Airtimes: Indian Standard Times
Saturday, February 11 at 09:30am, 20:00hrs, 22:30hrs
Sunday, February 12 at 06:00am, 17:00hrs and 20:30hrs
Monday, February 13 at 09:00am

World renowned classical pianist Lang Lang joins Lorraine Hahn on this week’s Talk Asia. The 23-year-old has taken the musical world by storm, playing in front of presidents and world leaders, accumulating accolades and rave reviews for his performances in competitions and festivals.

Lang Lang credits his early success partly to his parents while also recalling another influential, if unusual, musical inspiration: “I was watching Tom and Jerry, and one of the episodes they were playing Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody number two. Tom was playing like a totally crazy cat! He is a crazy cat, but the way he played on that piano, I will never forget … flat fingering, fingers flying all over, that really inspired me a lot!”

His performance at New York’s Carnegie Hall was especially memorable as he played a duet with his father, someone who had made numerous sacrifices to further his son’s talent and career. His father joined him at the end of the concert and played the Chinese classical stringed instrument the ehru. Lang Lang felt he was giving something back to his father, particularly so as all musicians aspire to play Carnegie Hall. And, when that involves playing a Chinese instrument, “…it’s far beyond dreams”.

The young virtuoso suggests that classical music education is “…often very strict. So I think for kids, it’s not very healthy.” He suggests that instead budding musicians should treat music like art where “every piece has the fun part, the sad part, the beautiful part. But you should bring the joy from your heart and bring that out!”

For more program information and details on upcoming guests on Talk Asia visit http://edition.cnn.com/ASIA/talkasia/

AIRTIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE