Chinese pianist Lang Lang, not even 40 yet, has already accomplished enough for a lifetime. Even before turning 30, he made Time Magazine's list of 100 Influential People in the World.
Lang Lang returned to the Grammy Museum on October 6th for the first time since 2014. Conducting the interview was KUSC host Brian Lauritzen. Before the Q&A began former Recording Academy president Neil Portnow spoke about his friendship with Lang Lang and a number of his accomplishments some which occurred before his last visit to Grammy Museum like performing at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China and releasing his autobiography that same year to performing at the Grammys with Metallica in 2014 and lastly the birth of his son earlier this year which Portnow called “one of his greatest creations.”
Also prior to his last appearance at the museum Lang Lang had six number 1 albums on the Billboard Classical chart. From the age of three Lang Lang took piano lessons and in 1997 moved with his father to the U.S. so he could study at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, PA.
Lang Lang was the first Chinese pianist to work with both the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonics as well some of the most prestigious orchestras here in the U.S. Lang Lang sold out Carnegie Hall in 2001 with Russian conductor Yuri Temirkanov. That same year Lang Lang sold out the Royal Albert Hall in London, England. Lang Lang has even performed for world leaders including former President Obama, Pope Francis, and Queen Elizabeth II. Lang Lang also performed at the Fifa World Cup 2014 final game in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
Most recently, Lang Lang released an album in 2019 titled Piano Book. Following the Q&A Lang Lang performed solo on piano.
