Latest news with #LangLang
South China Morning Post
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Lang Lang, Renée Fleming, Tan Dun, Anne-Sophie Mutter among HKPhil 2025-26 season's stars
A star-studded line-up awaits Hong Kong Philharmonic concertgoers in its 2025-26 season, including pianist Lang Lang, soprano Renée Fleming, composer Tan Dun and violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter. Tarmo Peltokoski , who will become the orchestra's music director in the second half of 26, will conduct three programmes during the season, while the 25-year-old's fellow Finn Esa-Pekka Salonen will be composer-in-residence. This season's artistic partner, Italian Daniele Gatti, returns to conduct the Phil, as do British conductor Daniel Harding, music director of Youth Music Culture The Greater Bay Area, Singaporean Kahchun Wong, principal conductor of Britain's Hallé Ochestra, and German Anja Bihlmaier. Lang Lang will play Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor with the orchestra on December 11 and 13, when he will share the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall stage with Peltokoski for the first time. Soprano Renée Fleming, who will perform music from her award-winning album Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene with the Hong Kong Philharmonic in October 2025. Photo: Andrew Eccles, courtesy of Decca American soprano Renée Fleming will perform music by Handel, Fauré, Listz and contemporary composers from her award-winning album Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene on October 24-25. Her performances will be accompanied by a film commissioned from the National Geographic Society for the album.
ABC News
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
The piano has always been important on screen. Here are 10 times it steals the show
The piano has played a leading role since before we even had movies with sound. During the era of silent films, live pianists would improvise soundtracks to the action on screen. As the screen industry evolved the piano has taken on different feature roles. Sometimes it's the instrument itself as a star, and other times piano-filled scores help guide us through the film, almost like another character. Classic, cheesy or chic, there are so many memorable piano scenes, from Michelle Pfeiffer singing on top of a grand piano in The Fabulous Baker Boys, to Edward serenading Bella in Twilight. And there's the music we'll always remember, like Scott Joplin's The Entertainer from The Sting, or Beethoven's 'Emperor' Piano Concerto in The King's Speech. Whether it's just a moment, or the star of the show, here are a few of our favourite appearances of the piano on screen. So many of us first fell in love with the piano through cartoons. In 1946 Warner Bros. released their Bugs Bunny short Rhapsody Rabbit and soon after in 1947 Looney Tunes released The Cat Concerto featuring Tom and Jerry, which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short. Both use the music from Liszt's incredibly difficult Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in a musical competition with a pesky mouse. There are playful elements mimicking the affectations of pianists, like Bugs Bunny removing layers of gloves before playing or Tom wiping his hands off mid-performance. One of the most famous pianists today, Lang Lang, has shared that it was The Cat Concerto that inspired him to pick up the piano. In Jane Campion's The Piano, mute protagonist Ada claims early in her narration, "the strange thing is, I don't think myself silent. That is because of my piano." Ada's beloved instrument is set up early as her most true form of expression, with her emotions told through Michael Nyman's original soundtrack. Holly Hunter, who portrays Ada, took lessons to play the performance scenes herself in the film. In one of the most famous scenes, Ada is joyously reunited on a beach with her piano by her husband's neighbour, unknowingly igniting the love triangle that will drive much of the film's narrative. The most well-known track, The Heart Asks Pleasure First, based on a traditional Scottish song, is still a popular performance piece today, and has even been covered by metal and rock bands. The piano appears as friend, companion, solace and antagonist in the 1996 Australian film Shine, based on the life of pianist David Helfgott. Throughout the film, Rachmaninov's Third Piano Concerto represents the pinnacle of musical achievement and commitment to the piano, as well as Helfgott's desperate desire for his father's approval. The soundtrack features some of the piano's most virtuosic repertoire, mostly performed by Helfgott himself. David Hirschfelder's piano-heavy original score also melds in seamlessly, at times feeling like fragmentary echoes of the Rachmaninov concerto running through a traumatised mind. As hand double for the young Helfgott (played by Alex Rafalowicz), pianist Simon Tedeschi recalls filming sitting behind the actor wearing the same clothes and playing through his sleeves. "Chopin is very athletic, and you better believe that my core strength was improved after those two days because I had to counter his weight," Tedeschi shares. Are there many movie scenes more heartwarming than the moment in Big when Tom Hanks jumps onto the giant floor piano? Most 80's kids dreamed of being able to do the same. In the memorable scene, Hanks performs a duet with the owner of the toy company he works for, playing Heart and Soul with a playful transition to Chopsticks, both bonding over a childhood spent learning piano. The piano becomes almost a battle ground in the 1984 film Amadeus, which tells a fictionalised story of rivalry between real-life 18th century composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri. In one scene, where Mozart is presented to the Emperor, he is gifted with a piece of piano music composed in his honour by the court composer Salieri. Mozart proceeds to play the music back by ear, improvising and improving it on the spot in front of the incredulous, and slightly offended, Salieri. The soundtrack also features stunning performances of several Mozart Piano Concertos with concert pianist Alfred Brendel and the renowned Academy of St Martin in the Fields, conducted by Sir Neville Marriner. The piano was an important instrument during colonial Australia, with the first instrument arriving here in 1788. In the 1982 classic film based on the Banjo Patterson poem of the same name, the piano becomes a symbol of the blossoming romance between stockman Jim and the station owner's daughter, Jessica. The pair first meet as Jessica is painstakingly learning Beethoven's Für Elise. After exchanging words, Jessica's performance becomes suddenly more feeling. Later, she convinces Jim to help break in her father's prized colt while he is away from the station. The montage sequence is backed by the piano track, Jessica's Theme, which is still popular with pianists today. Yann Tiersen's piano-filled soundtrack for 2001's Amélie feels almost like a character of its own. As Amélie journeys through her fantastical world, the scores accompany our heroine on her self-created adventures with a sense of whimsy and wonder. In a recent video on social media, concert pianist Lang Lang shares he enjoys playing popular track from the score, La Valse d'Amélie. "It is filled with passages that feel like a fairytale," he shares. Jane Austen was an avid pianist and given how important the piano is in her narratives, it's unsurprising that it features heavily in both the 1995 BBC miniseries version of Pride and Prejudice as well as the 2005 film. Carl Davis's music for the BBC miniseries incorporates music from the era performed on period instruments. You hear piano performances featuring popular composers of the day like Handel and Mozart as well as English country dances. In the sprightly theme, the playing of Melvyn Tan features heavily, performing on the era-appropriate fortepiano. Dario Marianelli's Oscar-winning soundtrack for the 2005 film brings a different sound world to the story, but also references the popular music of the day. Marianelli has said he was heavily influenced by Beethoven's early sonatas. The score is beautifully recorded, featuring French concert pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet and the English Chamber Orchestra. As was proper for eligible young ladies during the Regency era, the piano is an important feature of the hit romance series Bridgerton. While displaying their talents as is expected of them, the piano helps to also show more of the inner personalities of the ladies performing. Eldest daughter Daphne is always trying to set a proper example, but her choice of music like Beethoven's tempestuous 'Waldstein' Piano Sonata echoes her passionate nature in private. The third Bridgerton daughter Francesca chooses the middle movement of Beethoven's 'Appassionata' Sonata, speaking to her introverted character, in direct comparison with her fiery sister. Alongside the Virginia Wolff novel Mrs Dalloway, Philip Glass's score for The Hours is a thread that ties together the stories of the three women we follow through the film. The piano is at the forefront of the music, connecting the women through time, from the 1920s to the turn of the 21st century. As one writer for the Metropolitan Opera highlights, the piano is an instrument historically associated with women, and domestic settings, so a fitting musical narrator for their stories. The soundtrack is haunting, filled with the multitude of emotions of the three women's life experiences.
Calgary Herald
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Chinese pianist Lang Lang, country music star, and pop hitmaker to join Calgary Phil in varied 70th season
Article content Chinese pianist Lang Lang, DJs and electronica music, Canadian country superstar Tenille Townes, former Barenaked Ladies vocalist Steven Page and singer and author Vivek Shraya will be among the highlights of the Calgary Philharmonic's eclectic 70th season, which will include 64 concerts under 29 conductors across seven venues. Article content Lang Lang, one of classical music's biggest stars, will play with the Calgary Philharmonic on Sept. 27 at the Jack Singer Concert Hall. Lang has played with some of the world's biggest orchestras and has been a global draw in the classical world since he was a teenager in the 1990s. Article content Article content The 2025/2026 season will also feature the Canadian premiere of SYNTHONY: EDM Meets Orchestra on Sept. 5, which will find Calgary Phil teaming up wth DJs and vocalists for a mix of electronica and classical music at the Big Four Roadhouse. Grande Prairie country superstar Tenille Townes, who has also been in the spotlight since she was a teen, will make her CPO debut with shows at the Bella and Jack Singer concert halls on April 23 and 25. Article content Article content Other artists who will make guest appearances in the 2025/2026 season include violinist Gil Shaham, former Barenaked Ladies vocalist Steven Page and singer, actress and former University of Calgary professor Vivek Shraya. The orchestra will perform The Music of Hans Zimmer, which will feature selections from the soundtracks of The Dark Knight, Interstellar and Dune, while composer Eimear Noone will lead the orchestra for Video Games in Concert, which will include selections from the World of Warcraft soundtrack. Calgary Phil will also be playing live-to-film during screenings of The Princess Bride, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi. Article content Article content Conductor and violinist Timothy Chooi will lead Calgary Phil for Vivaldi's Four Seasons, while Verdi's Requiem will be conducted by Karen Kamensek. Music director laureate Hans Graf returns for A Midsummer Night's Dream. The annual A Traditional Christmas runs over three nights in December at Grace Presbyterian Church, and there will be a return of Handel's Messiah. Article content Article content The CPO will offer several of genre-bending treats along with dabbling in EDM, including an evening dedicated to The Music of Prince, Dance Dance Disco, La Vida Loca: Latin Pop Hits, The Music of Sting + The Police, and Revolution: The Music of The Beatles – A Symphonic Experience. Article content Guest conductors will include Anthony Parnther, Yue Bao, Ramon Tebar, Jessica Cottis, Steve Hackman and Calgary's Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser. Soloists such as violinist Amaryn Olmeda (violin), pianist Stewart Goodyear and cellist Steven Isserlis will also perform with the orchestra this season.
ABC News
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Superstar pianist Lang Lang
A piano superstar equally at home playing in front of billions at the Beijing Olympics, or a few hundred children at a local school. Tamara managed to steal some time with Lang Lang in between rehearsals and asked him where his love of the piano comes from, why he values music education so highly, and how he manages to keep innovating after achieving so much. Discovering that Elena Kats-Chernin's Eliza Aria was the first Australian piece Lang Lang had ever played, Tamara invited him to perform a two-piano version with her, and he enthusiastically agreed.
Daily Mail
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Disney's Abu Dhabi theme park teaser long on glitz but short on details
Disney previewed its new Abu Dhabi theme park this week with all the glitz of a Hollywood premiere but frustratingly few details of what visitors can expect. Disneyland Abu Dhabi - set to open in the 'early 2030s' - will be the 'most advanced and interactive' destination in its portfolio, the company said. But concept art at the unveiling was deliberately blurry to keep fans guessing about what it will actually contain. Disney is famous for keeping fans on the edge of their seats - and this week's announcement was no exception. Celebrities, including Naomi Campbell and Gossip Girl's Ed Westwick, looked on as superstar pianist Lang Lang played classic Disney tunes accompanied by a 100-piece orchestra floating on a pontoon on the Arabian Gulf. Overhead, more than 9,000 drones formed the shape of Cinderella's Castle. Disney said the park will be the 'most advanced and interactive destination in our portfolio' and the concept art shows how far it may go to cast a powerful spell. But one landmark that stuck out was the centerpiece castle, with a similar style to Elsa's ice palace from Frozen. The shimmering structure is Disney's first castle not based on a classic fairytale and it suggests that a Frozen ride could be hidden underneath its icy turrets. And that's just the start. Hidden in the background of the concept art is a tall orange tower with a curve which looks like a ski slope stretching from the top. It could be a groundbreaking attraction which was originally planned for Disneyland Paris and would see the ride car rocket up the tower before gliding down the slope. The ride was based on the stories of Jules Verne which are also the setting for a land in Tokyo DisneySea, widely considered to be the world's most immersive theme park. It could be joined by Disney's Florida-favorite roller-coaster, Expedition Everest, as a mountain looking like it is tucked away in the corner of the concept art. Disneyland Abu Dhabi is The Mouse's first waterfront park and it appears to extend right onto the beach and beyond, with craggy artificial rocks creating a harbor-like area in the sea. It's clearly not for cruise ships but could well be for a groundbreaking version of classic Disney ride Pirates of the Caribbean with boats which actually float out onto the ocean. Aladdin will almost certainly feature in the line-up of rides, as Disney's live-action remake of the classic cartoon is the highest-grossing movie in the Middle East. It explains why the actress who plays Princess Jasmine in the Broadway version of Aladdin belted out A Whole New World at the extravaganza to announce the new Disney park. A feelgood video of scenes from Disney movies was also part of the celebration, with one of the most prominent moments showing Marvel super hero Iron Man zooming through the night sky. There may be good reason this was included. Disney's theme parks are designed by its Imagineers whose name comes from their imaginative use of engineering. There are more than a thousand of them around the world and one of the leading lights behind Disneyland Abu Dhabi is Zach Riddley, who led the recent redevelopment of the futuristic Epcot park at Disney World in Florida. That involved building Disney World's first Marvel ride - a groundbreaking, spinning roller-coaster based on the smash hit Guardians Of The Galaxy movies. Called Guardians Of The Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, it features Hollywood A-Listers Zoe Saldana, Chris Pratt and Dave Bautista who set the scene on screens before the ride begins. With this man behind the wheel, it's very likely a Marvel land in Abu Dhabi is to be joined by one themed to Star Wars, which also featured in the video promoting the new park. The Star Wars lands at Disney World and its counterpart Disneyland in California cost an estimated $1 billion to develop, but money is no object for Disneyland Abu Dhabi as it will be built and developed by Miral, the local government's theme park operator. It is part of a strategy to diversify Abu Dhabi's economy with leisure attractions due to its declining oil reserves. Abu Dhabi is already home to SeaWorld, Warner Bros and Ferrari theme parks which all sit on the man-made Yas Island where Disneyland will be built. The more visitors it gets, the greater the boost to Abu Dhabi's economy which is why the park needs to be spellbinding. Due to the extreme heat in Abu Dhabi, where daytime summer temperatures can hit 45 degrees, expect lots of shady foliage and indoor rides throughout the park. A jungle-like setting would be about as escapist as you can get in a region famous for its deserts. Disney's Imagineers will have a high mark to beat - theming is common across the region. It is seen as a way of driving traffic to a business with opulent restaurants, shopping malls, hotels and shops all featuring high standards of theming. It will take more than the wave of a magic wand to make a splash in Abu if anyone can do it it's Disney. Speaking to Corina Goetz, a Middle East Specialist who focuses on helping companies and entrepreneurs understand the nuances of the Gulf market, explained guests at the new park will need to be careful with their attire... The specialist said that 'dress codes for visitors would likely reflect local norms.' She added: 'While foreign visitors will not be expected to wear traditional clothing, they should follow local rules in regards to revealing clothing. 'Disneyland parks in other conservative countries already enforce respectful dress codes, so this would not be unprecedented.' On the Disneyland Resort website, visitors are told to 'dress comfortably, wear good walking shoes and check the local weather report before you leave for the parks.' The statements adds: 'Ensuring that the parks are family friendly is an important part of the Disney experience. In that spirit, we ask you to use your discretion and common sense. 'Attire that is not appropriate for the theme parks (and which may result in refusal of admittance or ejection) includes but is not limited to: Clothing with objectionable material, including obscene language or graphics. 'Clothing which, by nature, exposes excessive portions of the skin that may be viewed as inappropriate for a family environment, clothing with multiple layers are subject to search upon entry. 'Visible tattoos that could be considered inappropriate, such as those containing objectionable language or designs, bare feet.'
