"My childhood was a time filled with grueling training and ambition. It was only after becoming a father that I feel I am truly performing in a way that reflects my entire life."
World-renowned pianist Lang Lang (44) said this in a written interview with the Seoul Economic Daily on the 7th. Having recently released his album 'Piano Book 2,' he is set to hold a recital in Korea on the 28th of this month.
Lang Lang first drew attention by winning a prize at the Shenyang competition at age five, then debuted on the international stage by winning the youth division of the Tchaikovsky International Competition. He has since performed with the world's leading orchestras and played at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, sustaining his peak well into his mid-40s.
Asked to look back on his nearly 40-year music career, Lang Lang described it as a journey from a harsh period through a fiery growth phase to what is now a time of maturity. "The piano is an instrument that demands practice until calluses form on your hands," he said. "My childhood in Shenyang and Beijing was a time of rigorous training, immersion, and survival." He characterized his teenage years on the international stage — studying at the Curtis Institute of Music and performing with the world's top orchestras — as "a period filled with energy and ambition."
Now in his third phase, he says he is "living a time of adding depth and sharing." He said, "I've become a father, and I've been through injury and the pandemic, and all of those experiences are flowing into my music. I feel that only now am I performing in a way that reflects my entire life."
As a musician who has reached the pinnacle of his field, what he emphasizes most is "communication." This sense of mission is why he established the Lang Lang International Music Foundation to invest in music education for young students. "I want to expand music to more children, more schools, and more countries," he said. "If you ask me what kind of performer I want to be, I want to be remembered as 'a musician who loved music so much that he tried to share it with as many people as possible.'" As an example, he said the most meaningful moment for him is when an audience member at his recital tells him, "This was my first classical concert."
He also advised that classical musicians need to pay attention to communicating with contemporary audiences. "You cannot rely on tradition and simply wait for audiences to come," he said. "Musicians must also be communicators." He added, "Music is something living — it should never feel like an exhibit in a museum."
He also expressed his affection for Korean audiences. "Korean audiences understand music deeply while responding with great passion at the same time," Lang Lang said. "It is rare to find an audience that possesses both qualities. That is why I always feel a strong connection."
His recital at Seoul Arts Center on the 28th is a stage that encapsulates his philosophy of music. The program features miniatures from 'Piano Book 2,' late Beethoven sonatas, and works by Albéniz and Granados spanning various eras. "These are small pieces, but they are very honest and free of excess," Lang Lang said. "The late Beethoven sonatas are sometimes brutally sincere, and the Spanish works speak candidly of life and joy."
He described the upcoming performance as "a journey tracing the many faces of musical truth," adding, "I hope the audience will feel the flow together — starting from intimate, pure moments, passing through deep contemplation, and arriving at a point that shines with passion."
