In more ways than one, La Jolla Music Society Celebrity Series pianist Lang Lang endeared himself to a near-capacity audience at Copley Symphony Hall Jan. 20. Following a glistening and silky performance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Piano Sonata No. 13 in B-flat Major, K. 333, and a powerful and unforgettable reading of Robert Schumann’s Phantasie for piano in C Major, op. 17, and fortified by an intermission, the artist plopped down on the piano bench like the 24-year-old youth he is and, microphone in hand, talked about the six traditional Chinese works he was about to play, pointing out their similarities to impressionism, tango and Middle Eastern idioms.
As Lang Lang named the ancient melodies in English, he repeated their titles in Chinese, eliciting pleased laughter and applause from many Asians in attendance. It was a delightful, humanizing moment.
He also played Enrique Granados’ Goyescas, No. 1: Los Requiebros and two works by Franz Liszt, the composer’s transcription of Isolde’s love/death music from Richard Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” and Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 in D-flat Major.
After the printed program was completed, the pianist played the waltz from the film “The Painted Veil,” which recently received a composition award at the Golden Globe Awards, and “The Flight of the Bumble Bee.” The audience departed in high spirits, more than one convert among them, those who for the first time somehow managed to ignore his mannerisms and see the genuine artist underneath.
Coming up are Roby Lakatos Ensemble in the La Jolla Music Society’s Jazz Series at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3 at the Birch North Park Theatre; St. Lawrence String Quartet in the Revelle Chamber Music Series at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10 at Sherwood Auditorium; and 14-year-old Chinese pianist Peng Peng in the Discovery Series at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18 at The Neurosciences Institute.
For tickets and information, visit www.lajollamusicsociety.org or call (858) 459-3728.
In other music of note, classical guitarist Christopher Parkening will perform on Sunday, Feb. 4, 7 p.m., at MCASD’s Sherwood Auditorium, 700 Prospect St. With the Idyllwild Arts Academy Orchestra, Parkening will play “Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra” written for him by famed film score composer Elmer Bernstein, plus works by Dvorak, Debussy and Rimsky-Korsakov. Tickets range from $10 to $25, or $50 for preferred seating and VIP reception. For information, call (760) 320-5272 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
