Lang Lang is to be a father for the first time

Lang Lang posted a drawing of a baby lying next to a piano on the social media site and captioned the post: "I am so excited to announce that Gina and I are expecting our first child.

"We could not be happier and cannot wait to welcome our new family member to the world."

The musical couple received kind messages from their friends, including singer Cerys Matthews, who tweeted: "Congratulations to your both!!!(sic)"

It was recently confirmed that a movie about Lang Lang's life is in the works, which will cover the journey from his childhood in China to the top of the classical music industry. Oscar-winning filmmaker Ron Howard is directing the biopic.

The project is based on the 38-year-old pianist memoir 'Journey of a Thousand Miles'.

Lang Lang said: "Dream big, work hard, and always believe in yourself. This movie, thanks to Ron Howard's vision, will inspire young people around the world to follow their dreams and never forget they are one in a million."

Ron and producer Brian Grazer added: "Lang Lang's story is one of determination, passion, sacrifice, and finding the inner strength to beat the odds.

"This film is a bridge between two cultures that share universal truths about the gauntlets we face in the pursuit of greatness."

Howard's involvement as director was criticised by 'The Farewell' director Lulu Wang, who suggested a white filmmaker was an inappropriate choice for the project.

The 37-year-old director wrote: "As a classically-trained pianist born in China, I believe it's impossible to tell Lang Lang's story without an intimate understanding of Chinese culture and the impact of the Cultural Revolution on artists and intellectuals and the effects of Western imperialism."