Paavo Järvi and Lang Lang with Ravel’s Piano Concerto

Järvi attracted attention early on for his unconventional approach to the standard repertoire. His lean, forward-driven interpretations reflect his long-standing engagement with historically informed performance practice. Today, Paavo Järvi is Chief Conductor of the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich and Artistic Director of both the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen and the Estonian Festival Orchestra. He made his debut with the Berliner Philharmoniker in February 2000, conducted the orchestra at the Europakonzert in 2018, and has since returned regularly as a guest. His connection to the orchestra, however, goes back much further: “I grew up listening to recordings by the Berliner Philharmoniker. We listened to them almost every day.”

Heralded by the New York Times as “the hottest artist on the classical music planet,” Lang Lang plays sold-out concerts all over the world. He has formed ongoing collaborations with conductors including Sir Simon Rattle, Gustavo Dudamel, Daniel Barenboim, and Christoph Eschenbach, and performs with all the world’s top orchestras. Lang Lang is known for thinking outside the box and frequently steps into different musical worlds. Millions of viewers watched his performances at the GRAMMY Awards with Metallica, Pharrell Williams, and jazz legend Herbie Hancock. Lang Lang's passion for innovation has led him to exciting collaborations beyond classical music. He has worked with global pop icons such as Ed Sheeran, John Legend, Rose from BLACKPINK, J Balvin, and Jay Chou bringing classical music to new and diverse audiences. He also collaborated with Disney, blending his classical artistry with the magic of Disney, further expanding his reach. 

For about a decade, Lang Lang has contributed to musical education worldwide. In 2008, he founded the Lang Lang International Music Foundation, aimed at cultivating tomorrow’s top pianists, championing music education at the forefront of technology, and building a young audience through live music experiences. In 2013, Lang Lang was designated by the Secretary-General of the United Nations as a Messenger of Peace, focusing on global education. Lang Lang’s influence extends into the luxury world, where he is a Global Ambassador for Allianz, Dior, Hublot, and Hennessy, and has partnered with Alicia Keys for a high-profile campaign with Hennessy. His unique blend of artistry and creativity also led him to design his limited-edition Steinway Black Diamond piano, debut the Steinway Spirio Cast to the world, create his Hublot limited-edition watch, and design the interior of a Bugatti car, etc. These ventures showcase his diverse talents beyond music. 

Lang Lang started playing the piano at age three and gave his first public recital before the age of five. At age nine, he entered Beijing’s Central Music Conservatory and won First Prize at the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians at 13. He subsequently went to Philadelphia to study with legendary pianist Gary Graffman at the Curtis Institute of Music. He was seventeen when his big break came, substituting for André Watts at the Gala of the Century, playing Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Christoph Eschenbach: he became an overnight sensation, and the invitations started to pour in. 

Lang Lang’s boundless drive to attract new audiences to classical music has brought him tremendous recognition: he was presented with the 2010 Crystal Award in Davos and was picked as one of the 250 Young Global Leaders by the World Economic Forum. He is also the recipient of honorary doctorates from the Royal College of Music, the Manhattan School of Music, and New York University. In December 2011, he was honored with the highest prize awarded by the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China and received the highest civilian honors in Germany (Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany) and France (Medal of the Order of Arts and Letters). In 2016, Lang Lang was invited to the Vatican to perform for Pope Francis. He has also performed for numerous other international dignitaries, including four U.S. presidents and monarchs from many nations.