Results tagged “langlang”

The music season on Wednesday night, with a sparkling opening night gala. The evening started with complimentary champagne in the hallways of Davies Symphony Hall, because nothing lubricates appreciation for music better than bubbly. Still, two women left the hall after the national anthem, because there is only so much orchestral music than one can put up with, even inebriated. The bemused look on Michael Tilsson Thomas' face as they left was priceless.

Lang Lang's appeal draws beyond the boundaries of classical music. Lang Lang is "the Yao Ming of the piano." You don't get to become a global mega-star by showing restraint and humility and understated sophistication. Since we last saw him here two years ago, he became the face of the Olympics, performing during the Opening ceremony, and received endorsements by Audi, Sony or Rolex.Ca-shing! Check that clip above of him playing the Yellow River concerto in a red tuxedo on a red piano, and you get everything that's wrong with him: tacky and kitschy, he's that close from making Elton John look refined. Lang Lang and Chopin, paired in a symphony series last week, seemed a match made in heaven: over the top, schmaltzy, Romanticism on steroids. Perfect for swooning teenage girls. Boy were we wrong: Lang Lang's performance of Chopin 1st piano concerto was, aside a sparkling brooch affixed to his black jacket which was missing its companion tiara, a model of taste and refinement. It was spec-ta-cu-lar.

If you're still recovering from the comment war over the Western-calendar New Year dance party with the Falun Gong, we've got a nice non-sectarian Chinese New Year musical performance with the SF Symphony to soothe your spirits!

Lang Lang opened a series of sold-out performances with the SF Symphony on Wednesday night. The pianist headlined a concert at Davies Symphony Hall, which also included the US premiere of The Flight of Icarus by John Pickard and a Haydn symphony.