So you're going to begin this thread with by trolling just to see how far you can push it?

It makes me sad that I see more threads about LL than someone like Richter or Ivo (when he was young), for instance.

Hmmm... 3 replies and not a single positive comment about Lang Lang? This is not exactly the start to this thread I had hoped for. I guess I'll start.

I like Lang Lang because he is not afraid to try something new with old classical pieces. He reminds me a lot of Glenn Gould.

Regardless of what I might think about the guy and his playing, PW has had a huge number of threads about him already, so starting yet another may be met with some resistance from some of us. It's just plain old overkill. Unless someone has something genuinely new and interesting to say about him, and so far, the possibility of that in this thread seems remote.

Also, starting a thread doesn't mean you can necessarily control it.

This is just a quick and friendly reminder that this is a Lang Lang appreciation thread. Is today opposite day or something?

I've been watching LL play since he was 15 years old and a student at the Curtis school. He's always had a very affected manner and I believe that's just the way he is. I don't think it's a put on, but many people really don't like it. It is somewhat distracting, but it never bothered me too much. What does bother me however is why the public doesn't allow for it for one person, but excuses it for another and, in fact, may even revere the person for it (Gustavo Dudamel?). Is the emperor really wearing clothes?

I don't care what it is. You people need to listen to real musicians.

I like him because he has personality and is original. He also has a real good imagination. Let's not even discuss technique, because he can run circles around most anyone. And all this is reflected in how he plays. I'm just bored of listening to the same old pieces, played the same way, w/o personality or any sense of imagination. What is the point of playing and interpreting classical music as a pianist/musician if you don't have a clue how to put something personal in there? Most pianists I hear coming out of conservatories are all just boring. Technically brilliant, but boring and tired. Today the emphasis is on mastering the most challenging pieces right away, being 100% accurate, 100% true to the score, etc. No emphasis on originality or inflicting your own ideas into the music. This was not the case in decades past. You had a lot more personalities, and they were the ones that stood out. And Lang Lang is one today. And like personalities of the past, he is criticized and has his critics - people that like the status quo. But he has more fans than critics, and that's how it always is. That's the important thing. Classical music is dying. We need performers to keep it interesting and alive. How many times can we listen to the same old boring interpretations? As a performer if you can't do better or be original, just give it up and play for yourself and your own enjoyment. Don't bore me in public with nothing new. Technical brilliance coupled with originality and imagination is what makes Lang Lang great. He inspires. Classical music needs that. People need that.

I like him because he has personality and is original. He also has a real good imagination. Let's not even discuss technique, because he can run circles around most anyone. And all this is reflected in how he plays. I'm just bored of listening to the same old pieces, played the same way, w/o personality or any sense of imagination. What is the point of playing and interpreting classical music as a pianist/musician if you don't have a clue how to put something personal in there? Most pianists I hear coming out of conservatories are all just boring. Technically brilliant, but boring and tired. Today the emphasis is on mastering the most challenging pieces right away, being 100% accurate, 100% true to the score, etc. No emphasis on originality or inflicting your own ideas into the music. This was not the case in decades past. You had a lot more personalities, and they were the ones that stood out. And Lang Lang is one today. And like personalities of the past, he is criticized and has his critics - people that like the status quo. But he has more fans than critics, and that's how it always is. That's the important thing. Classical music is dying. We need performers to keep it interesting and alive. How many times can we listen to the same old boring interpretations? As a performer if you can't do better or be original, just give it up and play for yourself and your own enjoyment. Don't bore me in public with nothing new. Technical brilliance coupled with originality and imagination is what makes Lang Lang great. He inspires. Classical music needs that. People need that.

While most of what you say is true and I agree that a lot of pianists are flat out boring, you need to remember that this isn't something you're creating; you're recreating what's in the score. And there are many ways to do that, however you can't do it to the point of disrespecting the composer. That's something a lot of people don't understand about LL. It's all about him, it's never about the composer. I say there should be a healthy mix of two, while keeping a goal to express the composer's wishes.

I don't care what it is. You people need to listen to real musicians.

I like him because he has personality and is original. He also has a real good imagination. Let's not even discuss technique, because he can run circles around most anyone.