Just in: Lang Lang quits Sony, returns to DG

Just in: Lang Lang quits Sony, returns to DG

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norman lebrecht

February 08, 2017

Rumours had been floating for a while that Lang Lang was unhappy at Sony Classical.

Tonight, they have been confirmed.

The Chinese pianist has signed a contract with Universal president Sir Lucian Grainge to return to his first label, Deutsche Grammophon.

Lang Lang says: When I met Lucian and his team I was amazed by their open-mindedness and passion for innovation. This is exactly the spirit we need to promote classical music in the 21st century. My dream has always been to share music with as many people as possible, and I can’t wait to start working with the Universal teams around the world.’

 

This a shock to Sony and a blow to its chief Bogdan Roscic, himself on borrowed time until he becomes head of the Vienna Opera in 2020.

It’s the first musical night raid of 2017.

 

UPDATE: Why Lang Lang left Sony.

Comments

  • PianoMan says:

    Wasn’t Lang Lang’s very first disc released on SONY?

  • Alexander says:

    Acorns were good until bread was found 😉

  • Andy says:

    Wow, lots of superlatives being thrown about in this video.

    One might even believe the world has been put back in its proper order, and all the stars have been aligned.

    Tomorrow’s consequences? My money is on world peace.

    • Myrtar says:

      Kennedy Center Honors or Nobel Peace Prize, one of the two. If he were in the UK, a Knighthood was in order. There’s nothing like rewarding the privileged.

  • Olassus says:

    He became aware that Seong-Jin Cho and Daniil Trifonov were suddenly hotter than he is.

  • Nigel says:

    He is in essence, a “show” and the considerable technical gifts are born of fear from an early age. Whatever musical feeling is present is a sort of mimicry. Not unlike his management.

  • Andy says:

    An interesting choice of repertoire that Mr. Lang performs throughout the film. He signs a contract with Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft, and plays Disney. “Let it Go”, no less. Is that a reflection on the relationship with Sony, or his street cred?

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