Gran Turismo is my absolute favorite racing game – the speed, combined with the realism of the graphics and the sound, really gets my heart pumping. My schedule gets really crazy, and it feels great to just be able to relax and enter this thrilling world of car racing.
I was so excited to be asked to perform music for the soundtrack. Combining music and technology has always been something I’m passionate about, and this was the perfect opportunity. It might seem incongruous at first – classical music and video games – but the more we delved into what we could do with the music, the more excited I got. Classical music reflects the same passion and intensity as racing, and hearing these musical pieces that have stood the test of time for centuries brings a whole new element to sensation of racing.
When I recorded the music for GT5 in the studio, I felt like I was racing on the track – it was really thrilling. I’m sure this music will bring more passion and excitement to the game when you play too.
About the soundtrack:
World-renowned pianist Lang Lang is known for his passion for new technologies and his constant endeavors to bring classical music to new audiences. Recently, Lang Lang recorded the classical music that appears throughout Gran Turismo 5. The official soundtrack features famous piano works by Chopin, J.S. Bach, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Joplin, Holst and Beethoven – all works being used in the various parts of the game. Prokofiev’s “Precipitato” appears prominently in its entirety in the first half of the opening sequence. Sony Classical will release the soundtrack digitally via all major service providers on December 14th and physically the week of December 20th.
Lang Lang says, “Gran Turismo is the most exciting racing game in the world and I have been a fan of it for many years. I feel honored to have this opportunity to connect with people who have never been in a concert hall before and show them that classical music is not just a part of history, but is actually very present and relevant today.”