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Since the previously posted thread was locked ... and since the follow up is not political, I felt the need to post this ...

From .... http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/01/24/lang-lang-responds-to-critics-of-white-house-performance/

In a statement, Lang said “I selected this song because it has been a favorite of mine since I was a child. It was selected for no other reason but for the beauty of its melody.”

He also said “America and China are my two homes. I am most grateful to the United States for providing me with such wonderful opportunities, both in my musical studies and for furthering my career. I couldn’t be who I am today without those two countries.”

Lang said that he wants to “bridge cultures together through the beauty and inspiration of music.”

God, what an arrogant jerk.






(is what people here will somehow conclude)

Looks intentional to me. He can say whatever he wants. Of ALL the repertoire in the world, he chooses that very song. Its only because that's his favorite tune, yea right! :P

I heard him interviewed on PBS. He basically said that he wants nothing to do with politics "I'm just a pianist". That he loves both China and the US and he had no knowledge of the deeper meaning of the piece he played only that it is a beautiful melody. As he put it (more or less) "In 1957 my mother was 2 years old. What do I know about what happened then". He sounded very sincere and I am willing to believe him. People should just let it go.

If LL really knew that this song had a political message, why would have chosen to play it? What would this accomplish?

I just want to say that I thought some of the comments that he's not a superb pianist and musician were hard to fathom. I don't see how those things could be doubted. I can well imagine that many people would disagree with (and perhaps be outraged by) aspects of what he does, including his gesticulations. But that's another story.

Are you asking us why crazy people do crazy things?

No. If someone wants to make a political statement, I don't see how playing a piece that 99.9% have never even heard of would accomplish anything.

And what would lying about his motivations for playing this music after receiving complaints about it accomplish?

Although LL has gotten some positive critical reviews, he has also gotten numerous negative reviews(and not just for his movements while playing). Dubal's The Art of the PIano gives him a lengthy but mostly negative review. There have been many negative reviews in the NY Times. There have been many negative reviews of his playing in magazines that review classical music. Many knowledgable people at PW have also given him negative reviews.

....and in truth I haven't seen or heard much of him -- just several clips on YouTube. But the things I saw bore out what I said. If other performances of his don't, I would take that to mean he's inconsistent -- but it wouldn't negate the pianism and musicianship that he showed in what I saw.

Of course, since I'm talking about my own impression, it's subjective. But so was the prior post: I personally find it hard to fathom that people would doubt his superb pianism and musicianship.

OT to PL (since we are talking about non-pianists): Have you read the recent Bobby Fisher biography? I saw a review in the NYT. Sounds very intriguing..

http://www.npr.org/2011/01/24/13318...Controversial-Music-Pick?ft=1&f=1014

(lang lang lover here)

what do you like about him, apple?

I've tried to make this point a few times here. (As I said then), I've seen him in concert; he played the late Schubert A major sonata, the Bartok sonata, and a few other things. Some of it I didn't like, but a lot of it, including the Schubert, was rather magical.

Some don't like him, and that's fine. But there's an element on PW of some pretty knowledgeable folks who reserve for LL a level of vitriol that no one else seems to bring out. It has something to do with his rock-star status, and the relative lack of sophistication of many of his starry-eyed fans. But for those of us who are "in the know" and still like him, some of the comments here are, as you say, hard to fathom. One suspects deeper issues are afoot.

-Jason

Since you realize your opinion is subjective, why would you claim that you couldn't see how others would have a different opinion(Unles you just assume you know more than everone else)? If the opinion you objected was also subjective, why would that have anything to do with your saying you couldn't see how anyone else could think differently from you?

It's a fact that many others including important reviewers/critics and pianists have had the opposite opinion as yours. And those reviews haven't implied it was a question of inconsistency.

The review seemed extremely positive and I ordered it from Barnes & Noble. They're selling it for 40% off online.

When I was about 18 I worked the wall boards at the US Chess Championships when Fischer was playing.

I tried to whisper a few suggestions to him but he didnlt seem to take my ideas seriously.

Well, that depends on who is the target audience.

I have no particular irons in this fire, but if LL truly was ignorant of the "deeper meaning," a meaning that many in China seemed to grasp immediately, then he is either a true political and social ingenue, or he is just plain ignorant. The alternative, of course, is that he quite fully grasped the meaning of his gesture.

Anyone recall the "Hawaiian good luck symbol" used by the captive sailors of the USS Pueblo?

I heard Lang Lang and Zimerman are collaborating on the Brahms Hungarian Dances for two pianos.

Comments I've seen from the Chinese people tell me that its a well known connotation that the tune has in China. Sooner or later, the Americans would know it as well if Lang Lang did something like that.

Why would he lie? Because like all cowards who speak ill of America while using its resources at the same time, he wants to continue reaping the benefits. How's that for a reason to lie and deny the allegations?

I'm just offering very plausible answers to your question. I have no way of knowing for sure that he indeed did all this on purpose, but if I were asked to venture a guess, I would go with intentional.

The previous thread was closed because more than half of the posts were comments on the political regime in China and/or its relationship to the US or rest of the world. As I said in the previous thread on Zimerman, discussion of an artists choice of music or use of their status to make a political statement are relevant discussion items here. Discussion of Lang Lang as a pianist or his performance on the night in question are also relevant. Rants about China, the US, the media or politics in general are not.