Lang Lang to perform in central park to celebrate Shanghai Expo
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This summer, the Oriental Pearl meets the Big Apple. Lang Lang, the internationally acclaimed Chinese pianist and the official worldwide ambassador for the 2010 Shanghai Expo, will perform as the final guest at the concert in Central Park, New York City, on July 13th, celebrating the 2010 World Expo, hosted by his hometown.
According to Xinhuanet.com, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra (SSO) announced on July 6th, they will share the stage with the New York Philharmonic for a free concert on July 13th. And it will conclude with "Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue" with Lang Lang at the piano.
Lang Lang has arrived in New York to prepare for the performance, "It is a great honor to play in Central Park with the wonderful Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and New York Philharmonic to cheer for the first Expo in China ever," said Lang Lang. "I am very proud to serve as an ambassador and welcome everyone to Shanghai."
Shanghai Symphony Orchestra has been around for 131 years. This time in NYC, it will be conducted by Maestro Long Yu, "I am honored to be the music director of the legendary Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, which has become a worldwide cultural ambassador for Shanghai."
On behalf of the New York Philharmonic, President and Executive Director Zarin Mehta said, "As musical and cultural ambassadors of the city of New York, the Philharmonic is honored to host the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, which serves as a musical ambassador from China."
The program will begin with the New York Philharmonic, and the second half of the show will feature the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, playing the works of Wagner, Rossini and Mozart. Also included in the program will be Chinese composer Zhao Guang's "Ode to the Expo," the official theme song of the Expo.
Shanghai is the host of the 2010 Expo, the World's Fair, and has been greeting people from all over the world who come and visit. The event opened on May 1st and will end later this year on October 31st.
