{"id":118020,"date":"2025-10-01T10:56:52","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T14:56:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=118020"},"modified":"2025-10-01T10:56:52","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T14:56:52","slug":"interview-pianist-lang-lang-talks-upcoming-album-piano-book-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/10\/01\/interview-pianist-lang-lang-talks-upcoming-album-piano-book-2\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW | Pianist Lang Lang Talks About His Upcoming Album: Piano Book 2"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Classical
Pianist Lang Lang (Photo: Sonja Mueller)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lang Lang recently lit up the stage of Roy Thomson Hall<\/a> with his idiosyncratic interpretation of Beethoven\u2019s \u201cEmperor\u201d Concerto, in a performance with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. In addition to a string of live performances, he\u2019s also promoting the release of his latest album, a follow up to 2019\u2019s hugely successful Piano Book.<\/p>\n

Lang Lang\u2019s reach as an artist goes far beyond the usual classical music crowd, and into the mainstream of popular culture. His digital tracks have had more than 2.3 billion streams to date, with a social media following of more than 29 million.<\/p>\n

His Piano Book 2, out October 17 on the Deutsche Grammophon label, offers another set of basic piano repertoire with his virtuosic touch.<\/p>\n

\"Pianist
Pianist Lang Lang (Photo: Sonja Mueller)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lang Lang<\/h2>\n

While he needs no introduction, the virtuoso pianist\u2019s background is worth repeating. Lang Lang began playing the piano at three, and had given his first public recital before he turned five. He began studying at the Central Music Conservatory in Beijing at age nine, and at the age of 13, won the First Prize at the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d go on to study at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, and got his first big break at the age of 17 when he was called in to sub for Andr\u00e9 Watts at the Gala of the Century, playing Tchaikovsky\u2019s First Piano Concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He became an overnight sensation, and it launched his international career.<\/p>\n

Today, alongside his performing career, he\u2019s concerned with education, and turning a younger generation on to the music he loves so much.<\/p>\n

LV caught up with him at the Universal Music studios in Toronto.<\/p>\n