Pianist explores his roots with new album

Pianist Lang Lang returns to his roots, releasing a new digital album titled Year of the Dragon-— Songs from China, on Friday.

According to the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, 2024 is the Year of the Dragon. To mark this auspicious occasion, Lang is celebrating his heritage with an album comprising all his Deutsche Grammophon recordings of Chinese music.

The album presents, among other works, the music from the pianist's Dragon Songs album originally released in 2006, which was based on cultural exchange. Having introduced many Western classical masterpieces to Chinese audiences, Lang was keen to reverse the process. Filmed in 2006, the documentary Dragon Songs traces the journey back to Lang's roots following his return home to China to reconnect with family and friends, sharing the importance of having a personal connection to music.

The compilation also takes award-winning composer Tan Dun's Eight Memories in Watercolor and complete soundtrack to Chinese film director Feng Xiaogang's The Banquet; a selection of pieces from Lang's album Piano Book; and two new recordings Snowflakes and Moon Is Bright Lullaby.

Snowflakes, by songwriter Zhang Shuai, was originally performed by a children's choir at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics opening ceremony. "It was like music from paradise," Lang describes.

"I'm very happy to work with Zhang, who is from my home city of Shenyang in Liaoning province and is the same age as me, so we share many of the same memories," notes the pianist. "This melody is almost like a wave of love and passion, and it emits joyfulness."

By contrast, Moon Is Bright Lullaby has a far-longer history — a traditional tune from northeastern China, arranged by Zhang Zhao. The music piece deeply resonates with many people across the country.

"This melody transports me back to my hometown in the cold winter," says Lang. "At my grandparents' place, my cousins and I fell asleep to this beautiful melody … This is a new arrangement by a remarkable composer and I like it very much."

Marking the 75th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, the pianist also recorded a solo piece arranged from the Chinese song I Love You China, which was the first time he ever recorded the song.

As well as featuring a wealth of solo pieces, the album includes ensemble and orchestral works in which Lang is joined by other world-renowned artists. These include tenor Andrea Bocelli and soprano Lei Jia, the China Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Yu Long, the Shanghai Opera House Chorus, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and Tan Dun, and the Prague Symphony Orchestra and Alexandre Desplat.