Lang Lang hosts classical music concert with virtual vocalist

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In Shanghai, renowned pianist Lang Lang joined up with a virtual vocalist for a classical music concert on Saturday. The event has proved a sensation among fans of virtual reality.

With the aid of state-of-the-art holography, the voice synthesizer called Luo Tianyi took the incarnation of an exuberant pop idol in front of a packed house.

The concert in downtown Shanghai featured accompaniment by Lang Lang, one of China's best-known concert pianists, who has performed with many prestigious orchestras across the world.

Virtual vocalist Luo Tianyi performs on the stage in Shanghai, February 23, 2019. /VCG Photo

As a tireless promoter of classical music, Lang Lang said that he has found it a rewarding experience to explore the new possibilities. He expressed the hope that more young people could be attracted to classical music.

During the show sponsored by a local high-tech firm, Lang Lang performed works from Beethoven, Schubert, and Chopin.

Created in 2012, Luo Tianyi, driven by a technical software for synthesizing a singing voice, has evolved into a considerable presence on the pop music scene. This is the first time it has dabbled in classical music, employing the latest motion capture and AI technologies.