The 5-minute Interview: Lang Lang, Pianist

'I don't care for technique when I play'

(GETTY IMAGES)

Lang, 25, is from Shenyang, China. He will perform a one-off recital at The Bridgewater Hall in Manchester on 21 January as part of the International Concerts Series. Visit www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk.

If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be ...

Sleeping.

A phrase I use far too often ...

"Go for it!". It annoys a lot of people around me.

I wish people would take more notice of ...

Kids. When I finish my career, I have a desire to teach piano to young kids. They are so important.

The most surprising thing to happen to me was ...

A while back I received a phone call from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra saying they needed me to replace one of their pianists. The performance was so soon after the call that I just wasn't ready for it.

A common misperception of me is ...

A lot of people hear my music and assume I must have a good technique. But I don't care much for technique when I play. I think the music comes first and, once you can play, then you can worry about technique.

I am not a politician but ...

Children should definitely be a top priority for politicians. Children are the future, after all. I believe that very strongly.

I'm good at ...

Piano, obviously. But I think I'm a good communicator. I can tell stories and talk to kids. I also believe I can communicate through music.

I'm very bad at ...

Mathematics. I really hate anything that has a formula or just one answer. I like to be liberal in everything I do, which is why I love music so much – it's so expressive.

The ideal night out is ...

Going to the movies. I like quiet nights.

In moments of weakness I ...

Get angry.

A ping-pong playYou know me as a musician but in truer life I'd have been ...er.

The best age to be is ...

The age I am right now. It's a good time – you are young but mature, fresh and energetic and curious about the world.

In a nutshell, my philosophy is this ...

To have a balance in life.

Jerome Doraisamy