Bird feed: Lang Lang to play Disney concert at the Royal Albert Hall

Bird feed: Lang Lang to play Disney concert at the Royal Albert Hall

News

norman lebrecht

July 11, 2022

The Chinese pianist has sold out to Hollywood.

Press release:

In celebration of 100 years of The Walt Disney Company, globally acclaimed piano virtuoso Lang Lang is set to transport listeners into the magical world of snow castles and flying carpets with his latest album, The Disney Book.

Today Lang Lang has also announced a unique performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall where he will be showcasing tracks from this album. The show will take place on Monday 24th October 2022…

This enchanting musical journey through iconic movie melodies, reimagined in new versions written especially for him by some of the world’s leading arrangers, invites fans of all ages to enjoy classical music through Lang Lang’s unique interpretations. The recording will be released on 16 September on Deutsche Grammophon, in collaboration with Disney Music Group.

A truly international production, with recording sessions taking place in London, New York, Shanghai and Paris, The Disney Book traces the history of music in Disney films from the 1920s to the present day, whilst also reflecting Lang Lang’s own personal journey. Lang Lang explains: “Animation sparked my imagination and transported me to other worlds. The music was a big part of this experience – and led to my life-long love of classical music. There is such a variety of styles in Disney songs; truly, something to inspire everyone. I hope that people of all ages will enjoy this recording and experience the joy that we all felt the first time we saw a Disney film.”

The album’s first single, out now, is “Feed the Birds” from Mary Poppins…

Comments

  • John Kelly says:

    Well, there was a wonderful (and I mean wonderful!) disc by Earl Wild called “Earl Wild Goes to the Movies.” I urge everyone to hear it – stupefying virtuosity, but then again, he was a stupefying virtuoso!

  • Yodi says:

    Because the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic with their competing John Williams albums have not sold out to Hollywood?

    Every orchestra in the world has a movie night, where they play to a (John Williams composed) Hollywood film.

    Hollywood has done more for orchestras than orchestras have done for Hollywood.

  • Mystic Chord says:

    Feed My Investments – LL

  • fifi says:

    Deutsche Grammophon – years ago a name associated with Emil Gilels, Krystian Zimerman, and Herbert von Karajan. And today – enablers for a commercialistic, tacky monstrosity.

  • Phil A says:

    Perhaps he has sold out to Hollywood, though it doesn’t seem to be one of the four places hosting recording sessions.

  • V.Lind says:

    Perhaps you are right. Perhaps he has
    “sold out.” But what he writes reflects the experience of a lot of people, and this concert and album are surely designed so bring them pleasure. That should not be a hanging offence.

  • Genius Repairman says:

    At least some people who would not otherwise sit at a piano recital will now be exposed to the joy of pianism and maybe discover the great works as a result. And if you go back to Paris in the 1850s you will find all manner of pianists entertaining the salon patrons with popular tunes and junky pop pieces while studying and playing Beethoven, Mozart and Bach for serious music lovers.

  • IP says:

    Each CD and concert ticket comes with a free jumbo pack of an antiemetic of your choice. Universal recommends Zofran.

  • Joel Kemelher says:

    What’s next on this downward spiral ? Stokowski leading a Disney orchestra and talking to cartoons ?!

  • John Soutter says:

    Er ist immer mehr Schein als Sein!

    • Malatesta1 says:

      As tacky and distasteful ad this is, we need to acknowledge that artists, like politicians, reflect the Zeitgeist that prevails. Culture is in decline, and offerings such as this are not the cause, merely a symptom.

  • Monty Earleman says:

    So many haters out there!!!

  • NoFan says:

    What’s so amazing is that Lang lang can play to celebrate Disney AND play to celebrate the birthday of CCP party at the same time. He joined the celebration “Sing a song for the Party” last week on Jul 1 22. He is no doubt a genius to please the western culture and eastern politics at the same time.

  • Ned Keane says:

    Good for him. He’s making money, and lots of people like him. And I guarantee he doesn’t give a toss for the embittered SD head-shakers and shudderers.

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