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    Piano Concerto No.21 in C major (2) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Piano Concerto No.21 in C major (2) artwork
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    Lang Lang

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    Lang Lang and Simon Rattle: Prokofiev 3 & Bartók 2 - an album guide

    Discover these epic piano concertos with our handy guide to Lang Lang and Simon Rattle's new album with the Berlin Philharmonic.

    1. Lang Lang and Simon Rattle new album

      1. Prokofiev, Piano Concerto No. 3 in C: Andante - Allegro

      Track 1: With its angular tunes and angry chords, Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3 packs a punch at the beginning of the album - a taste of the musical drama yet to come.

    2. Lang Lang and Simon Rattle

      2. Sir Simon describes Lang Lang playing Prokofiev

      Sir Simon said: "I have to say I don't know when I've ever heard a pianist who was able to be sheerly, uncannily accurate in this piece and then still have the technical ability in reserve to make it dance and to make it phrase."

    3. Lang Lang and Simon Rattle

      3. Prokofiev, Piano Concerto No. 3 in C: Tema con variazioni

      Track 2: The close-knit woodwind come to the fore in this understated theme and variation movement, with a piano tune that's at once eerie and beautiful. This movement was probably started as early as 1913, but wasn't fully completed until 1921.

    4. Simon Rattle

      4. Sir Simon Rattle on Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3

      Sir Simon Rattle described Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3 as a kind of showpiece for the composer to play on the piano. "He’d already written the First and Second Concertos for himself and the Third is very much a mixture of the spirit of Paris in the twenties, and America, and his type of look back at Russia,” he said.

    5. Lang Lang in London

      5. Prokofiev, Piano Concerto No. 3 in C: Allegro ma non troppo

      Track 3: Lang Lang's fingers dash over the keyboard in this impressively meaty final movement, filled with brilliantly spiky piano tunes. It's easy to see why Prokofiev himself called it an 'argument' between the soloist and orchestra.

    6. Lang Lang and Simon Rattle

      6. Lang Lang explains why he loves Prokofiev

      It's relentless, it's exciting: no wonder Lang Lang's described the Prokofiev concerto as one of his favourites. "The spirit of the playing is extraordinary, and it has such a Russian feel to it," he said. "It’s also incredibly fast in places."

    7. Lang Lang and Simon Rattle new album

      7. Bartók, Piano Concerto No 2. in G: Allegro

      Track 4: Hold on to your hats for this impressive display of stamina from Lang Lang and the Berlin Phil. The piano stops playing for only 23 bars in the entire first movement.

    8. Lang Lang and Simon Rattle

      8. Lang Lang's impressive playing

      Sir Simon Rattle praised Lang Lang's technical ability when tackling the fiendish music - there aren't many pianists who'll take on Bartók's ambitious concerto without a fight.

    9. Lang Lang and Simon Rattle new album

      9. Bartók, Piano Concerto No 2. in G: Adagio - Presto - Adagio

      Track 5: The concerto's famous for being one of the most difficult in the repertoire, but the second movement couldn't be more different in feel from the relentless first movement. Expect ominous strings and delicate piano interludes, interspersed with menacing timpani rolls.

    10. steinway & sons piano

      10. Finger-breaking Bartók

      Renowned for its extreme complexity, pianists the world over have struggled with Bartók's concerto. András Schiff described it as a "finger-breaking piece", and Stephen Kovacevich declared it to be the most technically demanding piece he'd ever performed.

    11. berlin philharmonic orchestra

      11. Bartók, Piano Concerto No 2. in G: Allegro molto

      Track 6: Take a deep breath and brace yourself for the final minutes of some of Bartók's most intense piano music, with orchestral passages brought to life by the Berlin Phil. The final movement is a breathless sprint to the finish, in an Allegro molto lasting just over six and a half minutes.

    12. Lang Lang Simon Rattle Prokofiev 3 Bartok 2 album

      12. Bartók in a sentence

      "You have so many notes, there’s so much going on, but you still need to have 100 per cent control in the slower passages,” Lang Lang said of the Bartók concerto. We couldn't have summed it up any better ourselves.

    Lang Lang latest

    See more Lang Lang latest

    Acclaimed pianist Lang Lang launches his new album The Disney Book, filming the music video for his new single ‘Feed the Birds’ at sunrise in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Park in California.

    Join Lang Lang for a special Disney themed concert at the Royal Albert Hall

    Events

    Lang Lang performs in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle at Disneyland, California.

    Lang Lang performs nostalgic piano rendition of Mary Poppins song against Disney Castle backdrop

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    Pianist Lang Lang aged 12

    Unearthed footage of 12-year-old Lang Lang shows the pianist’s incredible raw talent

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    Who is Gina Alice Redlinger? Meet the classical pianist who's married to Lang Lang

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    Lang Lang and Gina Alice play a stunning husband and wife piano duet

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    Lang Lang duets with Andrea Bocelli, as two classical legends meet in casual jam session

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    ‘We’re not numbers, we’re humans’ – pianist Lang Lang on the need for music education and opportunity

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    When Lang Lang played piano for 2 billion people at the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony

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    How many hours a day do the world’s greatest classical musicians practise?

    Discover Music

    Pianists Lang Lang and Gina Alice Redlinger have had a baby boy

    Pianists Lang Lang and Gina Alice Redlinger announce birth of their baby boy

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    10 pieces of classical music that will 100% change your life

    10 pieces of classical music that will 100% change your life

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    The 4 eras of classical music: a quick guide

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    The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

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    21 of the greatest women composers in classical music

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    The 25 best pianists of all time

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    Some of history's greatest composers were part of the LGBTQ+ community.

    15 LGBTQ+ composers in classical music history that you probably already know

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    This week’s on-air highlights – including Album of the Week and Drive Discovery.

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