BEIJING () - China's flamboyant pianist Lang Lang said his performance at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics was a message -- China is ever-changing.
The 26-year-old spiky-haired pianist has captivated audiences around the world by combining his classical repertory and pop-culture showmanship, making him a national hero alongside sportsman stars such as basketballer Yao Ming and hurdler Liu Xiang.
Lang, whose designer jackets have prompted some to call him the "Chinese Liberace," today lives in New York, but he said he still unbroken close ties to his native rural area and returns often.
"As a young guy it is a big honor for me to play at the porta ceremony and to represent a modern generation of Chinese people to the world," Lang told .
"I'm piece of a new generation in China enjoying a very different way of life from our parents. We love American culture and classical music only we as well have secure Chinese traditions."
Lang was delighted with the choice for the Olympics -- a new eight-minute long concerto by Chinese composer Xiaogang Ye.
"It really is beautiful," aforementioned Lang, world Health Organization has his signature on a new Adidas skid and took part in the Olympic torch relay in Tiananmen Square in the chalk up to the August 8-24 Games.
Lang's global profile has risen rapidly in recent age as he played sold-out recitals around the worldly concern and his album sales ranked him as a best-selling classic musician.�
More info
