Lang Lang at The Plaza Hotel

Friday, October 24, 2008 Friday, October 24, 2008 The Plaza Hotel, NY. 7-10pm

Lang Lang

Considered by the New York Times as the “hottest artist on the classical music planet”, 26-year-old Lang Lang recently played sold at the invitation of H.R.H. Prince Charles in memory of the Queen Mother, and appeared in Great Britain’s Royal Variety Show that was attended by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and broadcast to 13 million people. On December 8th, 2007, Lang Lang was the featured soloist at the Nobel Prize Concert held in Stockholm attended by the Nobel Laureates and members of the Royal family. 

The New York Times praised his July 17, 2008 Central Park concert as “terrific, exciting and electrifying,” calling Lang Lang “an unquestionable virtuoso, with white-hot energy, awesome technique, intuitive instincts and exuberant personality” whose “playing came through with color, clarity and panache. He vanquished the technical challenges, playing with utter command and disarming joy, bringing out inner voices and rhythmic syncopations that caught his ear.”

Lang Lang began playing piano at the age of 3, won the Shenyang competition and gave his first public recital at the age of 5. When he was 9 he entered Beijing’s Central Music Conservatory.  He went on to win first prize at the Tchaikovsky International Young Musicians Competition and played the complete 24 Etudes of Chopin at the Beijing Concert Hall at 13.  At 17, Lang Lang’s broke into stardom when he was called upon for a dramatic last-minute substitution at the “Gala of the Century” where he played the Tchaikovsky Concerto with the Chicago Symphony.  Following this gigantic debut, he performed successful concerts around the world, leaving the London Times remarking: “Lang Lang took a sold-out Albert Hall by storm… This could well be history in the making.” He has appeared twice on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, on Good Morning America, and 60 Minutes.  Lang Lang is featured in every major TV network, news and lifestyle magazines worldwide, including Vogue, GQ, Die Welt, Reader’s Digest and People. Hailed by the Chicago Tribune as the “biggest, most exciting keyboard talent encountered in many years,” Lang Lang has progressed from one triumphant appearance to the next. 

Lang Lang has performed for global leaders around the world including Prince Albert II of Monaco, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan, President George H. W. Bush, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, President Hu Jin-Tao of China, President Horst Koehler of Germany, President Abdul Kalam of India, H.R.H. Prince Charles, as well as President Vladimir Putin of Russia. 

In 2004, he was appointed International Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).  As a result of his enormous popularity with children, Steinway created the “Lang Lang Steinway” designed in 5 different types for the early musical education of children - the first time Steinway has used an artist’s name on a piano in it’s 150 year history. 

Lang Lang is featured soloist on the Golden Globe winning score; “The Painted Veil” composed by Alexandre Desplat and can be heard on the soundtrack of “The Banquet” composed by Tan Dun.

For further information, visit http://www.LangLang.com.

The Plaza Hotel

The standard for luxury, The Plaza once served primarily as a residence for wealthy New Yorkers. Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt were the first to sign the register, and today the Vanderbilt Suite is a luxurious three-bedroom suite used by Heads of State and distinguished guests.

Kings, presidents, ambassadors, stars of stage, screen and sports, and moguls from all parts of the world have gathered and stayed at The Plaza.

One of The Plaza’s most famous literarly personalities was the mischievous Eloise from the children’s books by Kay Thompson. The Plaza was so well known that literary great Ernest Hemingway advised F. Scott Fitzgerald to give his life to Princeton and his heart to The Plaza.

The Plaza made its movie debut in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1959 classic North by Northwest - the first time a crew, director and cast ever assembled on site to make a Hollywood film. Before this, movies were shot almost entirely on Hollywood soundstages and rarely on location. The Plaza was also the location for the films Plaza Suite, The Way We Were, The Great Gatsby, Barefoot in the Park, Funny Girl, Cotton Club, Crocodile Dundee I and II and Home Alone II: Lost In New-York.

The Plaza has been host to lavish balls entertaining the 20th Century’s most revered icons, including Marilyn Monroe, John F. Kennedy, and others.

The Plaza
Fifth Avenue at Central Park South
New York, New York