环球英语 — 366：Lang Lang
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Hello, I’m Ruby Jones.
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And I’m Marina Santee. Welcome to Spotlight. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
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Thousands of people are waiting for the music concert to begin. They are excited. They sit in their seats talking to their friends. Finally a young man walks out on the stage. The people clap their hands together loudly. The young man sits down in front of a large piano. He starts to play with experienced fingers. As he plays his head moves backwards and forwards. He closes his eyes. His face expresses his extreme happiness. The crowd watches him closely. When he finishes they call his name loudly ‘Lang Lang’ ‘Lang Lang’.
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In today’s Spotlight we talk more about this famous musician. How did he become so famous? How did his early life influence him to become the man he is today?
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Lang Lang was born in Shenyang, China. His father was a musician. So he was very excited to discover his son’s gift for music. He learned of it in a surprising way. Lang Lang was watching Tom and Jerry on television. This popular children’s programme uses lots of music and sound effects. Lang Lang explains:
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‘When I was two years old, I was watching a Tom and Jerry cartoon. I thought it was so funny to see this cat and mouse chasing each other to the music of Hungarian Rhapsody Number Two. I got very excited by the music. So I tried to play it on the piano. And I could play it! And my parents heard me.’
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Lang Lang’s father hoped his son would be a famous piano player. So he organised piano classes for Lang Lang. Lang Lang was only three years old when he had his first class. By the time he was five he won a competition. His parents were very pleased. They wanted him to go to a leading music school in Beijing. This would mean many sacrifices. But they were prepared to do this to help him succeed.
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A few years later, their dream came true. Lang Lang got a place at the music school in Beijing. So, the family had to separate. Lang Lang and his father moved to Beijing. They lived in a small apartment that they shared with other people. Lang Lang’s mother stayed in Shenyang. She had to continue working to pay for his education. Lang Lang talks about this period of his life:
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‘When I was nine, I moved to Beijing to go the Central Conservatory of Music. I woke up every day at five am to play piano for an hour. Then I went to school until three pm, came home, and played piano some more. I practiced piano five hours a day!’
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There was a lot of pressure on Lang Lang to succeed. He knew his family was depending on him. There are stories of Lang Lang’s father getting very angry. He would become angry if the boy did not perform well enough. But Lang Lang defends his father. He said:
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‘My father is a very, very demanding, pushing parent. But at the same time he is intelligent. He always told me of the joy of music. For me, the good thing was that I really enjoyed playing. And I can find interesting things in each practice time. This helps me a lot. I would have lost interest if everything was just pushing.’
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In the late 1990’s, Lang Lang continued his musical studies in the USA. Then in 1999, he had the chance of a lifetime. He was just seventeen at the time. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is a famous group of musicians. A pianist was supposed to play in a performance of Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto with them. But the pianist got sick, and he cancelled. So the orchestra needed a replacement. It called Lang Lang. That night changed his life. After his performance people could not stop talking about him. He became famous.
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Since that time Lang Lang has played with many important famous orchestras around the world. He has played with many important musicians. He has even played for the Queen of England. He has played for the presidents and prime ministers of several countries. Then, in February 2008, Lang Lang played at the Grammy Awards - one of the top music awards in the United States. He played before many important musicians and artists.
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But many well-known critics do not respect Lang Lang. They have criticized him severely. They say that he plays the piano too forcefully - that he hits the piano hard. They say that his music is good technically but nothing more. And they do not like the faces he makes while playing. They do not like the way he moves his hands and body. They believe he does these things for show.
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Lang Lang does not listen to the critics anymore. He says he plays the way that he feels the music. He says his body movements express his feelings:
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‘A few years ago, I tried to follow some suggestions about how I could control myself. But it does not work because then I am not playing the music as I feel it. I am playing the music the way that other people tell me to do it. The important thing for me is to consider the music and understand the composers and their work. It is not to worry about body movement.’
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The public does not seem to listen to the critics either. Many people around the world enjoy Lang Lang’s way of playing the piano. They connect with him and his emotions. And in China, Lang Lang is a hero. Thousands and thousands of young children are learning to play the piano there. They are hoping to be the next Lang Lang.
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Lang Lang wants to use his fame to help children. So, he became a representative for the United Nations children’s group - UNICEF. He helps UNICEF with HIV/AIDS and malaria programmes. He has visited sick children. And he has helped to raise money for them.
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Lang Lang also encourages children to study music. He knows how music shaped his life from an early age. He believes that it is important to develop children’s love of music. He believes music can change their lives in a positive way. He said:
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‘Music is like a language. It is like a universal language. It has a connection to people. I think the best way to reach children is to play them music. This really opens their ears and minds.’
