.

he is suffering the same fate as Mozart prodigy at young age, looses the shock and awe aspect when older.

[tumababa]

Well it ain't my fault you have a problem with critique - it seems with your attitude you wouldn't last three seconds as a professional pianist in the real world.

There is no way I could ever even remotely consider myself to be a professional pianist.  And I certainly don't, as you assumed, live in the real world.  I was there once, as you said, for about 3 seconds and decided I would enjoy myself more if I moved.  So I did.

Hehe... Come to think of it.... I think it's funny how you used "professional pianist" and "real world" in the same sentence, implying that the two could co-exist 

I've got no problem with critique, I heap tons of it on myself and others(Only I use better words than "Crap".  Yeesh.... ).  As for Langity Langerson, I don't really dig him either.  I mean, when he whips out the piano gymnastics you get a sort of visceral thrill and that's still a good feeling to cultivate.  I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy watching Lang Lang bash the hell out of a piano but after a certain point it's the same thrill as watching something bash the hell out of an occupied outhouse(Don't ask).  It's still good stuff! Like Rachfanatic said, "Lighten up and enjoy!".


And as you've probably already figured out, I AM picking on you.  Probably because of the negative vibes I got from that first post of yours.  If I misread, I apologize.  However, if you ARE a mean-spirited negative person then you severely deserve to be percieved as a dick.

I look forward to a reply with lots of big, important sounding words.

[Waldszenen]

I look forward to a reply with lots of big, important sounding words.

Hahhaha

well you see... I find Lang Lang to be pretty crap. I'm no critic and I'm nowhere near his level. But I still find him crap. If that bothers you, that's your problem. But see here - if you eat in a restaurant and say the food's crap, you're entitled to, aren't you? You paid for it, you have every right to complain, even though you're not a professional chef.

So I'll say it again - LL is crap, he plays like crap, he sounds like crap - oh yeah and his face looks like three-week old crap in the Egyptian sun.

[Siberian Husky]

 oh yeah and his face looks like three-week old crap in the Egyptian sun.

im sooooooo down with that observation...*props*

[rlefebvr]

Well I do not believe he is that bad. He is very young, but his technique is very very good.

What he is however is very sloppy and would greatly benefit from a great teacher. Reducing his concert appearances to properly prepare would help a lot, but there is a lot of pressure on these guys to perform. He needs to take more control of his career and step back a little. That will not happen however because of the nature of the beast.

It is very easy to criticize Lang, but most people that do so have no idea of what they are talking about and very rarely give real criticism. Saying "his face looks like three-week old crap in the Egyptian sun" may be true or not , but it has very little to do with his playing abilities.

Come on guys, you are supposed to be good piano players, tell me why he is crap. What is it about his playing that you dislike. What would like to see him improve before you listen to him again. What would make you change your opinion.
What piece was he playing that turned you off. What did he do wrong, what did he do right.

Anybody up to that challenge or do we stick with the childish comments.

[rlefebvr]

This is the second time I have tried to get you guys to write out a real critic and both times you have choked. There must be someone out there willing to take up the challenge and prove their worth.

Bernard, Hmoll, Xvimbe or anyone over the age of 25 not NOT APPLY.

I want the young crowd to prove they are not all full of hot air.


I know school is out, but music school is still in session.

I know, I know, pompous, arrogant SOB, but I still don't care,

[thierry13]

Lang Lang isn't the best pianist out there, but still, it's still very good that he can make a living out of it. Few of us will be able to. He has amazing technique and decent musical level. He doesn't allways show it, because when you have 200 shows a year, you do not have time to perfection pieces. It is an enormous pressure. But still, his playing is full of emotion and of energy, and that, nobody can tell the opposite. Maybe he's not that musical, but he never play something dry. Give him a chance and some time. And do not compare him to mature records like horowitz at 70 years old. He had 6 time his experience. Leave him some time to get experience and to get habituated to do 200 concerts a year. That's enormous.

[BoliverAllmon]

why do 200 concerts a year? why not 100 and work on repertoire?

[thierry13]

why do 200 concerts a year? why not 100 and work on repertoire?

You really think he has the choice? He is allways trying to play a bit less concerts, but he has a lot of pressure!

[BoliverAllmon]

You really think he has the choice? He is allways trying to play a bit less concerts, but he has a lot of pressure!

so he is forced by recording companies?

[ravelmaniac]

Somebody I know who went to one his concerts said he plays every phrase like his mother just died 

[BoliverAllmon]

Somebody I know who went to one his concerts said he plays every phrase like his mother just died 

now is that a good thing or no?

[thierry13]

now is that a good thing or no?

Both. Some phrases are meant to be played like that... some not.

[BoliverAllmon]

so he is a good overexaggerator?

[thierry13]

Yes. But it gives a total flame and energy to his playing. Not allways musical tough. Anyway.

[BoliverAllmon]

so a good entertainer?

[thierry13]

yeah!

[BoliverAllmon]

I had the opportunity of seeing him last year. He was playing duets with Emanual Ax. BUt he performed the night of my church music final. I was stuck in class.

boliver

[bernhard]

why do 200 concerts a year? why not 100 and work on repertoire?

Pays twice as much?

[tds]

Somebody I know who went to one his concerts said he plays every phrase like his mother just died 

fine point! this is what many young pianists have misunderstood. prolly, it hasnt been explained enough that NOT everything espressivo is lachrymose. i guess, age tells the what and how. tds

[BoliverAllmon]

Pays twice as much?

he makes plenty already. No need to make me go broke.

[bernhard]

he makes plenty already. No need to make me go broke.

No amount of money is ever plenty. No amount of money has ever satisfied completely anyone.

[bernhard]

You could also say that expenses dilate to use the money available for them.

I myself, have enough moneynow to last me for the rest of my life as long as don't spend any.

[BoliverAllmon]

No amount of money is ever plenty. No amount of money has ever satisfied completely anyone.

not true. I know of people who don't worry about money at all. They just do what they want when they want.

[pianohopper]

But the thing with money is, the more you have the more you want.

[BoliverAllmon]

But the thing with money is, the more you have the more you want.

not always true. I am telling you I know people who do not worry about money at all. They aren't looking for more.

[bernhard]

not true. I know of people who don't worry about money at all. They just do what they want when they want.

Yes of course, there are people who truly do not concern themselves with money. However my thought was directed at those who do. And once you do, there is never plenty of it.