Return of the lovable pianist

Lang Lang, pianist. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

Lang Lang, who returns to the performance circuit in October after being indisposed for a few months, thrills fans with a master class in Beijing. Chen Jie reports.

'Wow! Incredible technique!" says Lang Lang as he stands up from his seat and walks to the boy who has just finished playing Liszt's La Campanella.

"It's crazy! Tell me how you do it? Once a guy suggested that I compete with a robot to see whose fingers are faster. Now, I think I should recommend you."

The pianist's comment relaxes the 14-year-old boy, who scratches his head and gives a shy smile.

Then Lang Lang, 35, says: "But that is too fast. It is a brisk and lively allegretto tempo, but do not hurry like you just did. Let's do it again."

Then the pianist sits beside the boy and guides him.

That night, Lang Lang was giving an open master class at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing.

His microphone was not working well at the start, so an elderly woman shouted: "Lang Lang! We cannot hear you!" The pianist then adjusted his microphone and said: "Is this OK?"

Lang Lang first talked a bit about piano education and took a few questions from the audience.

Then, he listened to pieces by four young musicians, ages 7, 11, 14 and 16, and gave comments and instructions.