It is a dream come true for renowned Chinese pianist Lang Lang. The 33-year-old recorded his most recent album in the Palace of Versailles, according to Chen Nan.
Titled "Lang Lang," the new album released on Sept. 25 is a way for the pianist to highlight the French connection between Polish composer Frederic Chopin and Russian composer Tchaikovsky.
According to a report by China Daily, Lang Lang recorded the entire album at Salle Liebermann in Opera Bastille, Paris. An identical recital was then recorded in Versailles' Hall of Mirrors. The entire performance was filmed for sale on DVDs.
Despite having performed in some of the best world-renowned venues across the globe, to perform in the Palace of Versailles has always been Lang Lang's ultimate dream, which started the first time he set foot in Paris in 2001.
"The sculptures, paintings, and the surroundings of Versailles Palace, the view across the Seine River and the Notre Dame de Paris, everything is so inspiring and romantic in Paris," Lang Lang said in an interview with China Daily before the album's release.
Finally, his dream has come true. For two consecutive days, Lang Lang stayed in the palace to record the album. The experience of recording the recital in the Hall of Mirrors, which features 17 mirror-clad arches, was surreal, according to the pianist.
Lang Lang performed "The Seasons" by Tchaikovsky and Chopin's four scherzi. The Chopin piece covered a period in Chopin's life when he experienced war and went to France, where he became embroiled in a relationship with a French writer named George Sand. Paris was also where Chopin died of an illness.
The two composers, according to Lang Lang, have always been major sources of inspiration. His renditions of their great works also propelled the pianist to international stardom.
"Both composers were great musicians and poets. They influenced me when I first started playing the piano," Lang Lang shared.