His performance coincides with the beginning of Chopin Year, a worldwide celebration of the beloved Polish composer's 200th birthday on March 1, 2010. Although the Nobel Prize Committee had suggested other composers' works, Lang said that he insisted on the etude by the famed "poet of the piano," interpreting it as a representation of world peace.

"I said it's because of the piece's aba format. The beginning, the lyrical part, represents world peace. The following development section is turbulent like the world is at war, but in the end, peace returns and it's even more peaceful than before. That was my idea and I hope that will inspire people a little bit."

Lang set off the Chopin Year celebration concert in China at the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) on November 7, which launched a series of concerts and events planned for China and abroad.

"China is a very important country and interest here in Chopin is very great, so it's appropriate that the celebration start this way, and who better to launch the celebration than Lang Lang," said Jasper Parrott, Chairman of Harrison Parrott, the organizer of Chopin Year in China.

The 2010 Chopin Year program at NCPA will include 14 concerts by stellar performers, including Vladimir Ashkenazy, Deng Thai Son, a Chopin Piano Competition winner, Garrick Ohlsson, Fu Cong (renowned Chinese pianist) and quite a few others.

Next year, Warsaw, Poland will transform into a Chopin city as world-class musicians like Rafal Blechacz, Li Yundi and Martha Argerich, Daniel Barenhoim descend on the music capital to celebrate one of the nation's most beloved composers.

Warsaw's festival will also open with a concert by Lang Lang, ushering in a total of over 1,000 performances scheduled throughout the year, ranging from classical concerts, jazz performances and the 16th Chopin International Piano Competition to films, exhibitions and music education programs. A very special event celebrating both Chinese and Polish love for music is also set for Warsaw next August.

"A Chinese entrepreneur bought a Polish piano factory and proposes to organize a concert of 200 pianos in the middle of Warsaw Square, played by 200 young Chinese pianists," Waldermar Dabrowski, chairman of the Chopin 2010 Celebrations Committee, explained.

By Xing Daiqi

Click here & watch Lang Lang play Chopin and listen to an interview with him and with Waldemar Dabrowski

Lang Lang's website & photos galore