He was last heard in the Cliburn Concerts with cellist Yo-Yo Ma 10 years ago. Besides sharing the stage, Emanuel Ax and Yefim Bronfman also share the same building in New York, where they live as neighbors. Chinese pianist Lang Lang has taken the classical world by storm. Just two years ago, Lang Lang, then 16, stepped in at the last minute as a substitute for an ailing Andr Watts at the prestigious Ravinia Festival outside Chicago. The Chicago Tribune called Lang Lang the biggest, most exciting keyboard talent in many a year.
H is debut performances have astonished audiences and critics alike.
He has already appeared with t he Houston, Dallas, Baltimore, and National Symphony Orchestras. Although he is still a student at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, where he has studied with Gary Graffman since 1997, Lang Lang has 80 concerts scheduled for this season. Cliburn Concerts audiences missed Broadway sensation Audra McDonald when she had to cancel her last season s engagement due to her pregnancy. So we just had to call her back. McDonald made history as Broadway s first three-time Tony Award winner under 30.