On the abominable Lang Lang and the state of classical music...

Lang Lang, the China-born pianist, who is more about gaudy showmanship to promote himself than about the refined elegance of the music itself. I always find him and his performance detestable, and I've since stopped watching anything even remotely related to Lang Lang (including links on the web).

Unfortunately for the state of classical music these days, some music company would value the crassness in Lang Lang, over the more traditional Yundi Li. And I'm glad that Wall Street Journal would expose that fact, and the extreme shallowness of Lang Lang (his desire to be "number one", his inability to comprehend irony from his own teacher of the ridiculous style, just to sell himself (with little regard to the music itself).

No doubt the music itself, whatever that Lang Lang might be playing, is simply a means to an end, to make a name for himself, and to make some quick bucks.

It reminds me of a girl from China that I met in Australia some time back. She plays piano, and like Lang Lang, she hates it. But in her own words, everyone in China would play some music. It has nothing to do with whether they like the music or not. But in order to "stand out from the crowd", every student has to do some sports or play music, and obviously almost all Chinese students are expected to do well in math (and science). The reason? Those are about the only "ticket" they can get, in order to apply to further study overseas.

I have since looked at the Chinese students (who play music) in different light. In observation and discussions with a number of others, not just in Australia, but in other parts of the world like America, that girl's account is confirmed, time and time.

There is little doubt, of why the Chinese students excel in math and science, and yet they have little imagination; and they have other talents like various music instruments, but most of them play it with little soul. That's because they did it out of obligation. They were told to do it. And they never have their heart in it.

You even say, one part of me pity on people like Lang Lang, yet I despise him, for what he does to the music I love. It's unforgivable.