Chinese pianist Lang Lang made his debut performance with the Dusseldorf Symphony Orchestra and Hungarian conductor Adam Fischer on Saturday at the Chenshan Grassland Music Festival in Shanghai. This marked his first collaboration with both the orchestra and Fischer.
The two-day festival, China’s largest outdoor classical music event, concluded on Sunday at the Chenshan Botanical Garden. This year, it marked its 13th edition, offering classical music to audiences in a unique outdoor setting.
Lang Lang also made history by performing outdoors in Shanghai for the first time. Alongside the orchestra, he played Felix Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25, a piece he had not performed in years. “As a pianist who usually plays in concert halls, I really enjoy playing outdoors. It’s a rare opportunity to bring a piano outside,” Lang Lang said. “It’s relaxing and enjoyable to play in the open air—hearing birds sing, smelling the flowers, and seeing the audience enjoy the music with nature.”
Lang emphasized that Shanghai offers a prime environment for classical music and that such festivals make it more accessible to people who may not typically attend concert halls. “It brings audiences and musicians closer, and they don’t have to be in formal attire or sit still to appreciate the music. I enjoy the fresh air and the harmony of natural sounds, including children’s voices,” he explained.
For conductor Fischer, this was not his first outdoor performance, as he had debuted at the festival two years ago. He acknowledged the challenges of performing in an open-air setting. “It’s a unique atmosphere, and switching off the external noises to focus on the music is a special challenge,” Fischer said with a smile. “But I enjoy the new challenges and experiences at this stage in my career.”
Despite the challenges of outdoor performances, such as wind, insects, and unexpected sounds, Lang Lang and Fischer were not the only ones impressed. Michael Becker, artistic director of the Dusseldorf Symphony Orchestra, also shared his thoughts on the outdoor performance. “We feel a bit like rock stars up here. It’s unusual for us to perform in such an open-air setting. It’s not just about the music; it’s also about the environment— the sounds, the smells, and even hearing people shout or birds sing. Being in nature adds something special to the experience because music itself comes from nature,” Becker said.
Related Topics
