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Time Out
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Lang Lang talks roots, rhythm and the beauty of bridging cultures
Chinese-born pianist Lang Lang has long demonstrated music's ability to transcend boundaries. With remarkable talent and unwavering passion, he has captivated audiences the world over, performing with leading orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic. Beyond the concert hall, Lang Lang extends his artistry across genres, collaborating with musicians as varied as Herbie Hancock, Pharrell Williams and Metallica. His presence has graced the world's grandest stages – from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics to the Grammy Awards and the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. In a country known for its rich culture and diverse lifestyles, Thailand is home to a growing community of classical music enthusiasts who have long awaited the chance to experience this maestro live. That moment finally arrived thanks to the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra Foundation and who brought the world-renowned pianist to Bangkok for his debut solo recital. Held on May 31 at Thailand Cultural Centre, the sold-out performance was met with thunderous applause and standing ovations. Before he took to the stage, we sat down with Lang Lang for an intimate conversation. In this rare interview, he opens up about how he protects his greatest instruments – his hands – and what it means to connect cultures through his music. He even reveals which pop icon he'd love to collaborate with and shares a glimpse into life behind the spotlight. As this is your first solo recital in Thailand, how do you feel about performing for a Thai audience? 'I'm very curious, as this is my first time here. I've watched so many Thai films, especially those set in Bangkok, so I feel like I already have some sense of the atmosphere. Thai food is popular everywhere, so that's something I'm quite familiar with. But I'm particularly curious about performing a recital here. Thailand seems to be a vibrant and new market for classical music. I was honestly overwhelmed by the number of pianos and the quality of the facilities. It's really impressive. I hope tomorrow will be exciting. It feels like the beginning of a new journey.' How do you mentally and physically prepare for high-stakes tours? 'I try to get enough sleep. That's probably the most important thing. Without proper rest, performing becomes nearly impossible because it's just too exhausting. I always make sure to rest well. I also make a point of enjoying the food in each city, as it's one of the best ways to experience the character of a place through its flavours.' In a world filled with chaos, political tension and uncertainty, how do you think music can bring people together? 'That's a tough question. Music has important qualities because it can heal people's hearts and unite emotions while acting as a bridge between cultures. But making world peace through music alone isn't easy. It requires great willingness and kindness from people to ease tensions. Music can help with that, but achieving world peace through music remains very challenging.' Your finger technique is amazing. How do you create that push and pull feeling that makes your playing style so unique? 'For me, my approach to playing piano is different from other instruments. With most instruments, you can hold them and carry them with you. But with the piano, you have to connect with it. You have to hug the piano because you cannot carry it around. You have to be with the instrument to make a true connection. If you just press the keys without that connection, it feels like typing on a computer, not playing music.' 'Yes, I've met Lisa a few times in Paris. Maybe we'll collaborate in the future. Who knows?' What has been the most unforgettable performance of your career so far? ' I would say the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in 2008 was unforgettable. Another memorable moment was during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when Lady Gaga held a concert on social media called One World: Together at Home. I performed a song alongside Celine Dion, Andrea Bocelli and John Legend. We each performed individually from our homes, connected through social media. That experience was really special given the circumstances.' How do you create a meaningful connection between Western and Eastern cultures through your music? 'I grew up in China during the early part of my life, so I have strong Chinese roots. At the same time, I was exposed to Western culture quite early. My first competition was in Germany when I was 12 and I have been living in the United States since I was 14. This gave me the opportunity to experience both cultures from a young age, which helped me find a balance between them. The cultures are very different. America is very different from China and Europe sits somewhere in between, leaning more towards the US but still deeply rooted in old traditions influenced by the East. For me, it's about finding my own position. I want to maintain my identity while embracing the wider world. It's important not to stick rigidly to just one culture but to be open and embrace everything the world has to offer.' What are your future goals regarding your personal life? 'Right now, I have a son who is four and a half years old. He's at a great age where we can really talk and connect. He plays drums, and his biggest idols are The Beatles. He's supportive of me and says I'm doing well, but he definitely prefers The Beatles. Besides drums, he also plays guitar. If he wants to pursue music further, that's completely fine with me.' Who is your favourite band or musical group? 'I'm not really into pop music, though I do listen to it sometimes. If you ask me about my favourite band, I'd say something more harmonic. I do like pop, but I'm not crazy about it. I'd love to collaborate with a band like Coldplay. I really admire Chris Martin. However, compared to pop, I still prefer classical music. I enjoy combining styles, but classical remains my favourite.' What's your routine for taking care of your fingers? 'I take care of my fingers by using hand cream regularly and avoiding activities that could cause injury. I try to avoid anything too rough or sharp, like playing basketball. Otherwise, I just do normal daily tasks.' What advice would you give to young Thai musicians who want to pursue a career in classical music? 'I think it's amazing that there is a growing interest in classical music here. It's very positive for the classical music scene. This new energy is something everyone needs. My advice is to believe in yourself, keep learning and always work on improving. Stay strong and passionate.'
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alysa Liu takes surprise lead at figure skating world championships, capping her sensational return to the sport
Alysa Liu competes in the women's short program at the figure skating world championships. - Joosep Martinson/InternationalAlmost three years after stepping away from the sport, American figure skater Alysa Liu is on the verge of winning a world championship title in stunning and unlikely fashion. The 19-year-old Liu, who had retired from figure skating after claiming a bronze medal at the 2022 world championships, placed first in the short program at this year's event in Boston with a score of 74.58 points. Should she take the title, Liu would became the first American women's figure skating world champion since Kimmie Meissner in 2006. Advertisement Isabeau Levito, last year's runner-up, is also in contention to end that drought having placed third in the short program on Wednesday, while reigning US champion Amber Glenn is back in ninth. Liu made history in 2019 as the youngest person to win an individual title at the US figure skating championships, aged just 13. She won again the following year, seemingly destined to become one of the biggest stars in her sport. But having competed at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and medaled at the world championships a few weeks later, Liu announced that she was retiring from figure skating at the age of 16. At the time, she explained that she was 'satisfied' with her career, 'done' with her goals and ready to be 'moving on with my life.' Liu leads the women's singles competition after the short program. - Charles Krupa/AP Now, Liu says that she feels reinvigorated after her self-imposed break from the sport. Advertisement 'I think that I have good intuition, and I have learned to trust it,' she said on Thursday, per US Figure Skating. 'I don't think that I would be where I am right now if I had not listened to myself. Others told me that I was making a mistake, but I knew that I was doing what was right for me.' Liu announced that she was resuming her training in March last year before returning to competitions several months later. Her performance on Wednesday was the California native's highest-ever short score in an international competition and included a triple flip-triple toe loop combination and a triple Lutz. Japan's Mone Chiba was second with 73.44 points, narrowly ahead of Levito, who is returning from a foot injury, on 73.33. Three-time defending world champion Kaori Sakamoto of Japan was fifth with 71.03 points, while Glenn, who fell on her triple Axel, scored 67.65. Advertisement The women's singles competition will conclude with the free skate on Friday, which begins at 6 p.m. ET. The opening of this year's world championships was also a poignant occasion as the figure staking community paid tribute to those who died in a plane crash in Washington, DC, earlier this year. This year's world championships included emotional tribute to those killed in the plane crash. - Brian Snyder/Reuters The midair collision between American Airlines flight 5342 and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter on January 29 claimed the lives of 67 people. That included 11 young figure skaters, four coaches and 13 family members who had attended the US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas. 'For those who have experience deep loss, we know that time does not simply erase pain,' Kim Jae-youl, president of the International Skating Union (ISU), said during the world championships at Boston's TD Garden. 'For many of us, it feels like we are frozen in time.' Advertisement A video montage of the athletes who lost their lives was played on big screens at the venue, while a choir dressed in black performed a tribute to the victims. Doug Lane, whose son Spencer and wife Christine were among those killed in the crash, also addressed those in attendance. 'Take extra care to lift up the young skaters that are still here,' he said, per the Associated Press. 'They're hurting. I hope we can support them in their skating journeys, but I also hope we can help them find happiness off the ice as well.' For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2008 Olympic champion Eric Lamaze banned from equestrian until 2031 for breaking doping rules
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Equestrian rider Eric Lamaze, an Olympic champion in 2008, has been banned from the sport until 2031 after a second four-year doping suspension was imposed at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The court's judges ordered the Canadian star to serve the latest ban for evading a doping control in the Netherlands in 2021, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) said in a statement Monday. That ban will not start until the expiry in September 2027 of a previous four-year ban ordered in the case by the FEI. 'While CAS proceedings were ongoing, Mr. Lamaze submitted forged medical documents, which led to a four-year ineligibility period,' the equestrian governing body said. Lamaze won individual gold and team silver in jumping at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and individual bronze at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. He is a three-time Olympian who missed competing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and 2000 Sydney Olympics in fallout from positive tests for cocaine. In 2022, Equestrian Canada named him technical adviser and head of national jumping teams. Now aged 56, Lamaze will be 63 when his current bans expire. The FEI said Lamaze also was fined 15,000 Swiss francs ($16,500) and ordered to pay 12,000 Swiss francs ($13,000) toward the governing body's legal costs plus the costs of the arbitration case. ___ AP sports:
Associated Press
11-02-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
2008 Olympic champion Eric Lamaze banned from equestrian until 2031 for breaking doping rules
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Equestrian rider Eric Lamaze, an Olympic champion in 2008, has been banned from the sport until 2031 after a second four-year doping suspension was imposed at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The court's judges ordered the Canadian star to serve the latest ban for evading a doping control in the Netherlands in 2021, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) said in a statement Monday. That ban will not start until the expiry in September 2027 of a previous four-year ban ordered in the case by the FEI. 'While CAS proceedings were ongoing, Mr. Lamaze submitted forged medical documents, which led to a four-year ineligibility period,' the equestrian governing body said. Lamaze won individual gold and team silver in jumping at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and individual bronze at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. He is a three-time Olympian who missed competing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and 2000 Sydney Olympics in fallout from positive tests for cocaine. In 2022, Equestrian Canada named him technical adviser and head of national jumping teams. Now aged 56, Lamaze will be 63 when his current bans expire. The FEI said Lamaze also was fined 15,000 Swiss francs ($16,500) and ordered to pay 12,000 Swiss francs ($13,000) toward the governing body's legal costs plus the costs of the arbitration case. ___
