Superstar Chinese pianist Lang Lang has teamed up with internationally acclaimed Australian choreographer Stanton Welch for a breathtaking new collaboration: a live recital of some of Chopin’s most beautiful music combined with a live ballet performance.

Filmed over four evenings at the renowned Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris, the video release showcases Lang Lang’s phenomenal talents alongside those of sixteen dancers from the celebrated Houston Ballet, one of America’s leading ballet companies where Welch has been Artistic Director since 2003. Welch’s choreography is set here to a selection of piano music by Frédéric Chopin (1810­–1839), chosen on account of Lang Lang’s long association with, and deep knowledge of, this repertoire and – importantly the visual nature of the music. Said Lang Lang of the featured works: “They simply make you want to dance” whilst Stanton Welch noted: “What a wonderful ‘pas de deux’ to create a ballet to the music of Chopin in collaboration with Lang Lang.”

In true Lang Lang fashion, the project was totally collaborative from start to finish. At home on leading stages around the world, this pianist is known for always working as part of a close team with composers, conductors, arrangers, fellow musicians and above all, his audience. Lang Lang and Stanton Welch joined forces for all key decisions on the project, from the number of dancers and the choice of music to the order of the pieces, whilst at the same time respecting each partner’s space in terms of the choreography itself and the musical performance.

Both artists are eager to break down traditional barriers and to present their art forms in new and compelling ways to the widest possible audience. Both saw this as the perfect vehicle to achieve those aims.

It is not the first time that Lang Lang has been inspired by the music of Chopin to turn to dance, having worked previously with dub step dancer Marquese “Nonstop” Scott on an interpretation of Chopin’s Étude op. 25 no. 12.