**Chinese Star Pianist Lang Lang: “Winning a Competition is Just the Beginning”**
Recently, world-renowned Chinese pianist Lang Lang (43) released his new album “Piano Book 2.” In a video interview held on the evening of the 10th to commemorate its release, he shared his thoughts on the recent “Chinese phenomenon” that dominated the Chopin Competition. Lang Lang attributed this to Asian musicians dedicating more time to their practice and frequent participation in various competitions, thereby becoming more accustomed to the pressure.
Lang Lang did not hide that previous generations of Chinese pianists, including himself, have laid the foundation for this success. “When I was young, there were not many successful Chinese musicians to look up to, so I had to learn from Western musicians,” he said. “Now, young aspiring Chinese pianists can dream bigger with more confidence, and that makes a big difference.”
However, he emphasized repeatedly that winning a competition is not the end but merely the starting point for a career as a pianist. “Pursuing a professional career as a pianist is incredibly challenging,” he said. “It’s not about concentrating for just 2 or 3 years to achieve success; it’s more like a marathon. Endless practice and rigorous self-management must continue throughout one’s life.”
“I realized this myself after winning the Tchaikovsky Competition in 1995. I want to advise young pianists to have patience and maintain their passion for the piano over a long period,” Lang Lang added.