Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue at The Great Lawn, Central Park

This video was taken by myself picnicking with two other friends at the Great Lawn at Central Park last July 13. We watched an initial joint outdoor concert performance of the New York Philharmonic with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. It also featured the world-renowned pianist Lang-Lang.

The weather earlier that morning was rainy and the occasion was nearly cancelled but the sky cleared up miraculously just right before the concert was to start. The sky was so blue that I had to have a video memento of the occasion.

Right behind us was a congregation of visitors straight from Shanghai,China comprised of adults & children accompanied by their American hosts.

I wanted to begin the video of my shot of three very adorable Chinese schoolgirls that candidly stood up from their picnic blanket spot when they heard the Shanghai Symphony play an obviously beloved Chinese popular serenade of sorts. I was so happy to catch that very impulsive act from these seemingly shy schoolgirls. The rest of the evening was so memorable since the New York Philharmonic played the quintessential NY melody and a personal favorite, Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. It was a magical night with the deep blue-hued skies and my mind started to wander up at the wondrous night skies from my grassy green lawn under me.

I wanted to further convey my mood for reverie by editing my video backwards, starting from the schoolgirls, then on to Gershwin and ending with the initial technical soundcheck test of the stage crew.

My intent for making this video, was to capture the magical nature of great music and that It cuts all through boundaries of time, memory, space , friendship, race and culture. Music transports us so profoundly. I have captured that in my simple,heart-felt and straight-forward video.

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