Press

Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Piano Trios' 5 STARTS

Lang Lang, Piano;

Vadim Repin, Violin;

Mischa Maisky, Cello.

WARSAW — Chinese pianist Lang Lang gave a gala concert in Warsaw on Thursday to officially launch a year of celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of composer Frederic Chopin.

Lang, 27, performed some of the Franco-Polish master's most celebrated pieces in a concert at the Warsaw Philharmonic that was broadcast live on Polish television.

Chinese pianist Lang Lang performed at Oslo City Hall today during the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. The Nobel Committee hasn't released video yet, but here's an earlier, dazzling performance he gave of Franz Liszt's Liebestraum. NPR Music Producer Tom Huizenga offered these thoughts on Lang Lang's selections. -KC

In the interest of inspecting every last second of the Nobel ceremony, I'd like to take time to over-think the music.

Lang Lang is having a big week. Yesterday, the celebrated Chinese pianist was the special performer at Oslo City Hall, where President Obama accepted his Nobel Peace Prize. "His speech was very moving," Lang told us from Norway.

BEIJING, Dec. 9 -- A year of global events are marking the 200th anniversary the birth of the great Polish composer Fryderyk Chopin. And no matter where you are, there is an opportunity to be involved. The series opens in Beijing with world famous young pianist Lang Lang playing at the National Center for the Performing Arts on Monday night.

OSLO – Chinese pianist Lang Lang said Tuesday he feels honored that he will perform for President Barack Obama when he collects his Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo this week.

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-Lang Lang with violinist David Chan and cellist Hai-Ye Ni. Concert photos ©2009 Chris Lee

-Marc Yu performs Schubert’s Rondo in A Major with Lang Lang.

London, England (CNN) -- Chinese pianist Lang Lang was born and bred to be a classical music star.

A product of China's One Child Policy, Lang Lang's music-obsessed parents projected their own dreams of greatness onto their young son, overseeing a rigorous rehearsal regimen from a very early age.

Even before he was old enough to play, the couple dipped into their savings to buy Lang Lang a piano. By the age of three, he was already taking lessons from his father -- who had tried and failed at a music career of his own.

He is not just a classical music superstar. He is a global superstar. Only 27 years old, the Chinese pianist Lang Lang has become an inspiration to tens of millions around the world.

Among his dazzling long list of titles, Lang considered UNICEF goodwill ambassador the most special one.

"Being a UNICEF goodwill ambassador is the best decision I have made and will definitely be the best experience in my life," Lang said in a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua at the UN headquarters in New York.