London, 10 March 2023 – Globally acclaimed piano virtuoso Lang Lang made a surprise appearance at London’s St Pancras International Train Station for an impromptu performance this afternoon, treating a delighted audience to renditions of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Flight of the Bumblebee; Liszt’s Liebestraum No. 3 and, joined by his wife Gina Alice, Brahms’s Hungarian Dance No 5. Lang Lang’s latest album The Disney Book is now out on Deutsche Grammophon. This comes ahead of the much anticipated final episode of Channel 4’s The Piano, which airs on Wednesday 15 March at 9pm.
About The Piano – The nation’s favourite instrument, the piano, is celebrated in this new five part series on Channel 4. Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, each week, talented amateur pianists are invited to play on public pianos in London St Pancras, Leeds, Glasgow and Birmingham train stations, sharing their stories and music with the great British public. From nonagenarians who have been playing for 80 years to 12-year-olds who have never played in public before, those who taught themselves to play the classics in lockdown to players who feel the music, composing pieces about their life experiences and someone with no sight, who against the odds has mastered Chopin, commuters in train stations across the country are stopped in their tracks as heartfelt, emotional and uplifting performances take place. However, what the piano performers don’t know is that two of the most acclaimed and successful performers in the world – Lang Lang who is widely regarded as the greatest classical pianist of the modern era and platinum selling pop star Mika – are secretly watching and one performer from each train station is given a once in a lifetime opportunity by them, an invitation to perform on one of the world’s most prestigious stages.
Wednesday’s final of the show will bring together four amazing pianists – Jay, Lucy, Sean and Danny – at London’s Royal Festival Hall, where they will showcase their talent in solo performances in front of an audience of thousands.
The Piano comes from the makers of The Great British Bake Off, Love Productions, and its creator and executive producer Richard McKerrow said: “Lang Lang’s first ever performance on a public piano in St Pancras Station is a momentous public event and a wonderful way to celebrate the final of The Piano and all the pianists that came along to the train stations around the country to play for us. The Piano started in St Pancras Station with Lang Lang, Mika and Claudia Winkleman watching our amazing amateur pianists sharing their stories and their music, so it is an honour to see Lang Lang return to play at the same location, walking in their shoes.”
Hi! Sue the Boogie Woogie Biker here, from The Piano series????
Wonderful to be involved in this touching and imaginative programme.
It gave me the opportunity to showcase one of my favourite styles of music, Boogie Woogie, but I also love playing Swing; Blues; Jazz , and Classical music.
I met some amazing people at Glasgow Central Station, with just the same type of passio. For playing the piano, just like me.
Claudia was so encouraging, during my interview. And when Lang Lang and Mica introduced themselves, to us all, that was a magical moment!
Thank you to all the Production staff at Love Productions. They made us all feel, so special????????
I missed him by a week as I was at St Pancras a week ago prior to his arrival. Gosh !!!.
I’ve had the pleasure of playing often at St. Pancras. Fun place, although the station announcements are somewhat loud!
I live in London and I go to kings Cross station a lot and I feel so so sad I wasn’t at kings cross station when Lang Lang and his beautiful talented wife Gina Alice played. What a treat!