The Disney Book

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Superstar pianist Lang Lang has sold millions of albums around the world, topping classical charts and achieving simultaneous mainstream success. As a pianist, educator and philanthropist he has become one of the world’s most influential and committed ambassadors for the arts in the 21st century. Acclaimed pianist Lang Lang launches his new album The Disney Book, filming the music video for his new single ‘Feed the Birds’ at sunrise in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Park in California. Lang Lang noted, “There is such a variety of styles in Disney songs; there is truly something to inspire everyone. I hope that people of all ages will enjoy this recording and experience the joy that we all felt the first time we saw a Disney film.” Fri, July 28, 2023 New Ghoulishly Delightful Ways to Celebrate ‘Haunted Mansion’ Film at Disney Parks Lang Lang is a leading figure in classical music today – as a pianist, educator and philanthropist he has become one of the world’s most influential and committed ambassadors for the arts in the 21st century. Equally happy playing for billions of viewers at the 2008 Olympic Opening Ceremony in Beijing or just for a few hundred children in the public schools, he is a master of communicating through music.

Lang Lang Reveals The Inspirations Behind ‘The Disney Book’ Lang Lang Reveals The Inspirations Behind ‘The Disney Book’

The album’s first single releasing today is a song beloved by fans and heralded as Walt Disney’s favorite song from“Mary Poppins:” ‘Feed the Birds.’Captured as dawn broke over the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle at the Disneyland Park, the music video captures the magic of Lang Lang’s album and of Walt Disney’s legacy. Watch the magic of that morning unfold and enjoy this beautiful new arrangement of ‘Feed the Birds!’Lang Lang is joined by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for the special, with performances of Disney classics including “Let It Go”, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”, “You’ll Be in My Heart,” with Alfie Boe and “When You Wish Upon a Star” with his wife, Gina Alice. The Disney Book is a continuation of Lang Lang’s commitment to music education. Similar to his hugely successful 2019 album Piano Book, a collection of Lang Lang’s favourite pieces as a child which he hoped would motivate young musicians, The Disney Book aims to inspire people of all ages to explore classical music. The recording is a magical gift for all generations and is especially significant for Lang Lang as he recently became a father. He said, “Our son is a year and a half and he loves Disney.” Animation sparked my imagination and transported me to other worlds,” Lang Lang explains in regard to his love for Disney films. “The music was a big part of this experience – and led to my life-long love of classical music.

Lang Lang – The Disney Book (2022, CD) - Discogs Lang Lang – The Disney Book (2022, CD) - Discogs

The inspiration for this album came from Lang Lang’s own personal journey and history with Disney films. Lang Lang shares, “Animation sparked my imagination and transported me to other worlds. The music was a big part of this experience – and led to my life-long love of classical music. There is such a variety of styles in Disney songs; truly, something to inspire everyone. I hope that people of all ages will enjoy this recording and experience the joy that we all felt the first time we saw a Disney film .”Similar to his hugely successful 2019 album Piano Book, a collection of Lang Lang’s favourite pieces as a child which he hoped would motivate young musicians, The Disney Book aims to inspire people of all ages to explore classical music.

Lang Lang and Disney - Lang Lang’s albums, age, wife and more Lang Lang and Disney - Lang Lang’s albums, age, wife and more

Animated characters, he adds, are not constrained by national boundaries or narrow cultural conventions. Above all, they satisfy every child’s need for fantasy. “Animation is this magical thing to kids. If you’re teaching and tell them about a real person, I think that’s less effective than using animation. It’s like a magnet that takes them into a magical world, which is real but also a fantasy. This is what kids love the most.”The album will be released on 16 September on Deutsche Grammophon in collaboration with Disney Music Group, and the first single, ‘Feed The Birds’ from 1964 film, Mary Poppins, is already out. Lang Lang’s new album The Disney Book, released on 16 September 2022, traces the history of music in Disney films from the 1920s to the present day. This enchanting musical journey features new versions of songs from Pinocchio and The Jungle Book to Frozen and Aladdin, reimagined for solo piano or piano and full orchestra especially for him by some of the world’s top arrangers. Lang Lang explained, “These new versions were virtually composed into my fingers …I wanted something really artistic and pianistic.”

The Disney Book (Deluxe Edition) - Album by Lang Lang ‎The Disney Book (Deluxe Edition) - Album by Lang Lang

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. The Disney Book’ features joyous new versions of songs from“Pinocchio”and“The Jungle Book”to“Frozen”and“Encanto,” along with several collaborators from across the globe.Andrea Bocelliprovides vocals for “You’ll Be in My Heart” from“Tarzan;” singer-songwriter and pianistJon Batisterevisits his Oscar®-winning“Soul” score with “It’s All Right;” and Colombian singer/songwriterSebastián Yatraperforms the Oscar-nominated song “Dos Oruguitas” from“Encanto.” There are also guest appearances from guitaristMiloš, Chinese erhu playerGuo Gan, and Lang Lang’s wifeGina Alice, plus theRoyal Philharmonic Orchestraand conductorRobert Ziegler. In addition to the sparkling solo piano music are colourful orchestral works and a host of celebrity guest artists, such as Lang Lang’s wife Gina Alice, who sings ‘When You Wish Upon A Star’ (“It’s so beautiful, I really felt like a wish is being granted when I hear it,” says Lang Lang). There are also appearances from singer Andrea Bocelli (‘You’ll Be In My Heart’ from Tarzan, 1999), pianist Jon Batiste (‘It’s All Right’ from Soul, 2020) and guitarist Miloš, who performs ‘Remember Me’ the lullaby from 2017’s Coco. Lang Lang’s new album The Disney Book – which has been released to mark The Walt Disney Company’s centenary – was recorded over multiple sessions in New York, Shanghai, Paris and London, where the pianist joined the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Robert Ziegler. “The whole thing was a learning experience for everyone, including me,” reflects Lang Lang. “The orchestra was wonderful – the colours are so strong. We knew that these songs are so important to Disney fans and we wanted to do them justice.” Inspired by iconic Disney film melodies, these reimagined classics invite fans of all ages to enjoy classical music through unique interpretations by Lang Lang. All songs will be available beginning on September 16, 2022 on Deutsche Grammophon, in collaboration with Disney Music Group. Lang Lang started playing the piano aged three, and gave his first public recital before the age of five. He entered Beijing’s Central Music Conservatory aged nine, 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.If I had to choose one Disney melody,” says Lang Lang, “it would have to be ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’. That’s so symbolic. I originally asked Pharrell Williams to sing this. He freaked out! He’s like, ‘You can ask me to do something else. But this song, I’m afraid to sing it. Everybody knows the melody—it’s really hard to sing.’ It seemed like nobody wanted to do it. So, I asked Gina, ‘What do you think?’ She said, ‘Look, I’m a pianist, not a real singer. Let’s do it.’ And she sings it beautifully!” Music helps you to experience other worlds,” says Lang Lang, “there is such wonderful variety in Disney songs there is something to inspire everyone. This is my heartfelt gift to all generations everywhere.” We had a really big success with Piano Book, which reached a lot of people who were new to classical music after it was released in 2019,” Lang recalls. “So, we began thinking, ‘What can we do to help them take the next step?’ Of course, we could have done a Piano Book Two, but that was not going to make a tremendous difference. Then we began thinking about animation because it had played the biggest part of my life as a kid.”