Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 4

Lang Lang delivers his first ever Beethoven recording, a stunning reading of the extensive Concerto no. 4 and the jubilant Concerto no. 1. Joined by mentor and close friend Christoph Eschenbach and his superb Orchestre de Paris, Lang Lang's performance gives further proof as to why he is one of today's most acclaimed pianists. What a beautiful recording! Perhaps the most exciting thing about Lang Lang's playing is that when he plays softly and lyrically, he doesn't sound as if he's holding back; when he opts to stomp and yell, it sounds equally natural. The First Concerto is played with lightness and bounce in the outer movements and is as tuneful as imaginable in the stunning second movement's Largo. The Fourth Concerto is a whole other matter mature Beethoven and Lang rises easily to the occasion, playing with potency and handsome tone. The first movement makes us sit and admire his skill, and he is poetic and sensitive in the second movement. It would have been easy for him to run away with the final movement in a blaze of virtuosity, but he sticks to its classical outlines. These are superb performances, and the sonics are gloriously rich. --Robert Levine ABOUT THE ARTIST
Acclaimed in all the world's major concert halls, Lang Lang has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to connect with audiences on a deeply personal level and has established himself as one of the most exciting pianists of our time. His talent and personality make him an ideal ambassador for classical music and a role model for young people. He has performed live on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and could also be seen on "Sesame Street". He is the first Chinese pianist to be engaged by the Berliner Philharmoniker and all "Big Five" American orchestras. See more