Star pianist Lang Lang inspires aspiring students with his latest album 'Piano Book'

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

Entertainment & Arts

Tue, September 26, 2023 | 08:01

Music

Star pianist Lang Lang inspires aspiring students with his latest album 'Piano Book'

Posted : 2019-06-23 22:39

Updated : 2019-08-16 09:25

Pianist Lang Lang's latest album cover image. Courtesy of Universal Music Group and Deutsche Grammophon

By Anna J. Park

Star pianist Lang Lang is currently staying in Seoul for a couple of concerts and a master class. In commemorating of his latest album "Piano Book," he is scheduled to give a master class to four aspiring young Korean musicians at the 6,500-seat auditorium of SaRang Church in southern Seoul at 7:30 p.m. on Monday.

The event's organizer J&A Music told The Korea Times that it had received free online registrations for attendance of the event, and it is now all booked with students and general audiences who'd like to closely watch the virtuoso pianist's golden tips to be a prominent pianist.

During his visit to Korea, Lang Lang has so far performed at two other occasions; one was held at Club Chroma of Incheon Paradise City on the evening of June 22 as the Universal Music Korea's 16th Yellow Lounge concert, designed to let audiences to enjoy classical music in a more relaxed and free environment. The other concert was held in the afternoon of June 23 at the Lotte Concert Hall, presenting selections from his newest album "Piano Book."

His new album "Piano Book," released by Deutsche Grammophon label earlier this year, is comprised of 34 piano pieces that Lang Lang himself enjoyed learning as a young music student. Famous masterpieces like Bach's "Prelude in C major," Beethoven's "Fur Elise," Debussy's "Reverie" and Schumann's "Wilder Reiter" are included.

He is "going back to his first love, to the pieces that made him want to become a musician in the first place," the 37-year-old pianist said in his preface in the album.

"This is the music that influenced me most during my early childhood and also later in life working with and teaching young pianists from all over the world."

The score book for the album's every track is also published to help piano students approach the must-learn pieces more easily. The virtuoso Chinese pianist has also been running his own international music foundation for some 10 years now with various programs to support the young generation of musicians.

Now one of the most-sought-after concert pianists in the world, Lang Lang began to earn international acclaim by winning first prize at the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians at the age of 13 back in 1995. He was also the first Chinese pianist to play with the most prestigious orchestras in the world, including the Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic. He has also been actively engaged in many cultural and humanitarian causes and awarded many honors for his commitment to the music education of children.

annajpark@koreatimes.co.kr