Dragon Songs

Born and raised in China, yet a musician of the world, the virtuoso pianist Lang Lang is passionate about uniting cultures. In his 2006 album Dragon Songs, he bridges East and West with charming piano arrangements of Chinese folk tunes, including duets with traditional Chinese instruments, alongside the infamous “Yellow River” Piano Concerto. An arrangement of a 1939 cantata of the same name, the concerto is not without its controversies. A product of Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution, the music is inspired by patriotic poetry and folk melodies, and was one of a handful of works permitted to be played in public. Lang Lang is one of several contemporary pianists to revive the concerto, providing Chinese audiences with a fresh take on a fascinating, albeit problematic part of their musical heritage.