Lang Lang plays at UN concert on its birthday

The United Nations celebrated its 69th birthday on Oct 24, with renowned Chinese pianist Lang Lang performing at a concert as a messenger of peace.

Held in the freshly renovated General Assembly Hall at the UN Headquarters in New York, the concert was hosted by Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin and drew hundreds of guests including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and General Assembly President Sam Kutesa.

Performing with Lang Lang was an international youth orchestra representing five continents, assembled especially for the occasion and conducted by Manuel Lopez-Gomez.

Lopez-Gomez, as well as many of the youth musicians, hail from the renowned El Sistema program that provides music education to children from disadvantaged social and economic backgrounds.

The guests were dazzled also by the 16-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and composer Sting, who joined the concert as Lang Lang's special guest and sang two of his most popular songs - Fragile and Englishman in New York.

"As we enjoy this concert, let us think of our colleagues in the world's hot spots and all the people they serve, and let us resolve to advance a life of dignity for all," Ban said.

"United Nations Day is a chance to pay tribute to our hardworking staff around the world. In these times of despair, a lot of conflicts and troubles, tonight's concert sounds a note of hope."

Kutesa said: "For centuries, music has been the universal language with the power to bring together people."

Entitled UN Day Concert 2014: Lang Lang & Friends, the concert was presented by the UN in collaboration with the Lang Lang International Music Foundation.

Marking an important milestone during the global observance of the 69th anniversary of the organization, it offered an opportunity to highlight the UN's focus on youth and the education of global citizens.

The UN Day has been celebrated since 1948. In 1971, the General Assembly recommended that the day be observed by member states as a public holiday.

The UN Day concert observance serves as an occasion to highlight, celebrate and reflect on the work of the world body and its family of agencies through the universal language of music.

chennan@chinadaily.com.cn