Lang Lang!

Lang Lang is one of the world’s most amazing pianists. He has an extraordinary ability to perform compositions that require high technical skills; yet he also can express deep emotional feelings conveyed it very simple pieces. He also comes across as a person with highly capable interpersonal communication skills that further endear him to his audience.

This CD is a collection of highlights of works that Lang Lang likely recorded over some period of time. As such it is a “sampler” of either short works or single movements form a 3-movement concerto. What is frustrating for me on this recording is that it is basically a sampler: One variation of the Rhapsody on a theme by Paganini; one movement of a sonata by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. One of 17 pieces of Schumann’s Kinderszenen, Op. 15, etc. One would think that Lang Lang knows that most folks — in particular Lang’s fans — are not likely to be satisfied by such amalgamation of truncated compositions by different composers.

If you are willing to look at this recording for what it is, then you may well be satisfied. For the rest of you, it may be better to explore recordings by Lang Lang that contain an entire musical work. As a result you’ll be able to enjoy the composition itself, as well as the performer’s outstanding capabilities!

While we are talking about extracts, here’s a portion of Lang Lang’s performance of the Chopin concerto #1 for Piano and Orchestra: