@SadisticPyro D'you know, I know exactly how you feel! I just read this autobiography of Martin Luther King and I can't tell you how racist it was. Do you know, it kept alluding to the fact that he was a black man over and over again? I mean, how racist is that?
@Bret6464 No, now that you mention it I see that of course it has nothing to do with race! I'm sure that without sharp-witted individuals like SadisticPyro and yourself I would never have worked that out on my own, and I would still think it was all a matter of general slitty-eyed-ness rather than an ability to play the piano. You know, I'll bet you were right on the ball when your driving instructor got out his tape measure and started to measure your penis...
@SadisticPyro BTW, Russians are also Asians, did you know that? Ever felt the need to discuss a Russian pianist's Asian heritage? No, I thought not. Because as we all know, Asians wear cone-shaped hats, work in paddy-fields and have slitty eyes. Unfortunately nobody told the Russians that. Especially not, strangely enough, their piano teachers. Or else they would be able to say when they hit a bum note, "it's okay, I'm just a bad pianist, it's not because I'm Asian or anything!"
@SadisticPyro Yes, well clearly Asians figure greatly into your subconscious, or you wouldn't keep going on about them all the time. Lang Lang's Rachmaninov 2 is not the best I have heard, I'd say because he seems to much on the attack, it doesn't need all the overemphasis he gives it. But then he's really young, so it would be fair to give him time. Oh, is he Asian? I didn't notice. Maybe he's wearing pink underwear too. Let's go SP, I'm sure we can waste a few hours on that subject...
How can anything I say be construed as racist? Race is irrelevant to music. Perhaps you're the one that's prejudiced, since you made 15 comments about Lang Lang being Asian.
There are a lot of people here that probably know more about Rachmaninoff -- and most likely can offer a lot of insight about the performance as a whole -- but I didn't care for what I see here in general -- that said, the low note in the left hand at the beginning is wildly out of control --I don't believe this string has a unison, it's definitely out of tune... possible voicing issue as to why it sticks out like a sore thumb, it sounds nothing like the rest of the piano--
..."but praising a piano virtuoso for technical skill would be like praising a novelist for "perfect spelling and grammar"....I am wondering whether this is maybe the stupidest comment I have ever hear in conjunction with music...or writing for that matter! Incredible.
Rachmaninoff was very fond of clocks, so I can imagine that those heavy notes in the beginning are like... clocks, still Lang Lang are playing them like he was hammering a nail.
I think most people criticize Lang Lang here because no.1 they dont really listen to much music and no. 2 because of LL's super over-expressions..... but if you dont actually see him play, just listen, it is beautiful. Although i must agree that in here, his left hand is too powerful.....
It has absolutely nothing to do with race, but for instance Kissins performance was much more, how shall I put this, emotional than Lang Lang's. Yes he may have perfect technique, but that's not what matters most in music.
To quote Gustav Mahler: "The most important thing in music is not written in the notes". By wich he means interpretation matters more. On this I fully agree with GhibliOmatiC.
Well yeah, you know, everybody's got their own opinion, and some people tend to pay a bit more attention to what they're hearing. Personally, all music is fine to me.
Oh gawd why is his left hand so freaking heavy - I get the image of a lumbering giant He lack any notion of subtlety in nearly everything he plays - even when he tries to do so. Lang Lang is a blunt as a hammer in his interpretation of this piece.
lol yes that was played to technical perfection but i personally did not like his interpretation either. idk about kissin but i know Cliburn does an absolutely beautiful job with the whole concerto.
Please hate on Asians more and claim that you're not. I love how there are no negative comments on the other video performances of this piece yet everyone here seems to have something negative to contribute. Coincidence? I think not. Just people who are jealous of Asia's success in recent years that are feeling bad because they aren't the only big bully on the playground. They will take every chance they can get to say they are inferior. Sickening.
Are you serious? Your comment is utterly illogical.
1. I can't speak for anyone else, but I personally dislike Lang Lang's interpretation of this piece. It has NOTHING to do with race. How many times do I have to defend myself? In fact, I like Jun Lin's rendition of Hungarian Rhapsody no.2 better than Horowitz's. It's about the pianist, not about race.
2. If you still think I'm racist...Guess what, son? I'm Asian. And I still don't like Lang Lang. :)
@judderwocky Why should I feel jealous towards that motherfucker ? just as I DON'T FEEL ANY JEALOUSY TOWARDS YOU MR.NOBODY FROM United States of Ass-holes ? I'm in a visual field & I don't care who play piano like an acrobat, I just don't like Lang Lang that's all, any thing wrong ?
@TheVaccumtube Why am I a jerk for pointing out you are a racist? I don't care what country you are from or what you think about me, but you should critique his work, not ethnicity and governmental structure which he is not responsible for.
Yes, Lang does borrow a bit from Liberace (from my home town), ie 'schamlz' flashy arm work, ecstatic expressions--is that such a bad thing? As long as he has the technique & temperment to back it all up--& he does. I think some concert goers like Lang cuz he's brought back showman qualities back to piano music. And don't anybody say it was never there!! Think of Lizst--listeners said he had a divine look on his face while playing--he had his detractors too--but they were in the minority.
Lang Lang has never played a piece the way it's supposed to be played. He's over done and too flowery. More of a circus artist than a musician. Ask any self respecting classical musician of what they think of Lang Lang.
@SuperWroclaw No, evgeny kissin is the greatest pianist of our generation. The golden age of pianists is gone, and now the world has to do with clowns like Lang Lang. In my conversations with classical professionals in the UK and US, everyone has said that he is not a true musician. He is more of a showman whinclaims to be a classical pianist. Big orchestras are hiring him because the serious music business isnt too well.
However, i have no right to impose my views. This is just my opinion.
@nev341 Music history tells us that even Mozart was often criticized during his time. The more people criticize Lang Lang, the more obvious it is that he is too good for others to even fathom his genius. Envy and hatred will never prevail....Lang Lang has a very unique style and the fact the he plays everything so effertlessly makes other people very angry because they will never get to his level...
@SuperWroclaw Mozart's music was never criticized. It always Followed the norms of his time. The only issue I have with Lang Lang is that he simply does not play pieces the way they're supposed to be played. Listen to kissin's version of this concerto and you'll see what I'm talking about. Lang Lang is flowery in dark and seductive places. His sense of interpretation is up the pole. I am not a professional pianist yet, but from a practical side, I know how much is done wrong.
@nev341 How would anyone know how anything is meant to be played... where you alive in Mozart's time?... no, did you hear any recordings from Mozart's time?... no, Did Mozart write specific instructions on how his music should be played... no! You have to remember that no matter how highly we regard these composers, they were normal humans like the rest of us, and even they would have played their own music in many different ways depending on their mood or simply on a whim!
@pianistsan Fortunately, we do have access to piano rolls made by Debussy and Rachmaninov in which they play their own music. Lang lang does not play it the way these composers would have wanted it to be played.
You must listen to other recordings of these pieces to know what i am talking about.
@nev341 I have listened to many many recordings of this piece, and I know exactly what you are trying to say, but music should never be played the same well. On top of that, Rachmaninov himself admitted that V.Horowitz's interpretation of Rachmaninov's third piano concerto was more suitable than his own! Just goes to show that even composers find better and more interesting ways that their own music can be played by various performers.
@pianistsan You may be right. A pianist must make a piece his own. I must point put though, that this first part is very dark and mysterious. Lang Lang does not seem to capture that essence. Hypothetically, if Rachmaninoff did hear this interpretation, I do not think he would have liked the way it is being played simply because it is flowery, not mysterious.
@nev341 We aren't aiming to please Rachmaninov though are we, he himself wrote it to perform to other people, and the world of music would definitely be very boring if the music was always played the way some people think was the "composers wish", there would be no variety. There is a reason that Lang Lang is the most famous pianist in the world at the moment! This is because, like it or not, his interpretation of music is extreme and very very different, I find it very interesting! O
@pianistsan On top of that, I don't actually like his Rachmaninov 2, but he has every right to play it like he does, and it is no doubt very clever and interesting, much more concert-stage-worthy than an average replication of what someone thought Rachmaninov would have wanted it to sound like without originality.
@pianistsan Fortunately, we do have access to piano rolls made by Debussy and Rachmaninov in which they play their own music. Lang lang does not play it the way these composers would have wanted it to be played.
You must listen to other recordings of these pieces to know what i am talking about.
His facial expressions and manerisms do not in any way, reflect on his musical ability. Anyone who denies that this beautful concerto is not played well ... seriously needs a hearing test and quick.
Enough with all the generalizations. Personally, I think Lang Lang failed to do Rachmaninoff justice - it has nothing to do with race.
He added a lot of extraneous flourishes, which DEFINITELY works for other pieces - but not this one. The intro is supposed to be powerful and seductive: not flowery.
I'm not saying Asians don't play classical music as well as Europeans - hell, I think Jun Lin played Liszts "Hungary Rhapsody no.2" better than Horowitz. But Lang Lang did not play this one well.
Not trying to flame here, but aren't you generalizing by saying that Rachmaninoff's music has to be played a specific way? Lang Lang played this difficult piece incredibly well, you just didn't enjoy the interpretation, thats really all it comes down to.
Music functions in the realm of the subjective - if I don't like a pianist's interpretation, then I don't think s/he played the piece well. Obviously I can't deny that he played this to technical perfection - but praising a piano virtuoso for technical skill would be like praising a novelist for "perfect spelling and grammar".
For musicians, especially ones at Lang Lang's "level", technical skill is only the bare minimum. Beyond that, artistry is what determines how well they play.
@SadisticPyro I don't think he played this well either. Too much at the beginning and he accentuated too much on the bass notes of each phrase. Doesn't sound like he played all the notes. I'm surprised Gergiev accepted this interpretation
@SadisticPyro Great comment, - it does have nothing to do with race, and I fully agree Jung Lin plays the Liszt HR2 better than Horowitz. BTW Jung Lin's Rachmaninoff, especially her Rach 3rd, is also surreal in technique and musicality - it's like hearing Rach himself :-)
IMO the all-time Rachmaninoff interpreters have been Rach himself, Gilels, Horowitz, Moiseiwitsch, Alexis Weissenberg (have you heard AW's Rach 2nd with the Berlin?) - and now it's Argerich and Jung Lin :-))
@Goktata Im from Europe and i dont like you call him a chinese rat. we europeans and americans got everything that they wont. Asian are hungry and want to get big, they spend alot of hours practicing for us to listen. gotaka spend alot of time playing cod and eat on mcdonalds ... fat american sht...
first of all, i'm not american or fat you idiot. secondly, if you little research his behaviours, you see he's like an idiot.
you're from norway, compare Leif Ove Andsnes and chinese rat Lang Lang, you'll see the difference between the classy and the childish attitudes, and musical soul of course.
More uncultured talking, can you play piano? do you know anything about classic music? or erudit music?you know that in score music is the same but when some one is going to play give life to that score, and each musician play the way like he feels, so, as no one is equal, there is very intrepertations for the same music, and you have to accept this. And thanks god there are very ways to play the same music, it would be boring...
I personally dislike Lang Lang a lot. He seems to suck all of the magic away... It's like he hears the beauty of the piece, and he definitely has passion, but it doesn't quite execute the way he thinks it does. Or maybe he's just delusional.
"Bang Bang" really is an appropriate name. IMHO he plays notes, not music.
While I hear much that is fresh in Lang Lang's playing, he can also be crass and vulgar. His affectations are infuriating, as when his bulging eyes and his bloated face do a perfect imitation of a frog getting electric shock treatments. Or he will stare at the entire orchestra as if not knowing where he is or what he's doing. This is the sort of disastrous nonsense that still manages to hold classical music up to ridicule among the uninitiated, and I think we can do without it.
After a while, all I could think of was oh please make it stop.
So I did.
As for people who ask can the critics do any better and look where he is now...
I don't have to be better or even play piano to express my belief that something isn't to my taste. Hell, Liberace was popular too but no one took him seriously as a pianist in the end.
Oh, and I'm an Asian, if that's supposed to make any difference.
His music is fantastically shocking in live performance. He is really a show man that could bring all the audience into his emotion. I think that's why he is so famous even under tons of criticisms.
His style is so personal and strong, that people usually treat his performance in two extreme ways. For me, I like his performance. His finger movement is so beautiful.
@wclmyy I've heard Pogorelich on stage doing Chopin's 2nd Concerto completely "wrong": I mean tempo and dynamics were comlepetely different from the sheet. Someone could say his style was too personal but the way he played it made you feel all the pain and struggle in his mind.
Lang Lang seems to be only outrageous and on his face you can read "Look what I'm doing! I'm playing Rachmaninoff's 2nd Concerto"
you guys are the worst critics ever. anybody that says he sucks doesnt have a reason as to why. and for some reason, 95% of the people that do say he sucks is a person of young age, probably because they see the way he expresses himself during his performances and their immaturity take over and automatically label him as a ugly or "bad" pianist.
The facts speak for themselves, he is where he is now for a reason.
He is well received pianist in recent years, but that might not denote that he's the greatest pianist. He is marketable. I realized the likes and dislikes of the artist is depend on what you're looking for. Or it might be the thing in your life that needs to be filled. I prefer that emotions stays inside of artist. Valery Gergiev says for audience it looks good with outward body motions but it is actually distraction.
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Racist bastards are here again. Lang-Lang is one of the best pianists of this century. He has a great technical skills and put sincere emotions when he's playing. Furthermore, he takes risks playing piano by doing his own unique interpretation rather than copying others' rendition. Deep down in your heart racist bastards, Lang-Lang is great. It's just pure jealousy. Asians are becoming better than other races. We asians are now ruling the world. America and Europe is on the decline. We rule.
@bobosierap You're calling people racist and you're here saying that Asians are ruling the world? I'm Chinese myself and I dislike Lang Lang's music. Race has nothing to do with it. Since you care so much about having "Asians rule the world", check out Yundi Li who is a much better pianist.
@bbisnothotkratos Should I believe that you're really a Chinese? phhbtt. Are you kidding me? How can you dislike Lang Lang's music? I must agree that Yundi Li is one of the greatest pianist this century but to disregard Lang-Lang is certainly absurd. What makes Lang-Lang great is that he does his own interpretation on every music he plays and not merely copying others' interpretation. Furthermore, he truly has a superb technical skills which make him able to play some pieces faster than others.
I can't play it at all. But i feel nth from hearing him play. Usually hearing people playing this piece, goose bumps would run down my back but... him... Nth...
He can't be 'Bang Bang' and 'lost amongst the strings' at the same time. His low Cs and Gs are more insistent here than some play them but I think it not intrusive. He is marginally faster than Ashkenazy which is generally acknowledged to be a slower interpretation. There may be a case of reverse-racism here: people don't like Lang Lang because he doesn't conform to the stereotypical Asian musician image - quiet, unassuming, polite, accurate and just 'nice'. Reverse racism is still racism.
@asdfhuliashduflasihf The critics here commented...Lang lang won because of his luck. Critics: His elder female classmate should have won him (fate and destiny).
Before the day of competition, each competitor can reherse with the orchestra once or twice. (totally no interaction). The orchestra had no idea WTF the competitors were doing.
And Lang lang was the final competitor. He heard the speed of the orchestra (with the other competitors) and adjusted his speed to the orchetra.
@parsifal3142 you're so stupid. he doesn't conform to the sterotypical asian musical image ? wtf, who are you to say that ? I'm Asian and that doesn't make sense at all. Stop acting as if you know all these stuff when actually you don't have a clue. So shut up and keep your amateur knowledge to yourself.
@mzkim3385 It's hard to make out what you are trying to say, except that you are Asian (and so am I) and that you think I don't know what I am talking about. All I am saying is: His tempo for this concerto is within the normal range. He is a great pianist, and he has a different playing style to some other musicians but so what? Why dislike someone just because they have idiosyncrasies - I don't dislike you just because you write funny.
@Aurelia249 i mean the beginning....well, i have a recording of this(not california orch)....n i don't find it as fast as lang lang's playing....oh well, maybe juz my subjective point of view tho....
i think he is an excellent but he could hold back on his left hand and bring out the right hand more in the beginning? or at least equalize the dynamic differences between both hands.
Just need to leave him alone. Stop disregarding him just because he is Chinese (and stop denying this fact and we all know that we are just jealous!) Deep down we all know that he is excellent as a young man and a musician (though we tend to lie to ourselves that he isn't). Time will tell how far he can go, but I am sure what he has achieved is more than enough! Yes, there are rooms for improvement, but I think he knows himself best!
@4DTHINKER Well, I don't like him at all, and surely not because he is Chinese, nor because I am jealous. I like Yundi Li who is Chinese and plays wonderfully. Lang Lang does not.
If one visited Moscow, only would understand this music. LL got the real Russian taste as I listened the entire DVD. LL's great job was recognized by Russian fans too.
Saying he is too aggressive is an understatement. He single handedly and absolutely turn a beautiful piece of music into junk with his over the top showmanship. Sure you can improvise music the way you wish but you should never deviate from the feelings the composer wanted it to convey. I hope bang bang never get invited ever again as a soloist, maybe apart from his own country who worship him.
Why did you come up with the conclusion that his own country worships him? All my friends who know Lang Lang hate him. Keep in mind: Deutsche Grammophon is not a Chinese company and Carnegie hall is certainly not in China either.
Personally, I think the reason why people dislike his interpretation is he doesn't connect with the music. It doesn't come from within. The music doesn't emanate from his heart and soul. He has style, technique, and the appearance of a great pianist, but I don't sense the emotional connection and understanding between himself and the music.
Sorry, but I didn't like it... Too agressive. Russians have this tendence to put powerful moves in their songs, but I think Lang Lang's interpretation is not powerful, but agressive...
@SadisticPyro D'you know, I know exactly how you feel! I just read this autobiography of Martin Luther King and I can't tell you how racist it was. Do you know, it kept alluding to the fact that he was a black man over and over again? I mean, how racist is that?
InvincibleIronyMan 1 month ago
The audio for the orchestra is excellent!!
Voime09 2 months ago
is this a piano or a hammer?
IRAN8443 2 months ago
Left hand got the better of him.
01panana 3 months ago
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@Bret6464 No, now that you mention it I see that of course it has nothing to do with race! I'm sure that without sharp-witted individuals like SadisticPyro and yourself I would never have worked that out on my own, and I would still think it was all a matter of general slitty-eyed-ness rather than an ability to play the piano. You know, I'll bet you were right on the ball when your driving instructor got out his tape measure and started to measure your penis...
InvincibleIronyMan 4 months ago
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InvincibleIronyMan 4 months ago
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InvincibleIronyMan 4 months ago
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@SadisticPyro BTW, Russians are also Asians, did you know that? Ever felt the need to discuss a Russian pianist's Asian heritage? No, I thought not. Because as we all know, Asians wear cone-shaped hats, work in paddy-fields and have slitty eyes. Unfortunately nobody told the Russians that. Especially not, strangely enough, their piano teachers. Or else they would be able to say when they hit a bum note, "it's okay, I'm just a bad pianist, it's not because I'm Asian or anything!"
InvincibleIronyMan 4 months ago
@SadisticPyro Yes, well clearly Asians figure greatly into your subconscious, or you wouldn't keep going on about them all the time. Lang Lang's Rachmaninov 2 is not the best I have heard, I'd say because he seems to much on the attack, it doesn't need all the overemphasis he gives it. But then he's really young, so it would be fair to give him time. Oh, is he Asian? I didn't notice. Maybe he's wearing pink underwear too. Let's go SP, I'm sure we can waste a few hours on that subject...
InvincibleIronyMan 4 months ago
@InvincibleIronyMan
How can anything I say be construed as racist? Race is irrelevant to music. Perhaps you're the one that's prejudiced, since you made 15 comments about Lang Lang being Asian.
SadisticPyro 1 month ago
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Hey guys I've just made a cover/tutorial of the second movement.
Please check it out.
watch?v=QC20TflliGQ
theFforlife 4 months ago
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP WITH HAMMER !!!
MrAlexandarPesic 4 months ago 2
thump, thump, thump...
lourak 4 months ago
I haven't heard anyone with a better left hand than Lang's for this concerto.
dasteufelhund 4 months ago
I thought it was okay. It was just the first part (which is the nicest part and my favourite part) that really didn't sound right.
stoprainlty 4 months ago
Lang Lang is Craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap!
PianoBart958 6 months ago
That's nothing compared to Evgeny Kissin.
AirplanesD 6 months ago
durian head :D
yohbyo 6 months ago
This is boring.
piax00 7 months ago
Lang Lang is ok. But for Rachmaninov No.2, I prefer Richter, van Cliburn, and Rachmaninov himself.
astcal 7 months ago
The beginning of this first movement in this video was truncated. sucks.
scottlum 7 months ago
Tuntiger sino-amerikanischer Musikroboter, ohne Herz und ohne Stil - und vor allem mit "null" Verständnis für slawische Musik ...
Er sollte Kurz-Schnurz heissen - und nicht Lang Lang ...
MegaNelson8 8 months ago
Perfectly performed, the left hand really does sound like the Russian bells Rachmaninoff wanted.
ImmortalSpecies 8 months ago
There are a lot of people here that probably know more about Rachmaninoff -- and most likely can offer a lot of insight about the performance as a whole -- but I didn't care for what I see here in general -- that said, the low note in the left hand at the beginning is wildly out of control --I don't believe this string has a unison, it's definitely out of tune... possible voicing issue as to why it sticks out like a sore thumb, it sounds nothing like the rest of the piano--
Sheckywoo 8 months ago
Rachmaninoff,himself played better!
wadsatter 8 months ago
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..."but praising a piano virtuoso for technical skill would be like praising a novelist for "perfect spelling and grammar"....I am wondering whether this is maybe the stupidest comment I have ever hear in conjunction with music...or writing for that matter! Incredible.
anyardsroad 8 months ago
I've CD of several versions. Be honest, this "powerful left hand version" is my favorite among all.
allthewaythrough 8 months ago
Rachmaninoff was very fond of clocks, so I can imagine that those heavy notes in the beginning are like... clocks, still Lang Lang are playing them like he was hammering a nail.
Chopofiev 8 months ago
@Chopofiev Those clocks I believe represent the Russian bells.
ImmortalSpecies 8 months ago
omg, is that Gergiev conducting? Is he rushing cos his wife is delivering soon??? It's so rushed!!!!
chatbud 8 months ago
I think most people criticize Lang Lang here because no.1 they dont really listen to much music and no. 2 because of LL's super over-expressions..... but if you dont actually see him play, just listen, it is beautiful. Although i must agree that in here, his left hand is too powerful.....
theodora2005 8 months ago
@leongradoazz
It has absolutely nothing to do with race, but for instance Kissins performance was much more, how shall I put this, emotional than Lang Lang's. Yes he may have perfect technique, but that's not what matters most in music.
To quote Gustav Mahler: "The most important thing in music is not written in the notes". By wich he means interpretation matters more. On this I fully agree with GhibliOmatiC.
leonvdb60 8 months ago
It's people like Rachmaninov that h ave me in love with Russia.
SpeedyPerez210 9 months ago
It's kinda shameful to me that I have same hairstyle with LL... I'm gonna grow my hair up!!
Oistrakhfollower 9 months ago
His fingers in left hand is somewhat too POWERFUL
lkwroger 9 months ago
Well yeah, you know, everybody's got their own opinion, and some people tend to pay a bit more attention to what they're hearing. Personally, all music is fine to me.
Totomisea 9 months ago
Oh gawd why is his left hand so freaking heavy - I get the image of a lumbering giant He lack any notion of subtlety in nearly everything he plays - even when he tries to do so. Lang Lang is a blunt as a hammer in his interpretation of this piece.
GhibliOmatiC 9 months ago
lol yes that was played to technical perfection but i personally did not like his interpretation either. idk about kissin but i know Cliburn does an absolutely beautiful job with the whole concerto.
ehhhhhhhhsmackkkkehh 10 months ago
Please hate on Asians more and claim that you're not. I love how there are no negative comments on the other video performances of this piece yet everyone here seems to have something negative to contribute. Coincidence? I think not. Just people who are jealous of Asia's success in recent years that are feeling bad because they aren't the only big bully on the playground. They will take every chance they can get to say they are inferior. Sickening.
leongradoazz 10 months ago
@leongradoazz
Are you serious? Your comment is utterly illogical.
1. I can't speak for anyone else, but I personally dislike Lang Lang's interpretation of this piece. It has NOTHING to do with race. How many times do I have to defend myself? In fact, I like Jun Lin's rendition of Hungarian Rhapsody no.2 better than Horowitz's. It's about the pianist, not about race.
2. If you still think I'm racist...Guess what, son? I'm Asian. And I still don't like Lang Lang. :)
SadisticPyro 1 month ago
There is only one word to describe what is 'Lang Lang' this Chink-Communist bred bastard : AN ACROBAT WHO PLAYS PIANO. Period.
TheVaccumtube 10 months ago
@TheVaccumtube wow... jealous much?
judderwocky 9 months ago
@judderwocky Why should I feel jealous towards that motherfucker ? just as I DON'T FEEL ANY JEALOUSY TOWARDS YOU MR.NOBODY FROM United States of Ass-holes ? I'm in a visual field & I don't care who play piano like an acrobat, I just don't like Lang Lang that's all, any thing wrong ?
TheVaccumtube 9 months ago
@TheVaccumtube Why am I a jerk for pointing out you are a racist? I don't care what country you are from or what you think about me, but you should critique his work, not ethnicity and governmental structure which he is not responsible for.
judderwocky 9 months ago
i would like to play piano like lang lang
gurprando 11 months ago
Yes, Lang does borrow a bit from Liberace (from my home town), ie 'schamlz' flashy arm work, ecstatic expressions--is that such a bad thing? As long as he has the technique & temperment to back it all up--& he does. I think some concert goers like Lang cuz he's brought back showman qualities back to piano music. And don't anybody say it was never there!! Think of Lizst--listeners said he had a divine look on his face while playing--he had his detractors too--but they were in the minority.
windstorm1000 11 months ago
He's playing the bass too loud at beginning.
windstorm1000 11 months ago
He's better cut out for Liszt and Prokofiev.
forgottenbooks 1 year ago
he is awsome
i mean better than awsome
way better than awsome
you may be wondering why i spell awsome like this
because its awsome
TheHuaHu 1 year ago
Lang Lang is a nobody piece of crap imposter. I'm sick of him and his disgusting gestures and self-importance, and his banging and ego and arrogance.
goodguysdoll 1 year ago
@goodguysdoll ... sillybilly =P
pianistsan 1 year ago
At the beginning, I only can hear the bass...
Oistrakhfollower 1 year ago
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SuperWroclaw 1 year ago
abousletley fanominal evryone who hates lang lang needs to go to mental institute
gevirtz 1 year ago
Everyone that hates Lang Lang needs to get over themselves.....
ksp78945 1 year ago
the "LOVE" concerto. Play it while sitting with your sweetheart, wine glasses in hand, in front of a roaring fire and watch the romance happen!
windstorm1000 1 year ago
Lang Lang has never played a piece the way it's supposed to be played. He's over done and too flowery. More of a circus artist than a musician. Ask any self respecting classical musician of what they think of Lang Lang.
nev341 1 year ago
@nev341 And who are you to criticize Lang Lang?? He is by far the world's greatest and most sought after pianist these days...
SuperWroclaw 1 year ago
@SuperWroclaw No, evgeny kissin is the greatest pianist of our generation. The golden age of pianists is gone, and now the world has to do with clowns like Lang Lang. In my conversations with classical professionals in the UK and US, everyone has said that he is not a true musician. He is more of a showman whinclaims to be a classical pianist. Big orchestras are hiring him because the serious music business isnt too well.
However, i have no right to impose my views. This is just my opinion.
nev341 1 year ago
@nev341 Music history tells us that even Mozart was often criticized during his time. The more people criticize Lang Lang, the more obvious it is that he is too good for others to even fathom his genius. Envy and hatred will never prevail....Lang Lang has a very unique style and the fact the he plays everything so effertlessly makes other people very angry because they will never get to his level...
SuperWroclaw 1 year ago
@SuperWroclaw Mozart's music was never criticized. It always Followed the norms of his time. The only issue I have with Lang Lang is that he simply does not play pieces the way they're supposed to be played. Listen to kissin's version of this concerto and you'll see what I'm talking about. Lang Lang is flowery in dark and seductive places. His sense of interpretation is up the pole. I am not a professional pianist yet, but from a practical side, I know how much is done wrong.
nev341 1 year ago
@nev341 How would anyone know how anything is meant to be played... where you alive in Mozart's time?... no, did you hear any recordings from Mozart's time?... no, Did Mozart write specific instructions on how his music should be played... no! You have to remember that no matter how highly we regard these composers, they were normal humans like the rest of us, and even they would have played their own music in many different ways depending on their mood or simply on a whim!
pianistsan 1 year ago
@pianistsan Fortunately, we do have access to piano rolls made by Debussy and Rachmaninov in which they play their own music. Lang lang does not play it the way these composers would have wanted it to be played.
You must listen to other recordings of these pieces to know what i am talking about.
nev341 1 year ago
@nev341 I have listened to many many recordings of this piece, and I know exactly what you are trying to say, but music should never be played the same well. On top of that, Rachmaninov himself admitted that V.Horowitz's interpretation of Rachmaninov's third piano concerto was more suitable than his own! Just goes to show that even composers find better and more interesting ways that their own music can be played by various performers.
pianistsan 1 year ago
@pianistsan You may be right. A pianist must make a piece his own. I must point put though, that this first part is very dark and mysterious. Lang Lang does not seem to capture that essence. Hypothetically, if Rachmaninoff did hear this interpretation, I do not think he would have liked the way it is being played simply because it is flowery, not mysterious.
nev341 1 year ago
@nev341 We aren't aiming to please Rachmaninov though are we, he himself wrote it to perform to other people, and the world of music would definitely be very boring if the music was always played the way some people think was the "composers wish", there would be no variety. There is a reason that Lang Lang is the most famous pianist in the world at the moment! This is because, like it or not, his interpretation of music is extreme and very very different, I find it very interesting! O
pianistsan 1 year ago
@pianistsan On top of that, I don't actually like his Rachmaninov 2, but he has every right to play it like he does, and it is no doubt very clever and interesting, much more concert-stage-worthy than an average replication of what someone thought Rachmaninov would have wanted it to sound like without originality.
pianistsan 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@pianistsan Fortunately, we do have access to piano rolls made by Debussy and Rachmaninov in which they play their own music. Lang lang does not play it the way these composers would have wanted it to be played.
You must listen to other recordings of these pieces to know what i am talking about.
nev341 1 year ago
@SuperWroclaw
I think there is a difference between genius and prodigy.
Lang Lang is a prodigy.
Mozart was a genius.
googenshlagen 1 year ago
accentuating the baseline can be overdone
powderski11 1 year ago
WHERE'S THE FULL THING?
BennyI 1 year ago
His facial expressions and manerisms do not in any way, reflect on his musical ability. Anyone who denies that this beautful concerto is not played well ... seriously needs a hearing test and quick.
LoftyProduction 1 year ago
i guess you guys wouldn't have liked Liberace either
diddyo33 1 year ago
@diddyo33 Great comparison!!
gtimny 1 year ago
you good!
xxblue123xx 1 year ago
we may not like him, but he is still a world renowned pianist
dmitry1337 1 year ago
Enough with all the generalizations. Personally, I think Lang Lang failed to do Rachmaninoff justice - it has nothing to do with race.
He added a lot of extraneous flourishes, which DEFINITELY works for other pieces - but not this one. The intro is supposed to be powerful and seductive: not flowery.
I'm not saying Asians don't play classical music as well as Europeans - hell, I think Jun Lin played Liszts "Hungary Rhapsody no.2" better than Horowitz. But Lang Lang did not play this one well.
SadisticPyro 1 year ago 48
@SadisticPyro
europeans suck at playing piano
you know that lang lang is the top piano playing person in the world now you know
TheHuaHu 1 year ago
@SadisticPyro
Not trying to flame here, but aren't you generalizing by saying that Rachmaninoff's music has to be played a specific way? Lang Lang played this difficult piece incredibly well, you just didn't enjoy the interpretation, thats really all it comes down to.
phi223 11 months ago
@phi223
Music functions in the realm of the subjective - if I don't like a pianist's interpretation, then I don't think s/he played the piece well. Obviously I can't deny that he played this to technical perfection - but praising a piano virtuoso for technical skill would be like praising a novelist for "perfect spelling and grammar".
For musicians, especially ones at Lang Lang's "level", technical skill is only the bare minimum. Beyond that, artistry is what determines how well they play.
SadisticPyro 11 months ago 33
@SadisticPyro Brilliantly said
F0XD0NUT 2 months ago
@SadisticPyro maybe you are just racist?...
PIAN0life 1 month ago
@PIAN0life
No, I'm not. I don't like Lang Lang's interpretation of the piece; it doesn't mean I'm racist. Race is irrelevant when it comes to music.
SadisticPyro 1 month ago
@SadisticPyro I don't think he played this well either. Too much at the beginning and he accentuated too much on the bass notes of each phrase. Doesn't sound like he played all the notes. I'm surprised Gergiev accepted this interpretation
Philosochen 11 months ago
@SadisticPyro he played much better than kissin.
fadmee 8 months ago
@SadisticPyro Great comment, - it does have nothing to do with race, and I fully agree Jung Lin plays the Liszt HR2 better than Horowitz. BTW Jung Lin's Rachmaninoff, especially her Rach 3rd, is also surreal in technique and musicality - it's like hearing Rach himself :-)
IMO the all-time Rachmaninoff interpreters have been Rach himself, Gilels, Horowitz, Moiseiwitsch, Alexis Weissenberg (have you heard AW's Rach 2nd with the Berlin?) - and now it's Argerich and Jung Lin :-))
Bret6464 5 months ago 5
@SadisticPyro - Well said about Lang Lang's Rachmininov no.2 too flowery. He was good with Chopin's Etude.
rliew 5 months ago
absolutely love this piece of music! Rachmaninov is GENIUS - favorite work ever haha
xxmikaela89xx 1 year ago
fuck off racists
Piggywarz 1 year ago
fucking chinese rat with no soul.
Goktata 1 year ago
@Goktata well u are so FUCKING racist D:《
DarkPhoenix925 1 year ago
@DarkPhoenix925
thanks for your compliment :)
Goktata 1 year ago
@Goktata does it even relate to chinese?
evaaaaan1001 1 year ago
@Goktata Im from Europe and i dont like you call him a chinese rat. we europeans and americans got everything that they wont. Asian are hungry and want to get big, they spend alot of hours practicing for us to listen. gotaka spend alot of time playing cod and eat on mcdonalds ... fat american sht...
PeterFerdinand96 1 year ago
@PeterFerdinand96
first of all, i'm not american or fat you idiot. secondly, if you little research his behaviours, you see he's like an idiot.
you're from norway, compare Leif Ove Andsnes and chinese rat Lang Lang, you'll see the difference between the classy and the childish attitudes, and musical soul of course.
Goktata 1 year ago
You need soul to play classical music, and everyone knows Asians don't have souls (South Park taught us that).
4rkadi 1 year ago
@4rkadi best comment
Resonance86 1 year ago
And one more thing, if only you can play one miléssimo that he play's you maybe gona be a great pianist and would not do excused comment's
P.S. Sry for the english
Siul4291 1 year ago
More uncultured talking, can you play piano? do you know anything about classic music? or erudit music?you know that in score music is the same but when some one is going to play give life to that score, and each musician play the way like he feels, so, as no one is equal, there is very intrepertations for the same music, and you have to accept this. And thanks god there are very ways to play the same music, it would be boring...
Siul4291 1 year ago
he is just fast, he doesn't have the culture and knowledge to play rachmaninov. he really is BANGBANG
nimesse 1 year ago
Ew, stop banging the bass cleff man, you're better than that.
Shankovich 1 year ago
it's horrible
s204458 1 year ago
I personally dislike Lang Lang a lot. He seems to suck all of the magic away... It's like he hears the beauty of the piece, and he definitely has passion, but it doesn't quite execute the way he thinks it does. Or maybe he's just delusional.
"Bang Bang" really is an appropriate name. IMHO he plays notes, not music.
ooplex 1 year ago
bang bang, bang bang, bang bang, bang bang, oh bang bang why are you so self centered?
kln1997 1 year ago
While I hear much that is fresh in Lang Lang's playing, he can also be crass and vulgar. His affectations are infuriating, as when his bulging eyes and his bloated face do a perfect imitation of a frog getting electric shock treatments. Or he will stare at the entire orchestra as if not knowing where he is or what he's doing. This is the sort of disastrous nonsense that still manages to hold classical music up to ridicule among the uninitiated, and I think we can do without it.
mvolkov11 1 year ago 2
I personally prefer Kissin's version, check /watch?v=4Ud_wGMXRnQ
I dont say he is bad, i cant even play piano at all.. but there are few better playing pianists so why should i watch Bang Bang :)
lamicorp 1 year ago 2
-.-
AFilipaM 1 year ago
I was curious so I clicked on the video.
After a while, all I could think of was oh please make it stop.
So I did.
As for people who ask can the critics do any better and look where he is now...
I don't have to be better or even play piano to express my belief that something isn't to my taste. Hell, Liberace was popular too but no one took him seriously as a pianist in the end.
Oh, and I'm an Asian, if that's supposed to make any difference.
poursuivant1 1 year ago
Give him a chance. I heard him live in Rachmaninov some years ago and he was outstanding.
cattleman6420012000 1 year ago
@cattleman6420012000
His music is fantastically shocking in live performance. He is really a show man that could bring all the audience into his emotion. I think that's why he is so famous even under tons of criticisms.
His style is so personal and strong, that people usually treat his performance in two extreme ways. For me, I like his performance. His finger movement is so beautiful.
wclmyy 1 year ago
@wclmyy I've heard Pogorelich on stage doing Chopin's 2nd Concerto completely "wrong": I mean tempo and dynamics were comlepetely different from the sheet. Someone could say his style was too personal but the way he played it made you feel all the pain and struggle in his mind.
Lang Lang seems to be only outrageous and on his face you can read "Look what I'm doing! I'm playing Rachmaninoff's 2nd Concerto"
MASTERCARDUZ 1 year ago 3
@wclmyy couldn't agree more!
nicopetut 1 year ago
you guys are the worst critics ever. anybody that says he sucks doesnt have a reason as to why. and for some reason, 95% of the people that do say he sucks is a person of young age, probably because they see the way he expresses himself during his performances and their immaturity take over and automatically label him as a ugly or "bad" pianist.
The facts speak for themselves, he is where he is now for a reason.
artymowycz 1 year ago
he is surely the yanni of classical music
1106davis 1 year ago
Yah, his mistake is having a personality. He sleeps nights. You lie awake crying in your anonymity . Play on!
birdland5 1 year ago
@birdland5 i just <3 what you said, bro!
ozyush 1 year ago
bang bang sure knows how to ruin great music.
korglove 1 year ago
He is well received pianist in recent years, but that might not denote that he's the greatest pianist. He is marketable. I realized the likes and dislikes of the artist is depend on what you're looking for. Or it might be the thing in your life that needs to be filled. I prefer that emotions stays inside of artist. Valery Gergiev says for audience it looks good with outward body motions but it is actually distraction.
hanskulainen 1 year ago
Excelente!!! Lang Lang, pianista virtuosisimo me encantas!!
aida700312 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Racist bastards are here again. Lang-Lang is one of the best pianists of this century. He has a great technical skills and put sincere emotions when he's playing. Furthermore, he takes risks playing piano by doing his own unique interpretation rather than copying others' rendition. Deep down in your heart racist bastards, Lang-Lang is great. It's just pure jealousy. Asians are becoming better than other races. We asians are now ruling the world. America and Europe is on the decline. We rule.
bobosierap 1 year ago
@bobosierap You're calling people racist and you're here saying that Asians are ruling the world? I'm Chinese myself and I dislike Lang Lang's music. Race has nothing to do with it. Since you care so much about having "Asians rule the world", check out Yundi Li who is a much better pianist.
bbisnothotkratos 1 year ago 3
@bbisnothotkratos Should I believe that you're really a Chinese? phhbtt. Are you kidding me? How can you dislike Lang Lang's music? I must agree that Yundi Li is one of the greatest pianist this century but to disregard Lang-Lang is certainly absurd. What makes Lang-Lang great is that he does his own interpretation on every music he plays and not merely copying others' interpretation. Furthermore, he truly has a superb technical skills which make him able to play some pieces faster than others.
bobosierap 1 year ago
@bobosierap I agree! bbisnothotkratos is not right! We asians RULE THE WORLD! He is Bang Bang in a different way. Bang means brilliant in Chinese!
ThePVGS1 1 year ago
@ThePVGS1 Yeah. We should not let the American people degrade our race anymore. We are the best.
bobosierap 1 year ago
It is to heavy for me.. Listen to Krystian Zimerman's perform and you will hear genius flying bass.
piaanist 1 year ago
good job for starting the recording 2 minutes late
T1carus 1 year ago
I don't get why didn't they make this concert into a DVD.. :(
I really love this piece and how lang lang interpreted it.. Really wish I could watch it in action.
Thanks a lot for sharing!
DavePianist 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
WHY DIDN"T THEY MAKE A DVD OUT OF THE WHOLE CONCERT, DAMN IT! >_<
DavePianist 1 year ago
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BassicStorm 1 year ago
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BassicStorm 1 year ago
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BassicStorm 1 year ago
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BassicStorm 1 year ago
Lang Lang - Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2 - 1st Movement
ac3761G 1 year ago
Bang Bang, he shot me down Bang Bang...
Screw the song big time
reiranz 1 year ago
there isn't much within yeah, agrees.
mackerelcloud 1 year ago
il mérite un beau bol de riz le gars.
halfalaize 1 year ago
I can't play it at all. But i feel nth from hearing him play. Usually hearing people playing this piece, goose bumps would run down my back but... him... Nth...
xkiller1993x 1 year ago
He can't be 'Bang Bang' and 'lost amongst the strings' at the same time. His low Cs and Gs are more insistent here than some play them but I think it not intrusive. He is marginally faster than Ashkenazy which is generally acknowledged to be a slower interpretation. There may be a case of reverse-racism here: people don't like Lang Lang because he doesn't conform to the stereotypical Asian musician image - quiet, unassuming, polite, accurate and just 'nice'. Reverse racism is still racism.
parsifal3142 1 year ago 3
@parsifal3142
I'm Chinese. I'm not a fan of his playing. Are you going to call me a self-hating chink?
asdfhuliashduflasihf 1 year ago 21
@asdfhuliashduflasihf
your stupid
BEEP
TheHuaHu 1 year ago
@asdfhuliashduflasihf why would make a name like that wtf
permatroll 11 months ago
@asdfhuliashduflasihf The critics here commented...Lang lang won because of his luck. Critics: His elder female classmate should have won him (fate and destiny).
Before the day of competition, each competitor can reherse with the orchestra once or twice. (totally no interaction). The orchestra had no idea WTF the competitors were doing.
And Lang lang was the final competitor. He heard the speed of the orchestra (with the other competitors) and adjusted his speed to the orchetra.
foreverfluteplayer 11 months ago
@parsifal3142 you're so stupid. he doesn't conform to the sterotypical asian musical image ? wtf, who are you to say that ? I'm Asian and that doesn't make sense at all. Stop acting as if you know all these stuff when actually you don't have a clue. So shut up and keep your amateur knowledge to yourself.
mzkim3385 1 year ago
@mzkim3385 It's hard to make out what you are trying to say, except that you are Asian (and so am I) and that you think I don't know what I am talking about. All I am saying is: His tempo for this concerto is within the normal range. He is a great pianist, and he has a different playing style to some other musicians but so what? Why dislike someone just because they have idiosyncrasies - I don't dislike you just because you write funny.
parsifal3142 1 year ago 3
too fast....its supposed 2b movt 1-moderato, i dont think this is not moderato....
whetygorlie 1 year ago
@whetygorlie too fast? look at the original playing of Rachmaninoff with the california orch., and you'll see he plays way more faster.
Aurelia249 1 year ago
@Aurelia249 i mean the beginning....well, i have a recording of this(not california orch)....n i don't find it as fast as lang lang's playing....oh well, maybe juz my subjective point of view tho....
whetygorlie 1 year ago
He may be an excellent pianist but it's a PIANO concerto but the piano part is lost amongst the strings.
jwywong 1 year ago
Lang Lang is good, but he can't play Rachmaninoff's _ __*
theshjt1 1 year ago
u guys just can't accept a different way of playing. that's just a pianist's job. to create new ways of interpreting a piano piece.
Musicownz1997 1 year ago 21
@Musicownz1997 he dont interprate this piece in a new way....he plays it just like a show
Handeltasche 1 year ago 2
To all you critics...he's young, smart and talented , everything you're probably NOT!
MrJuandaful 1 year ago 7
i think he is an excellent but he could hold back on his left hand and bring out the right hand more in the beginning? or at least equalize the dynamic differences between both hands.
thesilentone13 1 year ago
agreed, this is bang-bang... Compare with Richter, Van Cliburn or Weissenberg...
duffault05 1 year ago
Just need to leave him alone. Stop disregarding him just because he is Chinese (and stop denying this fact and we all know that we are just jealous!) Deep down we all know that he is excellent as a young man and a musician (though we tend to lie to ourselves that he isn't). Time will tell how far he can go, but I am sure what he has achieved is more than enough! Yes, there are rooms for improvement, but I think he knows himself best!
4DTHINKER 1 year ago
@4DTHINKER Well, I don't like him at all, and surely not because he is Chinese, nor because I am jealous. I like Yundi Li who is Chinese and plays wonderfully. Lang Lang does not.
blichilde 1 year ago
Dear owner of this clip. You should write that this is only a little part of Movement 1, but not complete. This is a misleading caption.
lmaxim 1 year ago
Lang Lang would do better to record Tippett's beautiful piano concerto which he has a much better affinity with-
japanesesweet 1 year ago
lol this seems fairly mediocre after watching kissin's interpretation
mypalsatan 1 year ago
everyone has their own interpretation of music.. no need to mock him or whatsoever..
boniangk 1 year ago
barf
cutepossession 1 year ago
Oh noes! he made a mistake! :O
Colismoon 1 year ago
This guy is a robot. He can play anything, but he doesn't understand anything as well.
RcteChile 1 year ago
true, true, och, so true
like all fabrical pianists from Asia
MonsieurAramis 1 year ago
надо признать,это позерство и не более того!!
dmitrykrivonosov 1 year ago
If one visited Moscow, only would understand this music. LL got the real Russian taste as I listened the entire DVD. LL's great job was recognized by Russian fans too.
gc0619 1 year ago
haha ~~~~~~ is he the famous pianist Bang Bang ??
gcaee 1 year ago
nyet. sorry .
sonozoltan 1 year ago
Saying he is too aggressive is an understatement. He single handedly and absolutely turn a beautiful piece of music into junk with his over the top showmanship. Sure you can improvise music the way you wish but you should never deviate from the feelings the composer wanted it to convey. I hope bang bang never get invited ever again as a soloist, maybe apart from his own country who worship him.
NellyJamba 2 years ago
Why did you come up with the conclusion that his own country worships him? All my friends who know Lang Lang hate him. Keep in mind: Deutsche Grammophon is not a Chinese company and Carnegie hall is certainly not in China either.
h5yeah 1 year ago 2
Wrong mate. Even people here in Australia worship him also.
genxdarkangel 1 year ago
Personally, I think the reason why people dislike his interpretation is he doesn't connect with the music. It doesn't come from within. The music doesn't emanate from his heart and soul. He has style, technique, and the appearance of a great pianist, but I don't sense the emotional connection and understanding between himself and the music.
nolaughingmatter 2 years ago 3
too agressive :S
SenoraFabregas 2 years ago
Sorry, but I didn't like it... Too agressive. Russians have this tendence to put powerful moves in their songs, but I think Lang Lang's interpretation is not powerful, but agressive...
LuizVotto 2 years ago 4
once again Bang Bang ruins one of my favorite pieces.
XxMalcolm 2 years ago 44
@XxMalcolm XD Bang Bang
SenoraFabregas 2 years ago 2