Carnegie Hall and Shanghai Tang Celebrate Chinese Pianist Lang Lang

On the occasion of Carnegie Hall’s “Ancient Paths - Modern Voices” festival which celebrates Chinese art and artists, Shanghai Tang recently gave a cocktail reception honoring Lang Lang at its luxurious Madison Avenue boutique.

Carnegie Hall’s Executive and Artistic Director, Sir Clive Gillinson, used the event to focus on Lang Lang’s extraordinary career, and to draw attention to the Lang Lang International Music Foundation, which supports young Chinese musical talent.

Lang Lang himself made sure Sir Clive didn’t miss out on being presented with one of the blue silk scarves especially designed for the festival. Featuring a pattern of golden pianos, the scarf can also be purchased at Carnegie Hall’s gift shop – an example of classical music and clever marketing going hand in hand. The proceeds will benefit the Lang Lang Foundation.

 

The lavish “Ancient Paths - Modern Voices” festival gives New Yorkers an unprecedented opportunity to familiarize themselves with Chinese culture. It impresses by its range of events, as well as the variety of its New York City locations.

The guests of honor, including former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, and Chinese ambassador Zhou Wanzhong, point to the political significance of the festival, which goes way beyond a celebration of culture.

Besides artists like Yo-Yo Ma and Yundi Li, Mr. Lang is one of the superstars of the festival.

To better understand the phenomenon of his success one might want to read his autobiography, Journey of a Thousand Miles. Lang Lang’s long journey begins with the ramifications of the Cultural Revolution in China. Unable to realize their own artistic potential, some Chinese parents did their utmost to offer their children the possibilities they themselves were denied. Mr. Lang’s vivid account of his path to Western-style superstardom recalls his family's enormous efforts and personal sacrifices.

Article Author: Ilona Oltuski

Ilona Oltuski was born in Germany, where she studied art history and published her doctorate about the Bezalel art movement. She discovered her penchant for writing again much later, through another interest of hers, the piano. …

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