Lang Lang in Vienna and Other Music Anecdotes

Music as the Ultimate Currency of Cultural Exchange Lang Lang’s recent performance in Vienna is the perfect catalyst for a few thoughts and old music anecdotes I want to share today. Viewing music as the primary currency of cultural exchange is an idea that struck me decades ago. When we trade goods internationally, we rely on banknotes and coins. In the cultural realm, music has always been the natural choice. That is why concerts have consistently served as a proven vehicle for bringing different cultures together. [1] Lang Lang in Vienna I was invited back to the garden party of the Chinese Ambassador, Qi Mei, this year—an event I look forward to every season. In previous years, the guest list was quite small, mostly limited to politicians and business leaders. My repeated invitations are more likely because I regularly co-organized, initiated, and carried out cultural projects in the past. This has obviously not been forgotten. [2] Lang Lang and the author at the Chinese Embassy…