环球英语 — 366：Lang Lang

　　Voice 1
Hello, I’m Ruby¹ Jones.
Voice 2
And I’m Marina Santee. Welcome to Spotlight². This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
Thousands of people are waiting for the music concert to begin. They are excited. They sit in their seats talking to their friends. Finally a young man walks out on the stage. The people clap their hands together loudly. The young man sits down in front of a large piano. He starts to play with experienced³ fingers. As he plays his head moves backwards⁴ and forwards. He closes his eyes. His face expresses his extreme happiness. The crowd watches him closely⁵. When he finishes they call his name loudly ‘Lang Lang’ ‘Lang Lang’.
Voice 2
In today’s Spotlight we talk more about this famous musician. How did he become so famous? How did his early life influence him to become the man he is today?
Voice 1
Lang Lang was born in Shenyang, China. His father was a musician. So he was very excited to discover his son’s gift for music. He learned⁶ of it in a surprising way. Lang Lang was watching Tom and Jerry on television. This popular children’s programme uses lots of music and sound effects. Lang Lang explains:
Voice 3
‘When I was two years old, I was watching a Tom and Jerry cartoon. I thought it was so funny to see this cat and mouse chasing⁷ each other to the music of Hungarian Rhapsody Number Two. I got very excited by the music. So I tried to play it on the piano. And I could play it! And my parents heard me.’
Voice 2
Lang Lang’s father hoped his son would be a famous piano player. So he organised piano classes for Lang Lang. Lang Lang was only three years old when he had his first class. By the time he was five he won a competition. His parents were very pleased. They wanted him to go to a leading music school in Beijing. This would mean many sacrifices. But they were prepared to do this to help him succeed.
Voice 1
A few years later, their dream came true. Lang Lang got a place at the music school in Beijing. So, the family had to separate. Lang Lang and his father moved to Beijing. They lived in a small apartment that they shared with other people. Lang Lang’s mother stayed in Shenyang. She had to continue working to pay for his education. Lang Lang talks about this period of his life:
Voice 3
‘When I was nine, I moved to Beijing to go the Central Conservatory⁸ of Music. I woke up every day at five am to play piano for an hour. Then I went to school until three pm, came home, and played piano some more. I practiced piano five hours a day!’
Voice 1
There was a lot of pressure on Lang Lang to succeed. He knew his family was depending on him. There are stories of Lang Lang’s father getting very angry. He would become angry if the boy did not perform well enough. But Lang Lang defends his father. He said:
Voice 3
‘My father is a very, very demanding, pushing parent. But at the same time he is intelligent. He always told me of the joy of music. For me, the good thing was that I really enjoyed playing. And I can find interesting things in each practice time. This helps me a lot. I would have lost interest if everything was just pushing.’
Voice 2
In the late 1990’s, Lang Lang continued his musical studies in the USA. Then in 1999, he had the chance of a lifetime. He was just seventeen at the time. The Chicago Symphony⁹ Orchestra¹⁰ is a famous group of musicians. A pianist was supposed to play in a performance of Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto¹¹ with them. But the pianist got sick, and he cancelled. So the orchestra needed a replacement¹². It called Lang Lang. That night changed his life. After his performance people could not stop talking about him. He became famous.
Voice 1
Since that time Lang Lang has played with many important famous orchestras¹³ around the world. He has played with many important musicians. He has even played for the Queen of England. He has played for the presidents and prime¹⁴ ministers of several countries. Then, in February 2008, Lang Lang played at the Grammy Awards - one of the top music awards in the United States. He played before many important musicians and artists.
Voice 2
But many well-known critics do not respect Lang Lang. They have criticized¹⁵ him severely¹⁶. They say that he plays the piano too forcefully - that he hits the piano hard. They say that his music is good technically¹⁷ but nothing more. And they do not like the faces he makes while playing. They do not like the way he moves his hands and body. They believe he does these things for show.
Voice 1
Lang Lang does not listen to the critics anymore. He says he plays the way that he feels the music. He says his body movements express his feelings:
Voice 3
‘A few years ago, I tried to follow some suggestions about how I could control myself. But it does not work because then I am not playing the music as I feel it. I am playing the music the way that other people tell me to do it. The important thing for me is to consider the music and understand the composers and their work. It is not to worry about body movement.’
Voice 1
The public does not seem to listen to the critics either. Many people around the world enjoy Lang Lang’s way of playing the piano. They connect with him and his emotions. And in China, Lang Lang is a hero. Thousands and thousands of young children are learning¹⁸ to play the piano there. They are hoping to be the next Lang Lang.
Voice 2
Lang Lang wants to use his fame to help children. So, he became a representative for the United Nations children’s group - UNICEF. He helps UNICEF with HIV/AIDS and malaria¹⁹ programmes. He has visited sick children. And he has helped to raise money for them.
Voice 1
Lang Lang also encourages children to study music. He knows how music shaped his life from an early age. He believes that it is important to develop children’s love of music. He believes music can change their lives in a positive way. He said:
Voice 3
‘Music is like a language. It is like a universal language. It has a connection to people. I think the best way to reach children is to play them music. This really opens their ears and minds.’
 

1 ruby   

n.红宝石，红宝石色

参考例句：

• She is wearing a small ruby earring.她戴着一枚红宝石小耳环。
• On the handle of his sword sat the biggest ruby in the world.他的剑柄上镶有一颗世上最大的红宝石。

2 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

3 experienced   

adj.有经验的；经验丰富的，熟练的

参考例句：

• Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
• Perhaps you and I had better change over;you are more experienced.也许我们的工作还是对换一下好，你比我更有经验。

4 backwards   

adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地

参考例句：

• He turned on the light and began to pace backwards and forwards.他打开电灯并开始走来走去。
• All the girls fell over backwards to get the party ready.姑娘们迫不及待地为聚会做准备。

5 closely   

adv.紧密地；严密地，密切地

参考例句：

• We shall follow closely the development of the situation.我们将密切注意形势的发展。
• The two companies are closely tied up with each other.这两家公司之间有密切联系。

6 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

7 chasing   

n.雕镂术，雕刻工作；车螺丝；抛光；螺旋板

参考例句：

• My dog likes chasing rabbits. 我的狗喜欢追捕兔子。
• The children were having fun, chasing each other's shadows. 孩子们追逐着彼此的影子，玩得很开心。

8 conservatory   

n.温室，音乐学院；adj.保存性的，有保存力的

参考例句：

• At the conservatory,he learned how to score a musical composition.在音乐学校里，他学会了怎样谱曲。
• The modern conservatory is not an environment for nurturing plants.这个现代化温室的环境不适合培育植物。

9 symphony   

n.交响乐（曲），（色彩等的）和谐

参考例句：

• The Ninth Symphony of Beethoven is a famous one.贝多芬的第九交响乐非常有名。
• They play over the whole symphony.他们把整个交响乐重新演奏了一遍。

10 orchestra   

n.管弦乐队；vt.命令，定购

参考例句：

• He plays the violin in an orchestra.他在管弦乐队中演奏小提琴。
• I was tempted to stay and hear this superb orchestra rehearse.我真想留下来听这支高超的管弦乐队排练。

11 concerto   

n.协奏曲

参考例句：

• The piano concerto was well rendered.钢琴协奏曲演奏得很好。
• The concert ended with a Mozart violin concerto.音乐会在莫扎特的小提琴协奏曲中结束。

12 replacement   

n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品

参考例句：

• We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
• They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。

13 orchestras   

管弦乐队( orchestra的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The orchestras, the choruses, the drama and opera casts, will be cut to pieces. 各个管弦乐队、合唱队、戏剧和歌剧的演员名单都将支离破碎。
• In Indonesia, gamelan orchestras play music on gongs, drums, and xylophones. 印度尼西亚，佳美兰乐队用锣、和木琴演奏音乐。

14 prime   

adj.首要的，主要的；最好的，第一流的

参考例句：

• The prime minister spoke of the general insecurity in the country.总理谈到了全国普遍存在的不安全。
• He met with the Prime Minister of Japan for an hour.他和日本首相会见了一个小时。

15 criticized   

vt.批评(criticize的过去式)v.评论，批评( criticize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The decision was criticized by environmental groups. 这个决定受到了环保团体的批评。
• The movie has been criticized for apparently legitimizing violence. 这部电影因明显地美化暴力而受到了指责。

16 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

17 technically   

adv.专门地，技术上地

参考例句：

• Technically it is the most advanced equipment ever.从技术上说，这是最先进的设备。
• The tomato is technically a fruit,although it is eaten as a vegetable.严格地说，西红柿是一种水果，尽管它是当作蔬菜吃的。

18 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

19 malaria   

n.疟疾

参考例句：

• He had frequent attacks of malaria.他常患疟疾。
• Malaria is a kind of serious malady.疟疾是一种严重的疾病。