A packed audience at London’s Barbican Hall on 5 May 2025 bore witness to the sold-out world premiere of Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) under the baton of Robert Ziegler, with acclaimed pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet. The Lim Cosmic Rhapsody is the brainchild of alumna Dr Susan Lim (G85), working in collaboration with Christina Teenz Tan.
The exciting event united 89 musicians from the RPO with a three-piece rock band, 76 singers from London Voices and The City of London Choir, and two dynamic soloists – America’s Got Talent finalist Tom Ball and French vocalist Matthieu Eymard. The result was a breathtaking symphonic and choral experience, seamlessly blending classical, cinematic, and contemporary sound worlds.
Audiences travelled from around the globe to attend, with guests flying in from Sydney, Los Angeles, Florida, Assam, Bangalore, Mumbai, Singapore, France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and other parts of Europe.
Created by physician-scientists and songwriters Dr Susan Lim and Christina Teenz Tan with music by Manu Martin, Cosmic Rhapsody explores the potential of science, technology, and creativity to inspire positive change on Earth and beyond. The 42-minute rhapsody unfolds over seven acts, combining sweeping orchestral interludes, evocative songs, and imaginative visuals that trace the journey of humanity and artificial intelligence into space in search of answers to the planet’s most pressing challenges.
This second instalment in the ALAN Trilogy follows Lim Fantasy of Companionship, premiered by the RPO in 2023, and continues the trilogy’s focus on human–AI collaboration and planetary care. The accompanying animated film of Cosmic Rhapsody is already garnering international acclaim, with accolades from the NY International Film Awards for Best Musical Film, Best Soundtrack, Best Voiceover and Best Inspirational Film (January 2025).
The Cosmic Rhapsody digital album was released by Decca Classics on 2 May 2025 and selected as Classic FM Album of the Week.
Looking ahead, the final chapter in the ALAN Trilogy – Symphony of the Oceans – will be recorded at Abbey Road Studios in spring 2025, addressing the urgent global issue of space and marine debris.