Lang Lang Chosen as an Official Worldwide Ambassador to the 2010 Shanghai World Expo

Lang Lang Chosen as an Official Worldwide Ambassador to the 2010 Shanghai World Expo

Megastar Classical Pianist is Included in Time's Annual List of 100 Most Influential People in the World and Appears on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" Monday, May 18

NEW YORK, May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Superstar Chinese pianist Lang Lang has been chosen as one of three official worldwide Ambassadors for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, alongside NBA player Yao Ming and the actor Jackie Chan. Lang Lang, the most popular contemporary classical musician in the world, will be involved in various Expo activities including the opening ceremony, music videos promoting the event, plus various marketing and promotional activities. The theme of this year's Expo, which takes place from May 1st through October 31st, is "Better City, Better Life." By dedicating a 3.28-square-mile area at the core of the city to exhibitions, events, and forums on this theme, Shanghai hopes to build a powerful and lasting pilot example of sustainable and harmonious urban living. Officials anticipate that more than 70 million people will visit the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090506/NY11606 )

Heralded as the "hottest artist on the classical music planet" by the New York Times, Lang Lang, 26, currently appears in the 2009 Time 100 -- Time magazine's annual list of the 100 Most Influential People In the World, in a tribute written by iconic jazz pianist Herbie Hancock. In addition, Lang Lang will appear on the finale of "Oprah's Search for the World's Smartest and Most Talented Kids" on The Oprah Winfrey Show on Monday, May 18th (check local listings for time and channel). Three scholars from Lang Lang's International Music Foundation will also perform.

In other news, Lang Lang will team up with Hancock for an inaugural world tour beginning in July, during which the two will perform Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," in arrangement for two pianos and orchestra, and Vaughan-Williams "Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra," conducted by John Axelrod. The tour begins at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and visits France, Germany, the Netherlands, England, Italy, and the U.S., making stopovers at London's famed Royal Albert Hall, Italy's spectacular Arena di Verona, and the world-famous Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

Over the course of his career, Lang Lang has played sold-out recitals and concerts in every major city in the world and is the first Chinese pianist to be engaged by the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the top American orchestras. In August 2008, more than five billion people viewed Lang Lang's performance in the 2008 Beijing Olympic opening ceremony. As well as touring non-stop worldwide to sold-out crowds, Lang Lang recently launched the Lang Lang International Music Foundation to foster classical music education for children.

For more information, please contact:
Pamela Murphy at Align Entertainment Group
Office 646.596.8700
Cell 917.498.0802
pamela@aligneg.com

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090506/NY11606
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN3
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Lang Lang

CONTACT: Pamela Murphy at Align Entertainment Group, +1-646-596-8700,
Cell, +1-917-498-0802, pamela@aligneg.com

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