Pianist Lang Lang gets a Hollywood star

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By Jacob Stockinger

He is not the first classical pianist to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

But the controversial Chinese superstar Lang Lang (below) — once referred to as Bang Bang and compared to Liberace for his flamboyance and showmanship — is certainly the most popular.

As a performer, educator and philanthropist, he is also the first Asian pianist to be so honored, although The Ear is betting that his fellow Chinese and highly respected pianist Yuja Wang is not far behind him.

Lang Lang received the 2,778th star (below, in a photo by Jesse Grant of Getty Images) from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. He received it last week, on April 10.

His alma mater — the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where Lang Lang studied with Gary Graffman and graduated in 2002 — is deservedly proud of him, issuing the following press release with links: 

https://www.curtis.edu/news/lang-lang-piano-02-honored-with-star-on-the-hollywood-walk-of-fame

And if you missed any or all of the 49 minutes-long fluffy ceremony, in the YouTube video at the bottom is a 5-minute clip of the event, during which Lang Lang played the piano on the street.

Do you have an opinion about Lang Lang?

What do you think is his best recording?

The Ear wants to hear.

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Posted in Classical music
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