Xian Xing-hi: Yellow River Piano Concerto

For his first non-Chopin recording, YUNDI turns to repertoire from his native China on The Red Piano. Anchored by The Yellow River Concerto, the release also features traditional Chinese songs which have been arranged to reflect the lush Romantic tradition in which Yundi excels.

After his triumphs in the works of Western composers such as Chopin, Yundi turns to music of iconic status in his native China. Lavishly deploying folk melodies, and evoking epic vistas, the Yellow River Piano Concerto – a flower of Chairman Mao’s Cultural Revolution – has its source in a patriotic cantata, composed in 1939 by Paris-trained Xian Xinghai. Complementing the concerto are evocative arrangements of favourite songs that show Yundi at his most personal and beguiling.

Released in 2006 on DVD and has since shipped over 60k units, now also available on Blu-ray.

Lang Lang has fascinated audiences all over the globe – with “Dragon Songs” he takes them home to show them “his” China. Discover the musical culture that forged one of the most acclaimed classical musicians of our day.

The BD features a full-length documentary offering a fascinating look behind the scenes of Lang Lang’s China tour, from the privacy of his parents’ flat (where Lang Lang revisits his very first piano), to a Lang-family lunch and a visit to the local temple, to his successful master classes and stage performances.

Additionally this BD includes a concert of the piano solo and chamber music pieces, all filmed in Beijing.

The Yellow River Concerto, a large-scale, highly virtuosic piano concerto with colourful sound scales, is juxtaposed with miniature pieces for piano solo and with chamber pieces, each combining the piano with traditional Chinese instruments.

Though all the pieces were written in the early 20th century, most of them are based on much older sources, merging traditional Chinese melodies and idioms with the Western classical music tradition – the result is music of astonishing beauty and ease that will strongly appeal to a broad audience.

The Yellow River Concerto is one of the most popular of all Chinese works, a richly melodic exploration of scenic variety, and a forceful expression of patriotic pride. Written in 1958 by Chen Gang and He Zhanhao, The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto has achieved world renown for its moving and beautiful synthesis of Western and Eastern traditions. In 1985 Chen Gang made an arrangement for piano and orchestra, played on this recording in the edition by the brilliant international soloist Chen Jie.

Renowned throughout the world for his passionately committed performances of Western classical masterpieces, Lang Lang now returns to his Eastern roots with this ground-breaking album of Chinese music recorded in Beijing. Dragon Songs is also the title of a film documenting the pianist's recent tour of China and the recording of this CD.

A stunning set: Lang Lang’s complete recordings, on Deutsche Grammophon (9 CDs) and on Telarc (2 CDs), with the longest Bonus CD (82:49) you’ve ever heard. Plus the 200-page book, with new articles, original liner notes and photos galore of this uniquely charismatic artist – who just happens to be reaching the ripe old age of 30 on the 14th of June.

THE PACKAGING: The box captures the “feel” of Lang Lang in bold bright colours and evocative photos. Open up and you see 11 colour-coded digipaks, one for each of the CD sets (Carnegie Hall Recital in a double digi). Each digi slots into a space in the neat tray in the bespoke box, which cunningly conceals the book in an elegant drawer.

PRODUCT OVERVIEW: The 12 CDs represent Lang Lang’s complete recordings from 2000 to 2009, including the two Telarc CDs he made in 2000 and 2001 (his recording debuts).

There are 5 concerto CDs, 4 solo piano CDs, 1 chamber music CD and 2 “mixed” CDs. The set is arranged by label: DG first, then Telarc, with the bonus CD at the end.