Over the years, I keep returning to Lang Lang’s New York Rhapsody. The music within remains enticing to me, though I have (probably) outgrown the stage that I first encountered the album—hopefully. The New York Rhapsody looms unusually large to me. One consistent theme shared by every work within remains aspiration, which is in many ways a variation of the Faust Analogy that I talked about in the Liszt’s Sonata. In the context of this album, aspiration is upgraded to a whole new set of levels. Aspiration relates no longer merely to the individual.

The album consists of 10 works of music. Unlike usual releases of classically trained pianists, this album is a crossover between Jazz, pop, and American contemporary music. The repertoire enlists works of Aaron Copland, Lenard Bernstein, and George Gershwin to the songs of Henry Mancini. Equally famed performers include Andra Day and Madeleine Peyroux. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that Lang Lang has recruited the top musicians from each genre to one single project. The result is predictably astounding.

Peacefully resolve to the G-major chord.

The album begins with a peace of mind.

New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothing you can't do
Now you're in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Hear it for New York, New York, New York

--Empire State of Mind

Moon river, wider than a mile
I'm crossing you in style some day
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way

Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end
Waitin' 'round the bend
My huckleberry friend
Moon river and me

-- Moon River

Outside it's a bright night
There's an opera at Lincoln Center
Movie stars arrive by limousine
The klieg lights shoot up over the skyline of Manhattan
But the lights are out on the mean streets

A small kid stands by the Lincoln Tunnel
He's selling plastic roses for a buck
The traffic's backed up to 39th Street
The TV whores are calling the cops out for a suck

And back at the Wilshire, Pedro sits there dreaming
He's found a book on Magic in a garbage can
He looks at the pictures
And stares up at the cracked ceiling
"At the count of 3," he says,
"I hope I can disappear."

-- Somewhere (ft. Dirty Blvd)

The Red Rhapsody

Women Don’t Speak

BEETHOVEN