Lang Lang Plays Chopin Black Keys Etude w/an Orange

Backstage at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto via pogface's YouTube channel--this technique is said to have been pioneered by Daniel Barenboim. It's certainly less messy than a peach and rolls much better than an apple.

Lang Lang Will Play at the Olympic Opening Ceremony

At tomorrow's opening ceremonies for the Olympic Games, celebrated pianist Lang Lang will be among the lineup of performers, performing "Horse Race" with his father Lang Guoping on Erhu. Lang Lang's quote in the official Olympic press release:

We have played 'Horse Race' some times, in White House for example. Every time I play it, I myself will be moved. It combines eastern and western elements. And that's why we play it at the opening ceremony. In this grand event, our music will spread through all over the world...I hope I can do something for the intellectually disabled.

Indeed, one couldn't possibly hope for a bigger audience than the Olympic opening ceremonies, which starts Friday morning at 7am EDT. CBC.ca is one of the places where you can watch the ceremonies online.

Here's Lang Lang playing his trademark red Steinway in China (possibly the Yellow River Concerto, according to a comment on the YouTube page) for an Olympic Games Countdown concert in Beijing:

The Lang Lang Adidas Shoe

As first mentioned by Opera Chic and Jessica Duchen, Adidas has just come out with a trademark Lang Lang shoe. From the press release:

The successful adidas Originals iconic model Gazelle was first released in 1968 as an athletic training shoe. The highly elegant black and golden Lang Lang special edition includes the Lang Lang name in Chinese at the heels as well as a silhouette of the pianist in typical concert pose. Moreover the inside of the sneaker links to Lang Lang’s music in having golden piano pedals printed on the sock liners.

Typical concert pose? (see left) I wasn't aware that piano playing was about striking poses, but will take it under consideration. I like the golden pedal idea--I'll need to talk to my technician about having them installed.

Some questions I have regarding the newfound practice of pianist-branded footwear:

• Are they optimized for flutter pedalling?
• Will they become popular among pianists?
• Will they be seen on stage by aspiring pianists?
• Do they come in size 15? I have large feet!
  

And above all, will other pianists follow Lang Lang's lead? It's not hard to imagine a world with other types of these shoes (ie. an Andreas Schiff Cole-Haan oxford, or the Nike Air Brendel.)

Wearing this ill footwear, Lang Lang should perhaps consider writing a piano transcription of the king of footwear songs, Run DMZ's My Adidas...