Gold Medal in Piano!

July 31, 2008 9:14 PM

Winning the Gold Medal in Young International Piano Superstardom is Chinese pianist Lang Lang. The 26 year old former prodigy compares himself not to Glen Gould, but to Tiger Woods. Given his "star appeal" and numerous endorsements, it's an apt comparison.

Some performances by Lang Lang:
Horse - a traditional Chinese piece played with his father on the erhu
Valse Brilliante by Chopin
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto #3, 1st movement: part 1, part 2, part 3

posted by grapefruitmoon (10 comments total)

Oh, oops. That's the Third movement part 3 in there. There is no part 3 to the first movement. Way to hum, self. Way to hum.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 9:15 PM on July 31, 2008

He doesn't really come across as genuine to me... he seems to be hamming it up a lot. His interpretations certainly aren't stiff... there is some feel to it, but it just seems exaggerated. He's playing the part of pianist, and in the parlance, "indicating".

Music is art. Art is not a contest.
posted by phrontist at 9:42 PM on July 31, 2008 [1 favorite]

Hello, Liberachi collar!
posted by therealadam at 10:03 PM on July 31, 2008

Yes, indeed, phrontist nailed it.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 10:57 PM on July 31, 2008

Needs more inscrutability?
posted by longsleeves at 11:40 PM on July 31, 2008

Lang Lang has a great talent, but he has a long way to go before he can play in this club.
posted by MetaMan at 11:42 PM on July 31, 2008

Art is not a contest.
Often, it's a popularity contest.
posted by anthill at 6:27 AM on August 1, 2008

Lang Lang has a great talent, but he has a long way to go before he can play in this club.

Well, wasn't Horowitz also accused of being too much of a showman and not being enough of a solid interpreter of music, at least before his last comeback in the 80's?

Yes, Land Lang is overhyped, but he is still young, so let's give him sometime to hopefully mature into a great musician.
posted by gyc at 10:41 AM on August 1, 2008

Ok, if we're talking about listening to a piece, I'll grant you that Horowitz plays beautifully. Can't beat that.

But if we're talking about watching a performance - I'd much rather watch Spazzo McFlails-A-Lot than someone who looks like a wax figure of himself. But hey! That's just me!
posted by grapefruitmoon at 12:53 PM on August 1, 2008

Waaaay late to this party.

My sister just sent me a few link of this Lang Lang guy and I love him, such fun! What likable showoffy mischief.

Lang Lang gone mad.

Lang Lang plays Chopin with orange.

What is it with music and art posts that turn otherwise playful MeFites into such overly serious, sourpuss, nitpicky fuddyduds? Never understood that.
posted by nickyskye at 2:02 PM on August 31, 2008