SI: Pianist Lang Lang Signs Deal With Sony Music Entertainment

[Christopher]

Sony Music Entertainment has arranged a comprehensive long-term music and media agreement with internationally celebrated pianist Lang Lang. Lang Lang’s first album on Sony Classical will feature a live recording of Lang Lang’s upcoming recital at Vienna’s legendary Musikverein. The performance will also be made available in high definition video on the Blu-ray format.

This deal expands Sony’s existing relationship with the artist whereby Lang Lang serves as a worldwide brand ambassador to Sony Group. In addition to music albums, Sony will collaborate with Lang Lang on a number of other projects showcasing cutting edge technologies, exploring opportunities for 3D video and web-based music education initiatives.

“I enjoy the innovative and creative energy of Sony,” says Lang Lang. “They are not just looking into the future, they are shaping it, and I am thrilled to be a part of this exciting process. We share a vision. This is why our relationship is not just about making great recordings; it’s also about technology and its future.”

Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman, CEO and President, Sony Corporation, said: “Lang Lang is one of the most passionate, dynamic and gifted artists in the world today. We are thrilled to welcome his enormous talent and global appeal not only to Sony Music, but to the entire Sony family. We look forward to collaborating with Lang Lang to create innovative and unique entertainment experiences utilizing his musical genius and technical savvy.”

Lang Lang performing an encore (Chopin Etude No. 3, Op. 10 in E major) during his appearance with the Berliner Philharmoniker on January 31st, 2009 in Berlin.

Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, CEO of Sony Music Entertainment, said: “It gives me great pleasure to welcome Lang Lang to our distinguished roster of classical artists. We are committed to working closely with him on many aspects of his outstanding career, which we are proud to say includes educational and philanthropic activities. Signing an artist as important and multi-dimensional as Lang Lang is exciting for me as a fan. For Sony Music, it is another significant step as we continue to focus on growing our Classical business.”

Bogdan Roscic, President of Sony Classical, said: “I have had the pleasure of working with Lang Lang in the past, and already from the very beginning of his career, he showed a level of passion for recordings, media and new technology that’s quite unusual in our business. That open-mindedness has made him one of the most important ambassadors for the art form itself, bringing classical music to audiences which musical gifts alone, even as prodigious as his, could not reach in today’s culture. We are all very excited about writing the next chapter of this story with him.”

The synergy between Sony and Lang Lang is also apparent in their immediate response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Both the artist and the company have announced their decisions to donate much-needed funds towards UNICEF’s long-term relief effort. On Sunday, March 21, Lang Lang, who has been a UNICEF Global Goodwill Ambassador since 2006, will perform at Carnegie Hall with Maestro Christoph Eschenbach and the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra in a UNICEF benefit concert. In support of this initiative, Sony Classical will release a recording of Frederic Chopin: Polonaise in A-flat Major No. 6 Op. 53 “Heroic,” as an exclusive iTunes download, in tribute to the heroes working to alleviate the devastation of the earthquake in Haiti. All proceeds from the recording and concert, as well as Lang Lang’s fee, will be donated to the US Fund for UNICEF.

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