LANG LANG | LISZT NOW

CATEGORY: art, culture, DVD, music, music programme, portrait, Thomas Grube, tv programme
STATUS: in distribution
A Film by Thomas Grube

LANG LANG | LISZT NOW

THE ART OF BEING A VIRTUOSO

The Chinese pianist LANG LANG is considered the world’s No. 1 classical music star. THE ART OF BEING A VIRTUOSO links him and his piano hero, FRANZ LISZT. Two men, who made their childhood dreams come true and ascended to the ranks of the greatest musicians the world has seen.
Synopsis

THE ART OF BEING A VIRTUOSO – THE DOCUMENTARY
DUR: 52’ OR 58’, HD, STEREO

Acclaimed filmmaker THOMAS GRUBE (Rhythm Is It!, Trip To Asia) was granted exclusive access this summer and accompanied LANG LANG through China, the US and Europe. His film offers a revealing inside view into the life and mind of the modern virtuoso. The documentary was produced with high production value over the course of five month in SHANGHAI, SHENZHEN, CHICAGO, MILAN, LONDON, NEW YORK and BERLIN in collaboration with German broadcaster ZDF.

LANG LANG – LIVE AT THE ROUNDHOUSE – THE CONCERT
DUR: 52’/58’, HD, STEREO

The stunning live concert from London’s legendary ROUNDHOUSE, recorded at the iTunes festival in July 2011. LANG LANG performs a remarkable LISZT recital as the only classical music artist in a true rock-star surrounding, next to international pop stars like COLDPLAY, ADELE or LINKIN PARK. Dynamically filmed and directed by THOMAS GRUBE, using dolly, crane and fourteen HD cameras as well as specially created video projections on large LED screens supplemented by an amazing light show, this concert offers a spectacular and unique audiovisual experience, featuring ten of FRANZ LISZT’s finest solo piano pieces.

Including: Franz Liszt's La Campanella, Hungarian Rhapsody No. 15 “Rákóczy March”, Un sospiro, Ständchen, Consolation No. 2, Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6, Widmung, Ave Maria (Schubert) and more.

A true virtuoso performance

„A showcase of effusive flurries, sudden shifts of mood and rippling trills sweeping the entire length of the keyboard, all delivered with a restrained but dashing brio.“
Andy Gill, THE INDEPENDENT

„Lang Lang’s glittering career now moves from dubious beginnings to an increasing range and maturity. His stealthy tempo for “La campanella” allows for a super-glitter and articulacy that even the most seasoned pianist might envy, while in “Un sospiro” his relaxed poetry and technique are masterly at every level,...his steam-drill octaves at the close of the „Sixth Hungarian Rhapsody“, his inclusion of Horowitz’s mischievously enhanced version of the Fifteenth and his technical know-how in the First Concerto will send shivers down the spines of many lovers of virtuosity.“
Bryce Morrison, GRAMMOPHONE MAGAZINE

Runtime: 52 min.
| Film length: 4667 ft.
| Film format: HD
| Recording format: HD
Audio format: Stereo
| Picture ratio: 16:9
Cast

Lang Lang and his family
Christoph Eschenbach
Herbie Hancock
HRH Prince Charles
and many more

Team

A film by THOMAS GRUBE
Camera: NICOLAS HUDAK
Sound: ANDREAS PRESCHER
Line producer: CHRISTIAN STRUCK
Producer: UWE DIERKS, THOMAS GRUBE

A BOOMTOWN MEDIA production
in cooperation with SONY CLASSICAL and ZDF/arte.

World sales by BOOMTOWN MEDIA INTERNATIONAL

Distributors
CD, DVD, BluRay | SONY CLASSICAL
World distribution
BOOMTOWN MEDIA INTERNATIONAL
Original language
English, German, Mandarin
In cinema
US Cinema Screening via Fathom (October 2011)
On TV
ZDF (November 2011)
Versions
The concert and the documentary film are available as 52 and 58 min. HD programs.

photos | concert: iTunes Festival 2011
photos | documentary: Nicolas Hudak