Lang Lang releases new album "Saint-Saëns" with German support

With his new album "Saint-Saëns", Chinese pianist Lang Lang is fulfilling a dream. "I've always wanted to record French music. The new album shows a completely different side of me," said the 41-year-old world star in an interview with the German Press Agency. To make his dream come true, Lang Lang has not only enlisted the support of his wife, the German-Korean Gina Alice Redlinger, but also of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. "Saint-Saëns" will be released on March 1 by Deutsche Grammophon.

With the Leipzig orchestra under the direction of Latvian conductor Andris Nelsons, Lang Lang recorded the Piano Concerto No. 2 and the "Carnival of the Animals" by Camille Saint-Saëns. The French pianist and conductor, born in Paris in 1835, is a French Bach or Mendelssohn, Lang Lang compared. In addition to his own works, he also presents other French composers on his new album, including Claude Debussy (1862-1918), Léo Delibes (1836-1891), Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) and Maurice Ravel (1875-1937).

Music is the most important part of his life, said the musician, who was born in Shenyang, China. "It calms me down, cheers me up when I'm feeling down." For parents, music is also the best gift they can give their children. "I can see that in my son. He is so happy when he listens to music." In 2008, Lang Lang set up a foundation that currently supports early music education in the USA, China and the UK. In the future, the Lang Lang International Music Foundation also wants to become active in Germany.

Leipzig is the "holy Bach city" for him, said Lang Lang, who became known worldwide through his performance at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. In the years that followed, he played at the Nobel Prize award ceremony for former US President Barack Obama, for Queen Elizabeth II's 60th anniversary and for Pope Francis in the Vatican. Last year, he performed at the coronation concert at Windsor Castle the day after the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Before he goes on stage, a routine has crept in over the years, the pianist said: "I always try to take a short nap, for example."

The Gewandhaus Orchestra is one of his favorite orchestras, Andris Nelsons "one of the most important conductors ever", Lang Lang praised the Leipzig music in high tones. Because Nelsons is down to earth and enormously empathetic, Lang Lang enjoys working with him. "He has supported the album with everything he has and taken it to a new level together with his orchestra." Lang Lang will also be performing in Leipzig on March 16 during his tour of Germany. Further concerts are planned in Stuttgart and Frankfurt am Main, among others.