Long long
The pianist reveals how he organizes his family life
Chinese star Lang Lang collaborated with his wife Gina Alice on the album “Lang Lang – Saint-Saëns”.
© Olaf Heine
Concert pianist Lang Lang has released his new album. In the interview he reveals how he balances family and music.
The concert pianist Lang Lang (41) will release his new album “Lang Lang – Saint-Saëns” on March 1st. The focus of the recordings is Saint-Saëns’ “Carnival of the Animals” and his “Piano Concerto No. 2”. In addition to this repertoire, Lang Lang plays miniatures by other French composers – together with his wife and pianist Gina Alice Redlinger (29). In an interview with the news agency spot on news, the Chinese star reveals what connection he has to Saint-Saëns’ works and how working with his wife Gina Alice harmonizes not only musically, but also in family life.
What meaning does Saint-Saëns’ music have for you personally, and what motivated you to dedicate yourself to this project?
Lang Lang: I wanted to make an album with French repertoire and focus on Saint-Saëns because he is such a unique composer. For me, the “Piano Concerto No. 2” in particular is one of the greatest piano concertos of the Romantic period – right next to Tchaikovsky. With the album I would also like to help this fantastic work become better known and receive more recognition.
Do you need to know classical music to follow her recent interpretation by Saint-Saëns?
Lang: Regardless of whether you are familiar with classical music or not, most people know the well-known melodies from “Carnival of the Animals.” Also because you often met them as children. It really is a piece for young and old.
Is there a particular message or feeling you want to convey through the interpretation of the works?
Lang: I always say that the album is like dinner in a French restaurant: There are shorter works by French composers – these are the starters and intermediate courses – the main courses would then be the “Carnival of the Animals” and the “Piano Concerto No. 2 ” and then of course there are lots of desserts.
What was the biggest challenge working with your wife and who literally called the shots?
Lang: Working with my wife was a great experience. It takes some work to put together the interpretation approaches of two artists into a larger whole. I think we managed that pretty well. At the end we even breathed together.
Can you also talk about your collaboration with Andris Nelsons and the Gewandhausorchester for the latest recordings in “Lang Lang – Saint-Saëns” and how it influenced the final result?
Lang: The Gewandhaus Orchestra has a great Saint-Saëns tradition – many of its works were premiered by this orchestra. Andris Nelsons is one of my absolute favorite conductors. Together with the fantastic Gewandhaus Orchestra, he has taken the music of Saint-Saëns to a new level.
What peculiarities or nuances have you discovered in Saint-Saëns’ music that you find particularly fascinating?
Lang: Saint-Saëns’ music is incredibly diverse. In the “Carnival of the Animals” Saint-Saëns gives each animal a different character using musical means. Here you can discover so many colors – be it the majestic lions or the beautiful swan gliding gently over the water. That’s why the work triggers such a strong fascination in children. In “Carnival of the Animals” the interaction feels almost chamber music-like.
You once said, “I want every child to have access to musical experiences.” In 2021 you became a father to a son: how will you encourage him to develop and be enthusiastic about music so that it enriches him?
Lang: My son loves music, so I don’t have to motivate him particularly. He enjoys listening to them and especially loves the cello. He will know whether he wants to become a musician himself, we won’t have any expectations of him.
Could you imagine your son pursuing a career other than music, and as a parent, how would you handle him discovering interests and passions that may not align with yours?
Lang: Of course, first and foremost we want to support our son in all his interests. We try to be supportive parents. We have already noticed that music plays an important role for him. He is particularly enthusiastic about the cello at the moment.
How has your approach to life and music changed since you both became parents?
Lang: We are now setting even clearer priorities for how we want to use our time. Because we want to spend as much time as possible with our son. We try as often as possible to coordinate our engagements so that we can travel together. We also receive great support from our families, who have our backs and often go on trips with us.