Pianist sets peaceful mood in Oslo
If there was a Nobel Prize for Music, Chinese pianist Lang Lang would probably get one.
The talented 27-year-old musician is widely acclaimed as one of the world's best piano players. He was also listed by Time magazine recently as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. And People magazine said he was one of the 100 sexiest men on the planet in 2008.
But there is no such thing as a Nobel Prize for Music, so the Chinese superstar had to settle for the next best thing this week: Being invited to play at the Nobel Prize Concert in Stockholm.
He took part in the event in 2007 and he was back again this year to perform not only at the Nobel Prize Concert tonight but also at yesterday's black-tie Nobel Prize Ceremony in Oslo where US President Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Lang Lang selected Chopin's solo Etude Op.10 No 3 in E major, also known as Tristesse, as the piece he would play before Obama delivered his acceptance speech.
"I chose this piece because it is a very peaceful piece, a melodic tone poem that is consistent with the message of the peace prize," Lang Lang told China Daily in Beijing on Monday before he headed for Oslo.
"I really hope that the message can be sent out to the world through Chopin's music.
"I was honored to be invited back to the Nobel Prize Concert and when I was told to play at the ceremony for President Obama, who was going to be awarded the Peace Prize, I was really, really excited.
"The Peace Prize is significant. Everybody should contribute to world peace, no matter whether you are a world leader or an ordinary person. It's my privilege to send a peaceful message around the world through music."
Lang Lang also performed Franz Liszt's A Dream of Love after Obama's speech.
Tonight, he plans to play George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue at the annual Nobel Peace Prize Concert, which will also feature British pop singer Natasha Bedingfield, American country music singer Toby Keith and other international musicians.
Lang Lang said his Lang Lang International Music Foundation plans to start work next year in China where it will set about discovering, nurturing and financing children with musical talent.
"The foundation will carefully select the children we are going to support and, of course, I will listen to the kids playing personally," said Lang Lang.