© © Olaf Heine/Deutsche Grammophon
January 6, 2026
Stephanie Pieper
The exceptional pianist Lang Lang on the healing powers of music, virtuosic high-performance demands, and the art of sometimes taking a break
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For the longest time, he led a life like a high-performance athlete, traveling the world from one competition to the next: until recently, Lang Lang played up to 170 concerts a year around the globe. Paris today, Tokyo tomorrow, and the day after a performance at the Met Gala in New York.
The time in between was spent by the world's best pianist practicing, practicing, and more practicing. For variety or a little extra, a performance with Metallica at the Grammy Awards or a quick piano duet with Billy Joel. Not only for this reason, Lang Lang is considered a true pop star of classical music. He has always been there, unmatched in his field, and simultaneously as approachable and charming as hardly any other superstar.
Those lucky enough to get to know him better no longer conduct interviews but have engaging conversations like with a friend. Naturally about all kinds of music or the incredible career of his German-Korean wife Gina, who is also a pianist, in his homeland China.
But also about social media channels like TikTok or Instagram, where the virtuoso is active and in constant exchange with his fans. The young father is also happy to proudly report on the latest abilities of his little son Winston, whose first German word was “door.” Lang Lang laughs out loud as he tells this.
Winston is his masterpiece. “It's the most beautiful feeling in the world just to look at him,” Lang Lang enthuses. Sometimes he can't believe himself how much his life has changed in recent years. Of course, with his dream wedding in 2019 at the Palace of Versailles and the birth of his first child at the end of January 2021.
Actually, it started much earlier. 2017, to be precise. Back then, he had developed tendinitis in his left hand while practicing a piece by Maurice Ravel and was completely out of action for nearly a year. “I wasn’t paying attention, I was already tired, and forced myself to keep practicing,” he says. Today that wouldn’t happen to him anymore.
How many concerts do you play today in a year?
A maximum of 70 or 80. I had to take a year off back then, cancel all concerts. That was a lesson for me. Because as a musician you don't want to stop playing, you want to be on stage. But that would have only exacerbated the problems.
How did you deal with the situation?
I did the only thing that is possible and absolutely advisable in the situation: calm down, rest, relax. Because such tendonitis shows you that you are overworked. And of course I trained. Not the hand, but the rest of my body. I started doing sit-ups and jogging, and discovered completely new parts of my body.
Which ones, for example?
My legs! I really ran a lot, even lost a few pounds. Unfortunately, I stopped doing that long ago. I'm annoyed with myself. I'm so lazy! As soon as I was allowed to play the piano again, I never jogged again.
Were you actually afraid of not being able to play the piano as virtuously as before?
No, I'm one hundred percent recovered. And I wasn't very scared either, because I knew it was just an episode. Fortunately, it wasn't a nervous breakdown or a fracture. I knew that this condition takes six to twelve months, and I just had to allow myself to rest. It's not a question of mental strength or acceptance. There's only one solution: Don't think about it! Don’t rush! Rest!
Did you also seek help from Dr. Google?
Absolutely not! Researching illnesses on the Internet only makes you crazy. I also didn't compare myself to others. Every case is unique. Instead, I consulted the best doctor and had detailed discussions with him. I didn't need more information.
Did you spend a longer time at Lake Starnberg back then?
Yes, for a month. I used the time to be in nature a lot, to explore new paths, and to get to know wonderful places like Lake Starnberg near Munich. Gina and I also became very close during that time. We rented a boat there, hiked together, and had a lot of fun.
Back then, I fell in love with the mountains and the forest. By the way, there's nothing more healing than a date. Later, we were also in Hesse at her parents' home. And I listened to many symphonies, especially new pieces that I wanted to learn in the coming years. It was very relaxing.
Did the idea for your album "The Disney Book" also grow back then?
We actually planned the album four years ago. Everything had to be newly arranged for piano and instrumental. It shouldn’t sound like background music, but virtuoso like great classics by Liszt or Chopin. I already knew most of it. I grew up with Disney. Mickey and Donald were on Chinese television every Sunday. Later Snow White and Aladdin came, and much later also The Lion King. The biggest surprise was Mary Poppins. I didn’t know that before. When I first heard the song, I thought: "What a beautiful, brilliant melody!"
But you couldn’t completely stop, could you?
You mean the one-handed concert at Carnegie Hall?
You performed back then with your 14-year-old piano student Maxim Lando, who took over the left hand.
Yes, exactly! I was so bored that I at least wanted to play with my right hand, if not both. And it was great that I got this unusual opportunity. At the same time, it was totally crazy. You only do something like that once in a lifetime.
Can music heal?
Absolutely! Music can heal us emotionally and physically. After an emotional breakdown, music makes you feel better. I even once saw someone in a wheelchair stand up after an intense piano concert. Just for a few seconds. But that powerful energy jumped to him. I actually witnessed that with my own eyes.
What music do you listen to when you're not feeling well?
For me, Brahms' symphonies are the best medicine when I'm down. They have so many emotional layers, and their vehemence lifts me up again. I especially love listening to Brahms' 1st or 2nd piano concerto. Especially the cello in the second concerto, adagio … – it may not comfort your heart, but it helps your emotions.
It gives you breath, inner energy. In difficult times, you need something that shakes you awake and gets you back in the game. Background music is not enough. Yes, Brahms is the best for that.
And if there was only one piece of music left in the world that you could play. What would it be?
Of course, Bach's Goldberg Variations. It has to be Bach! He is the King of Kings. Bach takes your soul into his own magical universe.
