Lang Lang, Royal Festival Hall | reviews, news & interviews
Lang Lang, Royal Festival Hall
Lang Lang, Royal Festival Hall
Two minutes of real musicality in a display by today's Liberace of the piano
![](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/mast_image_landscape/public/mastimages/5c7dff4aac508665717ba812fc4d58af.jpg?itok=XUJUDDf0)
There must be at least 100 more interesting pianists in the concert world than Lang Lang, but perhaps he is just the best publicist around, because nothing else can explain why such a vacuous display as he gave last night at the Royal Festival Hall could bring a standing ovation. Most of the evening felt like being on a plushly cushioned chintz sofa with Tinkerbell, listening to Bach, Schubert and Chopin being served as a cream tea. Lang Lang Inspires is the slogan at the Southbank Centre all this week, but what is inspiring? His art - or just his vast skills as a public communicator, with 40 million Chinese piano students now credited to the Lang Lang effect?
There must be at least 100 more interesting pianists in the concert world than Lang Lang, but perhaps he is just the best publicist around, because nothing else can explain why such a vacuous display as he gave last night at the Royal Festival Hall could bring a standing ovation. Most of the evening felt like being on a plushly cushioned chintz sofa with Tinkerbell, listening to Bach, Schubert and Chopin being served as a cream tea. Lang Lang Inspires is the slogan at the Southbank Centre all this week, but what is inspiring? His art - or just his vast skills as a public communicator, with 40 million Chinese piano students now credited to the Lang Lang effect?
Add comment
Subscribe to theartsdesk.com
Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.
To take a subscription now simply click here.
And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?
more Classical music
![Latonia Moore, Karen Cargill, Ryan Bancroft, SeokJong Baek, Soloman Howard and the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Prom%20Verdi%202.jpg?itok=YZoGmn17)
![Prosperous voyages: Ryan Bancroft and the BBC NOW](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/NOW%20RB3.jpg?itok=3jYyK3BQ)
![Bruce Brubaker plays Brian Eno](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Bruce_Brubaker_6311_Devin_Doyle_web_4f07902055.jpeg?itok=EwxJV_bg)
![Sheku Kanneh-Mason with Marin Alsop and the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the 2023 Last Night of the Proms. Kanneh-Mason appears this year with brother Braimah and the Fantasia Orchestra in Proms 20 and 22](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/QkBq2pA4.jpeg?itok=LpEyuXkA)
![Paavo Järvi and players of the Estonian Festival Orchestra turn to greet the balcony audience, including members of the 100-plus Järvi Academy Youth Symphony Orchestra](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Parnu%201.jpeg?itok=nNWJ15Lo)
![Pianist Lucas Debargue plays Fauré](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/debargue-lucas.jpg?itok=DTlf-PkB)
![Cellist Zoë Martlew plays her own G-lude](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/July%2003%2C%202024_SM_NMCBirthdayConcert_Samples%20ZM.jpg?itok=jvirArQw)
![Pekka Kuusisto and members of the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra in 'Concert Theatre DSCH'](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/pekka%205.jpeg?itok=QZGBpU_9)
![Fiery intensity: Katrine Sonstadt (on bass) with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Pekka%20Kuusisto%20%26%20Norwegian%20Chamber%20Orchestra-%20DSCH%20Southbank%20Centre%2029-06-24%20Credit-Pete%20Woodhead-13_0.jpg?itok=7SvcYD1F)
![Nardus Williams and Elizabeth Kenny in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, visible to a fortunate few](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/tj6WvCZ7.jpeg?itok=eZE5y4Ln)
![Martin James Bartlett watched with delight by Fantasia Orchestra leader Millie Ashton](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Fantasia%201.jpg?itok=v4fqQDvE)
Comments
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Excellent piece of review