Two superstars from the world’s most populous countries will perform this weekend with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Chinese classical pianist Lang Lang will be on-stage at the Orpheum Theatre on Friday (October 4). The flashy musician will be followed on Saturday (October 5) evening by Oscar-winning Indian composer A.R. Rahman, who’s nicknamed the Mozart of Madras.
Lang Lang will perform pieces by French composers, including Paul Dukas’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, which was originally a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. In addition, Lang Lang will play two pieces by Camille Saint-Saëns: Carnival of the Animals and Concerto No. 2 in G minor. The other two compositions in the program are Jacques Ibert’s Divertissement and Darius Milhaud’s Le Boeuf sur le toit.
It will mark Lang Lang’s second performance at the Orpheum in just over a year. The renowned virtuoso was born in Shenyang, China, and reportedly divides his time between Manhattan and Shanghai.
Lang Lang has recorded nine studio albums and four live albums.
Lang Lang demonstrates why he’s a global piano sensation.
Rahman will perform “Latika’s Theme”
Meanwhile, Rahman, who’s from Chennai, is the greatest songwriter in Bollywood history, generating album sales of more than 100 million. His Bollywood career began with the soundtrack for the 1992 film Roja.
The Vancouver International Film Festival is co-presenting “An Evening with A.R. Rahman: Stories and Music from His Career” in partnership with the VSO. It marks the two organizations’ first collaboration focusing on links between film and music.
At the Orpheum, Rahman’s program includes “Canyon” from 127 Hours, “The Beloved Theme” from The Goat Life (Aadjeevitham), and “Latika’s Theme” from Slumdog Millionaire. He will also perform “Bombay Theme” from Bombay, “Glisse La Vie” from Le Musk, “Raga’s Dance” from Rangeela, and “Catch Me If You Can) from Thiruda Thiruda.
In addition, Rahman will tell stories from his career.
Rahman won two Oscars in connection with the 2008 film Slumdog Millionaire: best score and best original song for “Jai Ho”. He composed some of the most beautiful Sufi music of his career for an epic Bollywood film released the same year. Jodhaa Akbar starred Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
A.R. Rahman created amazing Sufi music for Jodhaa Akbar.
“Jodhaa Akbar compositions are magical, spectacular, invigorating and above all a wholesome experience you rarely get in soundtracks these days,” wrote Planet Bollywood’s Aakash Gandhi. “When you cannot pick a favourite, you know the benchmark has been set consistently high. Indian music has just added another soundtrack to its eternal treasure.”
Rahman also composed the music for famed director Yash Chopra’s final film, Jab Tak Hai Jaan, starring Shahrukh Khan. Khan opens the film as a London busker performing the upbeat “Challa”.
London looks spectacular in the video for “Challa”, with music by A.R. Rahman.
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