Lang Lang & Friends

By+Corrie+Dosh

Music has a way of erasing cultural dif- ferences， bridging all languages and inspiring humanity to strive for a more cooperative and peaceful world. As almost each day brings more troubled reports of disease， war and poverty， now is a vital time for a message of peace and goodwill.

The UN celebrated the 69th anniversary of its founding on October 24 with a gala concert dedicated to the values in its charter—maintaining peace and security， promoting equal rights and achieving international cooperation. The concert featured UN Messenger of Peace and classical pianist Lang Lang， and a youth orchestra of members representing five continents.

Annual celebration

“In this time of despair and conflicts and trouble， tonights concert sounds a note of hope. The outbreak of the Ebola virus is just the latest proof that our fates are all linked together. We are living in a small world， totally， very closely connected，” said UN Secretary General Ban Kimoon in his opening remarks.

The hall of the General Assembly erupted with applause as 16-time Grammy Awardwinning singer， songwriter and composer Sting took the stage along with Lang， who struck the opening chords of the ballad Fragile， notable for its verse： “Nothing comes from violence and nothing ever could.”

“It is an honor to perform at the UN Day concert. Im a great supporter of the important work the UN does each and every day，”Sting said.

At a press conference before the perfor- mance， Lang said it was the “greatest honor” to be designated a messenger of peace and embark on a mission to build schools for children around the world.

The annual celebration of the UNs founding is “a time when we can bring our love and dreams together， and show the world how important the ongoing work of the UN is. Music is the universal language of humanity and it is in this spirit that we join in celebrating the enduring vision of the UN，” said Lang.

Alexandra Ruth Muthoni Murkiri， a young vi- olinist from Kenya， said an “amazing” bond had developed between the members of the youth orchestra， despite their cultural differences.

“When you cant find the words， its easier to show what you mean through music，”she said.

Night full of stars

In addition to the 80-member International youth Orchestra led by conductor Manuel Lopez-Gomez and musicians Lang and Sting，the stage was graced by actor Alec Baldwin， Secretary General Ban and General Assembly President Sam Kutesa.

“As we enjoy this concert， let us think of our colleagues in the worlds hotspots and all the people they serve—and let us resolve to advance a life of dignity for all，” Ban said.

The orchestra launched into a rousing rendition of Franz von Suppes Light Calvary Overture， kicking off a series of instantly recognizable classical compositions， including Tchaikovskys Piano Concerto No.1 and Mozarts Piano Sonata No.11. Five young piano scholars from the Lang Lang International Music Foundation received thunderous applause for their duets and solos， highlighting Langs dedication to mentoring the next generation of international musicians.

“Mastering the persona of Lang Lang the superstar and Lang Lang the mentor of young talent is a scale that is always being balanced，”actor Baldwin said in his introduction. The U.S.-based Time magazine has described Lang as “one of the most influential people in the world.”

Lang， a 32-year-old native of Shenyang， capital of northeast Chinas Liaoning Province， was and remains a fast-rising star in the world of classical music， having won international competitions since he was a teen. He has been called the “J-Lo of the piano” for bringing rockstar style and youthful bravado to his work. His performances are deeply emotional and expressive， each note infused with a yearning that feels vulnerable and earnest. The pianist has performed for heads of state， at sold-out concert halls and at the U.S. White House.

Six years ago， Lang founded the International Music Foundation to inspire and motivate the next generation of classical music lovers and performers. “We aim to ignite a passion for music in our children so that they can be leaders in bridging cultural gaps and helping unite local and global communities. Our hope is that cultural exchange through music， over time， will translate into greater cultural awareness and social development，” said Leszek Lukas Barwinski， executive director of the foundation， in a statement.

It was that vision that prompted the foundation to organize the International youth Orchestra， said conductor Lopez-Gomez.

“We feel very excited and happy to share this special anniversary with music and young people. young people have a special energy. Its amazing to work with them，” he said.

That energy was palpable as Sting took the stage again to perform An Englishman in New York—a song about the solitude of living far from home in a strange land， and the strength to “be yourself， no matter what they say.”

Buoyed by Langs message of peace， audience members in the General Assembly hall seemed more hopeful than ever for a brighter future.

“Peace is definitely possible. I have to believe that it is，” said audience member Lana Tomkawitz， who had come to hear the concert with her family. “I dont like being depressed about all the problems that are happening. I want to believe that humanity can find a better way forward.”