Future stars handed keys to success

"I am impressed. You made a slight mistake but you dealt with it calmly," says Lang. "I am also impressed because you have a gift for capturing emotion. Now, let's explore the depths of this piece together.

"Let's talk about Mozart first. He was a child prodigy. He was also liberal to some degree. I guess that he was a party boy and in his art, he wanted to make people happy," says Lang. "So when we play Mozart's music, we should be imaginative, not limited. His music is a whole world, not just a small room. We should make a bold interpretation and be 'naughty' when we play his music."

Together, they embarked on a journey through the piece again, dissecting each passage with meticulous attention to detail. Lang's playful banter and encouragement transformed Hongyu's nervousness into confident strides across the keyboard, eliciting laughter from both himself and the audience.

Throughout the session, Lang's wit and humor interjected moments of lightness and relaxation, particularly with the three students, who were initially nervous.

"At last, I want to introduce a special friend, Liu Hao, who has been learning with me for a very long time," says Lang, welcoming the blind, 23-year-old Liu, who is pursuing his studies in the United States at the Peabody Conservatory, Johns Hopkins University, Maryland.

Liu plays Debussy's Clair de Lune. As he finished the last note, Lang couldn't help clapping, cheering his performance.

"When we first met, Liu Hao was 6 years old. Now, he is a young man and soon he will be a touring pianist. I am so proud of you," says Lang.

Born in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Liu was blind from birth and displayed his musical talent at the age of 3. His mother Kang Guiqin has been devoting herself to helping her son to learn the piano after sensing his talent.

"We not only studied but also performed onstage together. He works very hard and makes progress fast. It doesn't matter if you are young or old, sighted or blind. What matters is the passion within you, waiting to be unleashed," says Lang.

In 2021, Lang opened his studio at the NCPA Taihu Stage Art Centre, where his photos, albums and trophies are displayed, including an award certificate from 1989, which shows the pianist at 7 years old, winning a piano competition in his hometown in Liaoning province.

Since then, he has been giving master classes to children when he returns to Beijing, despite his hectic schedule.

"I want to share with the children that master classes are not just about techniques but bring a transformative journey of self-discovery, a glimpse into the boundless possibilities that music offers," he says.

On Wednesday, Lang made his debut at the Beijing Performing Arts Centre near the Grand Canal in Tongzhou, one of the most important waterways in ancient China.

During his recital, the pianist played works by renowned composers, including Robert Schumann's Kreisleriana, Op 16, Gabriel Faure's Pavane, Op 50, and 12 of Chopin's mazurkas.

Contact the writer at chennan@chinadaily.com.cn