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Time to iron those coattails, the London Symphony Orchestra is in town, featuring 24-year-old piano prodigy, Lang Lang. Lang Lang has played sold-out recitals around the world and been courted by the Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic. Not enough motivation? Then here¡¯s five more reasons to check out China's piano prodigy.

 

1 He is 24

Yes, it's been said already, but he's only 24! Lang Lang started piano lessons at the age of 3, (when most of us

were discovering worms don¡¯t taste as good as they look). At the age of 11, he won first prize at the Fourth International Young Pianists Competition in Germany (while I was climbing a tree because Tommy had cooties). At the age of 20, he became the first recipient of the Leonard Bernstein Award at the Schleswig-Holstein Festival, (and I was ... where was I last Friday?).

 

2 He is ambassador for Audi and Rolex

According to Rolex, his boundless energy leaves audiences breathless, so they signed him up to be their "ambassador." If you've ever wondered what it takes to score a job like that, apparently you need be an international household name (the name Brad Pitt ring a bell?) or have written the soundtrack to multiple sappy American date movies, (thank you, Michael Bolton), or have, as Audi puts it, "dynamic performance, polished execution and a drive to improve while competing in an international, luxury class."

 

3 He is diplomatic

Both President George W. Bush and President Hu Jintao have had Lang over to play in their homes. President Horst Kohler of Germany has as well, but China and America get first dibs, as Lang can claim either country: He was born in China, but holds American citizenship.

 

4 He is eleven-fingered

Well, not really, but his phenomenal performances have earned him the nickname. As his former teacher puts it, "His fingers fly over the keys with dazzling dexterity, rugged elegance and effervescence and he uses rubato." Does anyone actually know what that means?

 

5 He watches Tom and Jerry cartoons

Rumor has it he got his initial inspiration to play from watching Tom the Cat playing in "A Cat Concerto" although we're suspicious it might also have had something to do with his parents who spent half their yearly salary on a piano when Lang was the ripe old age of 2. Still, how cool is it that a cartoon cat was the inspiration for our 24 year-old virtuoso?

 

Rolls-Royce London Symphony Orchestra Concert

Address: Poly Theater
Time: April 19-20
Price: 300-2,200
Tel: 010-6500-1188

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