Chinese pianist Lang Lang came to the United States in 1997 to study with Gary Graffman at the Curtis Institute. Since that time Lang Lang has racked up an impressive resumé of competition awards and concert dates. The 18-year-old pianist’s CD recital debut offers a judicious mix of classical and romantic fare, and much admirable playing along the way. His stylish, flexible, and attractively shaded Haydn E major Sonata sings out with poise and personality. Conversely, Lang Lang underplays Rachmaninov’s Second Sonata. While he safely and securely delivers all those swirling notes, he doesn’t quite look the music’s demonic underbelly in the eye, like the febrile Horowitz, or the suave and headlong Kocsis and Thibaudet, among my favorite recordings.
Some of the Brahms Op. 118 pieces are sensitively and intelligently voiced. I don’t care, though, for Lang Lang’s clipped and choppy G minor Ballade, nor his static, meandering E-flat minor Intermezzo. I also miss the nostalgic tinge and feeling for the dance that others (notably Horowitz again) have brought to Tchaikovsky’s Dumka. Likewise, Balakirev’s Islamey comes off sounding square and notey, and lacking in bravura. Still, Lang Lang’s clearly a gifted pianist and a thoughtful musician. But my jury is still out, so to speak. The sonics are so warm and intimate that you don’t realize that this is a live recording until the applause at the end of each selection.
