Who's the better pianist, Lang Lang or Li Yundi?

Question

Both are extremely talented young pianists that come from China, but who do you think is the better musician and why?

Edit: maybe some links to help you decide.

Li Yundi playing Liszt:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9jJEFfyayU&search=li%20yundi

Lang Lang also playing Liszt:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8mKzbr33P4&search=lang%20lang%20piano

Answer 1

Lang Lang is a machine. So he can play fast. Who cares. I don't care how fast someone can play Liszt. I've heard his Rach in concert and I was not impressed. There was no music, no phrasing, no heart, no beauty. It was all fast and accurate. Music is about making beauty, showing one's emotions. Lang Lang is dry and boring. He doesn't touch my heart one bit. I am not impressed one bit. I know many pianists who can play fast.

Yundi Li on the other hand is a very musical performer. His Chopin recordings are beautiful. He is very accurate but involves himself in the music. He shapes the musical line, brings drama and other dimension of thought into the music. He is constantly creating and show casing emotion. He has no fear in that.

The concepts of making music I don't find in Lang Lang's playing. It's about beauty and in his case it's always ugly.

Answer 2

I've heard both Lang Lang and Mitsuko Uchido live numerous times and they're both excellent and also very different. I've never heard Yundi play live.

While I love them both, Lang Lang has taken my breath away with both his ability and musicality. I heard him play a Hungarian Rhapsody faster than I knew was humanly possible on the same program where I heard a breath taking performance of Schumann's Kinder-Scenen. I heard him accompany his father, while his father played on some traditional lute looking instrument, and it brought me to tears. Lang Lang's technique is impeccable and his musicality is coming along extremely well for a boy all of 23 years of age. Give him time to experience more life!

I'd love to hear Lang Lang rip through the Mozart piano concertos once he hits his 40s or 50s. Then I think it would be fair to compare him to Mitsuko and the like...

Answer 3

Lang Lang is a vapid ham. All show. Mitsuko Uchido is better than Lang Lang musically.. Almost any good pianist is better than Lang Lang musically.

Never heard of Yundi.
You need to listen to better musicians, as this will influence your musical philosophy and "ear". I'm serious. Don't listen to piano bangers like LangLang...

Answer 4

Maybe Li Yundi. i never played the piano. Or maybe Lang Lang. Nope i a just gonna pick Li Yundi.

Answer 5

Lang Lang totally! And not just b/c of the song you let us preview but the fact that he played w/ Lucia Micarelli. Yep- anyone who plays with the all time great Loosh gets a round of applause. She has high standards. And Lang Lang is a very talented player but neither of the ppl you picked are as good as Jean Yves Theadubeaut. But all very good!