The Disney Book [Deluxe CD Set]

by Lang Lang

Overview

Pianist Lang Lang and his Deutsche Grammophon label have apparently decided that his last peak to scale is that of massive crossover stardom, and the fact that he had a childhood affection for Disney films and their music during the first years in which they were available in China, provided the ideal opening. Listeners' reactions to The Disney Book will probably largely depend on whether they think this is a desirable development. Three things, however, should be noted. First, Lang Lang has enlisted top-flight arrangers in the cause, among them pianist Stephen Hough. The music on this album sounds fresh because it is indeed freshly made. The arrangers strike a good balance between the world of Disney songs and Lang Lang's general high Romantic idiom. Second, animated film and classical music used to be more closely linked than they are today. In a way, The Disney Book is a welcome throwback to the days of Fantasia. Third, on the pop side, Lang Lang's abilities are undoubted. With many classical pianists, even those who have recorded a lot of material derived from pop, one can still sense the level at which they were taught to clap on the downbeat. Not so with Lang Lang, as a sample of the fun he has with the likes of The Bare Necessities will testify. Listeners delighted with the idea of a big treatment of Disney classics will be pleased here, and even those less enamored might give the album a try. There are guest vocal stars, including Andrea Bocelli and Lang Lang's wife Gina Alice; they are pretty much smoothed down so that they blend into the scenery that will spill across one's phone if one finds the Deluxe Version. Conductor Robert Ziegler, leading the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, also had a tough row of balances to hoe and succeeds admirably. Probably the crossover event of 2022. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	09/16/2022
Label:	Deutsche Grammophon
UPC:	0028948574216
Rank:	27730

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Beauty and the Beast (from the film "Beauty and the Beast")
2. It's a Small World
3. Let It Go (from the film "Frozen")
4. The Bare Necessities (from the film "The Jungle Book")
5. Dos Oruguitas (from the film "Encanto")
6. The Rainbow Connection (from The Muppet Movie)
7. Reflection (from the film "Mulan")
8. Someday My Prince Will Come (from the film "Snow White")
9. It's All Right (from the film "Soul")
10. We Don't Talk About Bruno (from the film "Encanto")
11. Remember Me (from the film "Coco")
12. When You Wish Upon a Star (from the film "Pinocchio")
13. A Whole New World (from the film "Aladdin")
14. You'll Be in My Heart (from the film "Tarzan") (Italian version)

Disc 2

15. Beauty and the Beast (from the film "Beauty and the Beast")
16. Mary Poppins~Mary Poppins Fantasy
17. Feed the Birds (from the film "Mary Poppins")
18. Three Little Pigs~Who¿¿¿s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?
19. Do You Want to Build a Snowman? (from the film "Frozen")
20. Whistle While You Work (from the film "Snow White")
21. Bluddle-Uddle-Um-Dum (The Dwarfs' Washing Song) (from the film "Snow White")
22. I'm Wishing (from the film "Snow White")
23. A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes (from the film "Cinderella")
24. My Own Home (The Jungle Book Theme)
25. Life Is a Highway (from the film "Cars")
26. Baby Mine (from the film "Dumbo")
27. Can You Feel the Love Tonight? (from the film "The Lion King")

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Lang Lang   Primary Artist,Piano
Guo Gan   Erhu,Featured Artist
Sebastian Yatra   Vocals,Featured Artist
Daniel Eichholz   Percussion
Robert Ziegler   Conductor
Milos Karadaglic   Guitar,Featured Artist
Jon Batiste   Piano,Vocals,Featured Artist
Gina Alice   Vocals,Featured Artist
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra   Orchestra
Andrea Bocelli   Vocals,Featured Artist

Technical Credits

David Hamilton   Orchestration,Arranger
Peter Mokran   Mixing
Jerry Livingston   Composer
Matthew Wilder   Composer
Tom Cochrane   Composer
Al Hoffman   Composer
Pierpaolo Guerrini   Vocal Engineer
Oliver Kreyssig   Creative Producer
Andres Munera   Vocal Producer
Sam Jackson   Executive Producer
Christopher Alder   Recording Producer
Ute Fesquet   Executive Producer
Giovanni Caccamo   Lyric Adaptations
Annette Nubbemeyer   Booklet Editor
Simon Webb   Cover Photo,Photography
Li Li Dong   Piano Technician
Bastien Herbin   Piano Technician
Leonie Petersen   Product Manager
Rachel Bungey   Design
Mack David   Composer
Robert B. Sherman   Composer
Leigh Harline   Composer
Ron Fair   Producer
Ned Washington   Text,Lyricist
Joseph Oerke   Product Manager
Phil Lee   Design,Creative Director
Robert Lopez   Composer
Ian Watson   Assistant Engineer
Hanying Feng   Engineer
Philip Siney   Assistant Engineer
Lin-Manuel Miranda   Composer
Juan Moreno   Assistant Engineer
Kenny Feldman   Assistant Engineer
Peter Dugan   Arranger
Kristen Anderson-Lopez   Composer
Natalie Tenenbaum   Arranger,Orchestration
Nigel Polmear   Piano Technician
Philip Krause   Mixing,Engineer
Malene Hill   A&R
Thomas Rudnick   Product Manager
Kishori Kumar   Marketing
Freddie Light   Assistant Engineer
Isabel Stibor   Product Manager
Huang Yilun   Assistant Engineer
Natalia Kononchuk   Score Supervisor
Claire Jackson   Liner Notes
Liu Lei   Piano Technician
Andres Guerrero   Vocal Engineer
Stephen Walford   Arranger
Stephen Taylor   Arranger
Paul H. Williams   Composer
Ted Jensen   Mastering
Terry Gilkyson   Composer
Randy Kerber   Arranger,Orchestration
Kenny Ascher   Composer
Curtis Mayfield   Composer
Frank Churchill   Composer
Pat Thrall   Engineer
Phil Collins   Composer
Richard M. Sherman   Composer
Michael Kosarin   Arranger
Alan Menken   Composer
Angie Teo   Engineer,Vocal Engineer
Gordon Goodwin   Arranger
Stephen Hough   Arranger
Thomas Lauderdale   Arranger,Creative Consultant
Elton John   Composer