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DVD Description
A new release from one of the most thrilling and inspiring musicians of our time, the world-renowned pianist Lang Lang. Recorded and filmed live in Vienna’s legendary Musikverein concert hall, this Sony debut represents Lang Lang’s second live recorded recital to date after the best-selling Live at Carnegie Hall in 2004, which marked his international breakthrough as a recording artist.
As Lang Lang puts it, “For me, there are few halls around the globe that have the same prestige as Carnegie Hall and the Musikverein. Of course there are other great halls, but I always feel these two have a unique place in people’s hearts. So I felt that after Carnegie Hall, the Musikverein would be the place where I should do another live recording.”
The programme features Lang Lang’s first-ever recording of Beethoven sonatas: the famous “Appassionata”, a milestone in the piano literature, is paired with the composer’s youthful C major Sonata op. 2, no. 3. Virtuosity of a different order is displayed in Albéniz’s impressionistic memories of his native Spain in Book 1 of “Iberia”. The programme closes with one of Prokofiev’s explosive War Sonatas, the revolutionary Seventh Sonata. Finally, to celebrate the Chopin bicentennial we hear three encores of this Polish genius’s most popular works: the “Aeolian Harp” Etude, the “Heroic” Polonaise in A flat major, and the sparkling Grande Valse Brillante No. 2.
This recital, one of 2010’s most eagerly-awaited classical recordings, is available in its entirety on the following multiple formats: standard, deluxe limited edition, Blu-ray, DVD, LP vinyl and Digital formats. A bonus feature on the Blu-Ray is Lang Lang’s performance of some of the album repertoire in 3D. This includes the first movement of Beethoven’s Appassionata Sonata, Evocation from Albeniz’s Iberia suite, the explosive finale of Prokofiev’s Seventh Sonata and Chopin’s Heroic Polonaise. This forms part of Lang Lang’s commitment to reaching new audiences through innovative technologies, a goal he also aims to realize through his global brand ambassadorship with Sony Electronics.
Lang Lang began playing the piano at the age of three and had already won the Shenyang Competition and given his first recital by the tender age of five. He shot to world-wide fame at seventeen when he triumphed in the Tchaikovsky Concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the “Gala of the Century”. Since then he has become one of the most sought-after musicians around the globe and was listed by TIME magazine among the “100 Most Influential People in the World”. Watched by more than five billion viewers, he played at the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and performed alongside Herbie Hancock at the 50th Grammy Awards. In December 2007, Lang Lang was guest soloist at the Nobel Prize concert in Stockholm, an event attended by the Nobel Laureates and members of the royal family. He returned as soloist for the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize awarding ceremony and concert for President Barack H. Obama.
Lang Lang is an inspiration to young musicians everywhere and has made it his personal mission to broaden the appeal of classical music to the widest possible audience. He has founded the “Lang Lang International Music Foundation” with the aim of identifying and supporting exceptionally gifted piano students between the ages of six and ten, and he made a historic appearance on the finale of “Oprah’s Search for the World’s Smartest and Most Talented Kids”, duetting with three young musicians from his foundation. Ever since the pianist shot to fame, China has been in the grip of a piano-learning frenzy known as the “Lang Lang Effect”, and Steinway has recognized the pianist’s popularity with children by creating five versions of the “Lang Lang Steinway”, designed for early music education.
In recognition of his commitment to young people he was made a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF in 2004. He has also been appointed one of the World Economic Forum’s “Young Global Leaders”, and was made an official ambassador to 2010’s World Expo in Shanghai where he performed in the opening ceremony.
As Lang Lang puts it, “For me, there are few halls around the globe that have the same prestige as Carnegie Hall and the Musikverein. Of course there are other great halls, but I always feel these two have a unique place in people’s hearts. So I felt that after Carnegie Hall, the Musikverein would be the place where I should do another live recording.”
The programme features Lang Lang’s first-ever recording of Beethoven sonatas: the famous “Appassionata”, a milestone in the piano literature, is paired with the composer’s youthful C major Sonata op. 2, no. 3. Virtuosity of a different order is displayed in Albéniz’s impressionistic memories of his native Spain in Book 1 of “Iberia”. The programme closes with one of Prokofiev’s explosive War Sonatas, the revolutionary Seventh Sonata. Finally, to celebrate the Chopin bicentennial we hear three encores of this Polish genius’s most popular works: the “Aeolian Harp” Etude, the “Heroic” Polonaise in A flat major, and the sparkling Grande Valse Brillante No. 2.
This recital, one of 2010’s most eagerly-awaited classical recordings, is available in its entirety on the following multiple formats: standard, deluxe limited edition, Blu-ray, DVD, LP vinyl and Digital formats. A bonus feature on the Blu-Ray is Lang Lang’s performance of some of the album repertoire in 3D. This includes the first movement of Beethoven’s Appassionata Sonata, Evocation from Albeniz’s Iberia suite, the explosive finale of Prokofiev’s Seventh Sonata and Chopin’s Heroic Polonaise. This forms part of Lang Lang’s commitment to reaching new audiences through innovative technologies, a goal he also aims to realize through his global brand ambassadorship with Sony Electronics.
Lang Lang began playing the piano at the age of three and had already won the Shenyang Competition and given his first recital by the tender age of five. He shot to world-wide fame at seventeen when he triumphed in the Tchaikovsky Concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the “Gala of the Century”. Since then he has become one of the most sought-after musicians around the globe and was listed by TIME magazine among the “100 Most Influential People in the World”. Watched by more than five billion viewers, he played at the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and performed alongside Herbie Hancock at the 50th Grammy Awards. In December 2007, Lang Lang was guest soloist at the Nobel Prize concert in Stockholm, an event attended by the Nobel Laureates and members of the royal family. He returned as soloist for the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize awarding ceremony and concert for President Barack H. Obama.
Lang Lang is an inspiration to young musicians everywhere and has made it his personal mission to broaden the appeal of classical music to the widest possible audience. He has founded the “Lang Lang International Music Foundation” with the aim of identifying and supporting exceptionally gifted piano students between the ages of six and ten, and he made a historic appearance on the finale of “Oprah’s Search for the World’s Smartest and Most Talented Kids”, duetting with three young musicians from his foundation. Ever since the pianist shot to fame, China has been in the grip of a piano-learning frenzy known as the “Lang Lang Effect”, and Steinway has recognized the pianist’s popularity with children by creating five versions of the “Lang Lang Steinway”, designed for early music education.
In recognition of his commitment to young people he was made a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF in 2004. He has also been appointed one of the World Economic Forum’s “Young Global Leaders”, and was made an official ambassador to 2010’s World Expo in Shanghai where he performed in the opening ceremony.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
The first thing to say about this recital is that it gave a great number of people in Vienna a lot of pleasure - and the disc will equally give similar pleasure to a great number of people world-wide, and I include myself. I found the technical side of the presentation to provide excellent visual and sonic reproduction.
However, like all artistes, Lang Lang has many strengths to offer but equally he is not yet infallible. Consequently this recital is at its best when he plays to his strengths and is at its least effective when those same strengths do not naturally serve the chosen music so well.
Lang Lang is essentially a very emotional player and plays everything as he feels - and he feels everything very deeply. One could summarise this by describing him as a romantic. His playing contains a great deal of expression from loud to soft and especially, enormous fluctuations of tempo almost moment by moment. The most successful parts of this recital are therefore those that respond best to such a romantically emotional approach.
The two Beethoven sonatas, coming from a composer writing at the transitional stage progressing from the more formal classical period to the freer romantic period, are well able to sustain such an approach. Indeed there are many breathtakingly beautiful moments in these interpretations, especially in the slower sections. The Chopin encores respond equally well to such an approach. The Albeniz is more of a mixed bag. The slower sections are effective in these ways but the faster sections lack the rhythmic discipline required to capture the Spanish dance elements being portrayed - and Spanish dancing is nothing if not tightly rhythmical. Anyone who doubts this could refer to recordings by either Larrocha or Hamilyn who are both able to incorporate the freer romantic elements with the tighter dance elements. The same problems are to be found in the Prokofiev sonata where strict tempo is essential almost throughout. If this is not maintained the slow central movement loses shape and direction and the driven outer movements fail in their dramatic drive. Interestingly it is the most motoric last movement, a toccata, that is undoubtedly the most successful here and why? - Because Lang Lang plays it almost entirely in strict tempo. Unfortunately he does not do this in the preceding two movements. There are numerous examples on disc of the benefits of playing this music with more disciplined rhythmical control. Lang Lang himself quotes his admiration for Richter and Sokolov and to this I would add the benchmark Pollini CD and Lang Lang's contemporary Yuja Wang to his recommendations. Sokolov can be seen playing the Prokofiev on a fine recital DVD and there is an alternative excellent recital by Gavrylyuk on DVD containing Prokofiev's 6th and 7th sonatas as part of a technically astonishing recital.
I am aware that this review will not please many of Lang Lang's countless fans who will resist the provisos above. However the job of a reviewer is to try and give an honest appraisal without bias and with a view to being helpful, giving supporting reasons for the opinions that are expressed. That is what is being offered here and it is best to conclude with the opening comments that `The first thing to say about this recital is that it gave a great number of people in Vienna a lot of pleasure - and the disc will equally give similar pleasure to a great number of people world-wide, and I include myself.'
However, like all artistes, Lang Lang has many strengths to offer but equally he is not yet infallible. Consequently this recital is at its best when he plays to his strengths and is at its least effective when those same strengths do not naturally serve the chosen music so well.
Lang Lang is essentially a very emotional player and plays everything as he feels - and he feels everything very deeply. One could summarise this by describing him as a romantic. His playing contains a great deal of expression from loud to soft and especially, enormous fluctuations of tempo almost moment by moment. The most successful parts of this recital are therefore those that respond best to such a romantically emotional approach.
The two Beethoven sonatas, coming from a composer writing at the transitional stage progressing from the more formal classical period to the freer romantic period, are well able to sustain such an approach. Indeed there are many breathtakingly beautiful moments in these interpretations, especially in the slower sections. The Chopin encores respond equally well to such an approach. The Albeniz is more of a mixed bag. The slower sections are effective in these ways but the faster sections lack the rhythmic discipline required to capture the Spanish dance elements being portrayed - and Spanish dancing is nothing if not tightly rhythmical. Anyone who doubts this could refer to recordings by either Larrocha or Hamilyn who are both able to incorporate the freer romantic elements with the tighter dance elements. The same problems are to be found in the Prokofiev sonata where strict tempo is essential almost throughout. If this is not maintained the slow central movement loses shape and direction and the driven outer movements fail in their dramatic drive. Interestingly it is the most motoric last movement, a toccata, that is undoubtedly the most successful here and why? - Because Lang Lang plays it almost entirely in strict tempo. Unfortunately he does not do this in the preceding two movements. There are numerous examples on disc of the benefits of playing this music with more disciplined rhythmical control. Lang Lang himself quotes his admiration for Richter and Sokolov and to this I would add the benchmark Pollini CD and Lang Lang's contemporary Yuja Wang to his recommendations. Sokolov can be seen playing the Prokofiev on a fine recital DVD and there is an alternative excellent recital by Gavrylyuk on DVD containing Prokofiev's 6th and 7th sonatas as part of a technically astonishing recital.
I am aware that this review will not please many of Lang Lang's countless fans who will resist the provisos above. However the job of a reviewer is to try and give an honest appraisal without bias and with a view to being helpful, giving supporting reasons for the opinions that are expressed. That is what is being offered here and it is best to conclude with the opening comments that `The first thing to say about this recital is that it gave a great number of people in Vienna a lot of pleasure - and the disc will equally give similar pleasure to a great number of people world-wide, and I include myself.'
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
Anyone buying recordings by Lang Lang must already recognise him as the showman that he is, accept the limitations that such showmanship brings, and be willing to celebrate his virtuosity even when it becomes- as it often does - an end in itself. I get tired of all the carping criticism. If people want Kempf, Gilels, Paul Lewis to interpret Beethoven more measuredly/ perhaps thoughtfully for them, carry on enjoying their recordings as I do. Although, here I must add that Lang Lang's interpretation of the 2nd movement of Beethoven's sonata No.3 one of the most moving I have heard.
Apart from Beethoven, Prokofiev's toccatic Sonata No.7 suited Lang Lang's 'attack' admirably and the whole recital was complemented and contrasted by the inclusion of the Albeniz.
I had the fortune to live in Vienna for some years and the audiences that attend the Musikverein can be very conservative indeed, but the fact that they applauded Lang Lang with so very great enthusiasm is a testimony to his showmanship with all its positive attributes.
Sometimes, he may outrage you - as with his playing of Chopim's No.6 Polonaise as an encore on this recording - but he'll never bore you.
Apart from Beethoven, Prokofiev's toccatic Sonata No.7 suited Lang Lang's 'attack' admirably and the whole recital was complemented and contrasted by the inclusion of the Albeniz.
I had the fortune to live in Vienna for some years and the audiences that attend the Musikverein can be very conservative indeed, but the fact that they applauded Lang Lang with so very great enthusiasm is a testimony to his showmanship with all its positive attributes.
Sometimes, he may outrage you - as with his playing of Chopim's No.6 Polonaise as an encore on this recording - but he'll never bore you.
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Excellent DVD, for anyone who like piano, Lang Lang is one of the greatest pianists in the world, and a joy to watch. The pieces played are well known classical piano works.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
tony t
I have only watched the first track of the Beethoven sonata and at times I felt physically sick. Those of used to the discrete visuals provided by the BBC for the Proms will... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Tony Turner
Compelling listening
Having heard Lang Lang on a TV news item I ordered this live video version and played it on a good sound system and was bowled over by its quality. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Timothy GOODMAN
Awful to listen to, painful to watch
I watched this DVD once and I couldn't believe how bad it was. It beggars belief that Lang Lang has become such a popular figure in the world of classical music when you listen to... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Cookieheimer
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