Lang Lang gives instructions to young musicians at an open master class on Monday at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing. Lang Lang, pianist. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

"I could not stop using my left hand and could not shift focus from it. My right arm was once inflamed but I recovered quickly," he says.

"So, I really did not expect it to take for such a long time. I wanted to cry and thought that the inflammation would go away if my tears dropped on my left hand."

But the more he worried, the worse the inflammation got.

Finally, a doctor decided to tie up his left arm completely.

"I had nightmares. I was frightened that I would never play with my left hand again."

But the treatment worked. And Lang Lang finally calmed down and realized that it is time to slow down.

"I have not enjoyed family life for a long time. So, I returned to my hometown to see some old friends.

"Now, I won't play as many concerts as before.

"Everything has its natural cycle. You cannot resolve any problem overnight. Sometimes you have to let it be."

It will take him a few weeks to recover completely. But he is looking forward to a formal return. On Oct 4, Lang Lang will play Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue with jazz musician Chick Corea and the Philadelphia Orchestra under the baton of Yannick Nezet-Seguin.

It will be Carnegie Hall's opening night gala for the coming season.

Contact the writer at chenjie@chinadaily.com.cn