In 2022, renowned classical pianist Lang Lang joined forces with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra for a one-night-only show in London’s Royal Albert Hall. Except this wasn’t your usual Lang Lang concert by a long shot. Instead of pulling tracks from centuries past, Lang Lang paid tribute to Disney’s 100th birthday, refashioning film soundtracks new and old while drawing young listeners ever closer to the magic of orchestral music.
As Lang Lang unleashed his personalized take on “Beauty and the Beast,” his experimental and emotional piano rendition stole the limelight from the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, and it’s still moving Disney fans to tears to this day. Amassing more than 1.2 million views to date, Music Man readers can watch the enchanting moment unfold in the video below.
Whisking viewers back to their childhoods, fans can’t get enough of Lang Lang’s unique take on this classic soundtrack, with one top commenter writing, “I just love the amount of emotion and excellent dynamics Lang Lang showed through his music,” and another admitting, “I have tears of joy listening and watching him play this beautiful song. He is truly a gift from heaven.”
This one-off concert supported the release of Lang Lang’s 2022 album, “The Disney Book,” which traced “the history of music in Disney films from the 1920s to the present day, whilst also reflecting Lang Lang’s own personal journey.” It includes soundtrack recreations from Frozen to Snow White, from The Muppet Movie to Encanto, featuring a total of six collaborating artists and instrumentalists such as Andrea Bocelli, who lent his voice to the album-closer, “You’ll Be in My Heart” (Tarzan).
As with millions across the globe, Disney music has been a part of Lang Lang’s life since childhood. Mesmerized by the classics, these film soundtracks even played a part in inspiring Lang Lang to become a musician himself.
He revealed, “Animation sparked my imagination and transported me to other worlds. The music was a big part of this experience – and led to my lifelong 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.”
Lang Lang’s tender, inventive take on “Beauty and the Beast” reaffirms his rare ability to bridge classical artistry and popular imagination. It’s a performance that lingers long after the final chord.