A Perfect Combination of Classicism and Modernism

It's accepted by many that classical music is too abstract to meet the taste of modern people. However, Lang doesn't agree. He insists that classical music, having been tested by time, has a long-lasting life and unique charm. He thinks it can enlighten people's minds with its musical notes, and can even influence those unschooled in music.

Classical music works, especially concertos, are difficult to interpret. So once a musician can grasp its technique, he or she can show all kinds of human emotions by music, and thus can more easily communicate with the audience. Lang is such a musician. And as the piano is one of the most popular elegant instruments in the world, Lang uses it to interpret classical music with his passion and talents and to further its development to spread classical music.

Based on the above ambitions, Lang has put himself in music with heart and soul. Every time on the stage, he is so fully immersed in playing wonderful music with vivid expression that he feels right at home even under the spotlight.

Lang also seeks the essence of music from world outside of music. He is always glad to exchange his opinions with others on art and music. Some times he goes to the cinema with his friends, as talking about films with them brings him inspiration. Then he will digest such inspiration and put it into his performance. In his spare time, he prefers to read to improve his appreciation in music.

Pursuing music and being nurtured by music, Lang is very poetic. At the same time, he is also very modern, having an optimistic streak and liking fashion, sports, and so on. He himself is the perfect combination of classicism and modernism. He is happy to get close to the audience's heart in an affectionate style rather than stay at an aloof distance. Hence, whether in East or West, Lang has a lot of fans who surround him wherever he goes.

He is so popular that he was appointed as UNICEF's (United Nations Children's Fund's) Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations, becoming the third Chinese receiving such honor after Cheng Long and Li Ming. He has also been entitled as a World Peace Ambassador. As well, he was appointed as Mr. Deutsche Grammophon of 2004 in Germany, and was also listed as one of the 33 most outstanding and wisest figures of 2005 by the world famous magazine Esquire.

Yet ever with the array of accolades and praise, Lang has never forgotten his motherland. He passed up the chance to get American nationality, and what's more, has engaged himself in promoting and spreading Chinese culture. In all his concerts, the Chinese piano music pieces TheYellow River and My Motherland are among his repertoire.

Yet, though Lang is obsessed by classical music, he doesn't shun the commercialism of his music. In fact, his commercialized rout in music is quite mature and normal. Each year, he takes part in nearly 200 concerts, with each being a box office success.

He once took part in a music show held by NBC (National Broadcasting Company) in Los Angles. The show was a purely Hollywood-style one, replete with pop music -- till Lang appeared. But whiule open to commercial aspects in music, Lang is no money grabber. After that, many film companies in Hollywood wanted to cooperate with him. However, Lang rejected them, as he rejects without hesitation any music show aiming solely at commercial interests, lest classical music be desecrated.

Lang Lang, no more than 24, is a soon-to-be piano master, a simple and approachable star, a medium for Sino-foreign cultural exchanges, and a model of commercial art.