Lang Lang to Share Grammy Stage with Metallica

In one of the less likely musical pairings to grace the Grammy Awards stage, Chinese pianist Lang Lang will join non-Chinese, non-pianists Metallica for the awards show broadcast on the morning of January 27, local Beijing time, the metal band announced Wednesday on their website.

Neither Lang Lang, who studied at Beijing's Central Conservatory of Music, or the band said what they would be performing. However, both are veterans of collaborations outside their genre, and of Grammy performances. Lang Lang performed with Herbie Hancock, who played in Beijing in November, in 2008. He has been nominated for and served as an ambassador for the Grammy Awards, but has yet to take home a trophy.

Although Metallica, who did two sold-out shows in Shanghai last August, haven't appeared on the show since 1992, the group performed and recorded the S&M album in 1999 with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. They previously performed solo on the Grammys, have won nine awards so far, and are nominated again this year for Best Recording Package for Through The Never.

Photo: OregonMusicNews.com