International piano phenomenon Lang Lang is undeniably one of the most riveting young piano talents performing on the classical music scene. An exuberant, extroverted and exhilarating performer, Lang Lang is also one of the most talked about pianists of his generation.

On January 9th, 2007, Deutsche Grammophon will release Lang Lang’s second studio album. Entitled Dragon Songs, this recording departs from the western music of Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Mozart and Liszt for which he is most known to take Lang Lang’s audience on a groundbreaking journey through “his” China in this documentary film on DVD and soundtrack album.

Teaming up with fellow Chinese musicians, Lang Lang returned to the place of his early studies, the Beijing Conservatory to record an album of all-Chinese music – as much to pay homage to the rich musical tradition of his home country as to build bridges for Western music lovers to experience these traditions. The central work on this recording is the Yellow River Concerto, a large-scale, highly virtuosic piano concerto with colorful sound scales. The balance of the CD is made up of 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 accompanying DVD features a full-length documentary offering a fascinating look behind the scenes of Lang Lang’s latest 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 DVD includes a concert of the piano solo and chamber music pieces from the CD, all filmed during the recording sessions in Beijing.

So, if you would like to win one of these new CDs, and you think you know all there is to know about Lang Lang, just answer this easy question: Lang Lang grew up in a family of musicians with his grandfather playing an instrument named the 'pipa.' So, what is a 'pipa'?!

Send us your answers and if you're correct you'll be in the running to win one of these new CDs! Just send us an e:mail here before February 15th with your answer and the subject title CONTEST: LANG LANG CD to: exclusivemagazine@flash.net

Preview "Dragon Songs" Here

www.DeutscheGrammophon.com LANG LANG ON TOUR 2006/2007:

January 10-13, 2007 - Chicago Symphony Center
Chopin: Piano Concerto no. 1 Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos

January 14, 2007 - Chicago Symphony Center
Schubert: Piano Quintet D 667
Chicago Symphony Chamber Musicians

January 16, 2007 - San Francisco, Davies Symphony Hall Recital

January 18, 2007 - Saratoga, McAffee Center Recital

January 19, 2007 - Davis, Jackson Hall Recital

January 21, 2007 - San Diego, Copley Symphony Hall Recital

January 28, 2007 - Boston, Symphony Hall Recital

February 5, 2007 - Fresno, Saroyan Theatre
Ravel: Piano Concerto
Liszt: Piano Concerto no. 1
Fresno Philharmonic
Conductor: Theodore Kuchar

February 8-11, 2007 - Los Angeles Walt Disney Concert Hall
Chopin: Piano Concerto no. 1
2007 Los Angeles Philharmonic
Conductor: Vassily Sinaisky

March 3, 2007 - New York, Carnegie Hall
Bartók: Piano Concerto no. 2
Wiener Philharmoniker
Conductor: Daniel Barenboim

May 9, 2007 - Houston, Jones Hall
Chopin: Andante spianato and Grande; Polonaise brillante
Liszt: Piano Concerto no. 1
Houston Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Hans Graf

May 17-19, 2007 - Washington, Kennedy Center
Higdon: Piano Concerto (world premiere)
National Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Leonard Slatkin