An Evening With Lang Lang

If one word applies to Lang Lang, to the musician, to the man, to his worldview, to those who come into contact with him, it is “inspiration”. It resounds like a musical motif through his life and career. He inspires millions with open-hearted, emotive playing, whether it be in intimate recitals or on the grandest of stages – such as the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where more than four billion people around the world viewed his performance, the Last Night of the Proms at London’s Royal Albert Hall, or the Liszt 200th birthday concert broadcast live to more than 500 cinemas around the US and Europe. He forms enduring musical partnerships with the world’s greatest artists, from conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Gustavo Dudamel and Sir Simon Rattle, to artists from outside of classical music – among them dubstep dancer Marquese “nonstop” Scott and jazz titan Herbie Hancock. Thanks to his Sony ambassadorship, he brought Prokofiev’s 7th Piano Sonata to the soundtrack of the multi-million- selling computer game Gran Turismo 5! And he builds cultural bridges between East and West, frequently introducing Chinese music to Western audiences, and vice versa.  As he inspires, he is inspired. As he is inspired, he inspires others. It is this quality, perhaps, that led the New Yorker to call him “the world’s ambassador of the keyboard.” Time Magazine named Lang Lang in the “Time 100”, citing him as a symbol of the youth of China, and its future. Wherever he can, Lang Lang gives back. He launched the Lang Lang International Music Foundation to inspire and cultivate the next generation of music lover and performer. In October 2013, he was designated by the Secretary-General of the United Nations as a Messenger of Peace, with a special focus on promoting the importance of global education as a key driver of human progress and well-being. Please join us as we welcome Lang Lang, the GRAMMY Ambassador to China, to the Clive Davis Theater for an intimate discussion, moderated by GRAMMY Museum Executive Director Bob Santelli, and special performance, just days before he is set to perform at the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards Show.