Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano & Orchestra Jean-Yves Thibaudet, London Voices, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Robert Ziegler

• Manu Martin (b. 1980): Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act I:
• 1 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act I: I. Preambule 00:38
• 2 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act I: II. Overture 01:47
• 3 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act I: III. Transition to Humanimate 00:30
• 4 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act I: IV. Humanimate 01:45
• Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act II:
• 5 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act II: I. Back to Reality 01:33
• 6 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act II: II. Is Anybody Out There 02:16
• 7 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act II: III. Transition to the ALANaut Song 01:13
• 8 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act II: IV: The ALANaut Song 01:47
• Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act III:
• 9 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act III: I. Entering Space 01:09
• 10 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act III: II. Come Orbit with Me 01:32
• 11 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act III: III. Beam Me Up 01:13
• 12 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act III: IV: Transition to Elevator Up 00:31
• 13 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act III: V. Elevator Up 01:27
• Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act IV:
• 14 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act IV: I. Pie in the Sky 02:21
• 15 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act IV: II. Inside the Pie 00:42
• 16 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act IV: III. Save the Inanimates 01:05
• 17 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act IV: IV. Life on the Shelf 01:07
• 18 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act IV: V. Transition to Print a Purple Lavvy 00:34
• 19 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act IV: VI. Print a Purple Lavvy 01:26
• Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act V:
• 20 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act V: I. Introduction to Song of a Lost Tribe 00:46
• 21 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act V: II. Song of a Lost Tribe 01:39
• 22 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act V: III. Transition to Purple Cave 00:46
• 23 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act V: IV: Purple Cave 01:28
• 24 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act V: V. Transition to Star Among the Cosmic Clouds 00:21
• 25 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act V: VI. Star Among the Cosmic Clouds 01:57
• Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act VI:
• 26 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act VI: I. Confetti Storm 01:30
• 27 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act VI: II. Transition to Space Elevator 00:37
• 28 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act VI: III. Space Elevator 01:50
• Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act VII:
• 29 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act VII: I. Dawn of a New Day 00:46
• 30 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act VII: II. It Happened in the Pie 01:38
• 31 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act VII: III. Humanimate 00:42
• 32 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act VII: IV. Transition to Cosmic Bods 00:52
• 33 Martin: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Act VII: V. Cosmic Bods 02:17
• Total Runtime 41:45

Info for Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano & Orchestra

Jean-Yves Thibaudet joins the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for a spectacular journey through music and the cosmos.

At the intersection of science, technology, and the creative arts, Cosmic Rhapsody uses real-life scientific discoveries and events to show how innovation can address the environmental and societal challenges facing our planet, told through the power of music and animation.

Ultimately, Lim Cosmic Rhapsody invites us to envision a brighter tomorrow, where human ingenuity and creativity lead to solutions for our most pressing challenges. Together, we journey through the cosmos, exploring the potential of companionship and collaboration, as we reimagine our future among the stars.

Though the world faces difficult challenges, and it can seem as though the Earth itself is struggling, there is great power in hope and optimism of a brighter future.

Cosmic Rhapsody was an idea born during the global pandemic and devastating wildfires of 2020 that both shattered us and brought us together. During this time, NASA astronauts triumphantly returned to space for the first time in a decade in a heart-warming display of human perseverance, ingenuity and curiosity. This event sparked the creation of the song Is Anybody Out There, with lyrics by Susan Lim and music by Joi Barau. This continuation of the story of Alan (beginning with Alan 1: Fantasy of Companionship) eventually led to its sequel, Alan 2: Cosmic Rhapsody.

With the combined music of Matthieu Eymard, Ron Danziger and Joi Barua, fused together by the talented skills of composer Manu Martin, Cosmic Rhapsody is an uplifting tale of companionship, teamwork, overcoming adversity, and reaching out to the stars. Written for large orchestra, choir, band and solo piano, this powerful story brings the audience on a breathtaking and joyous adventure into the future.

Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
City of London Choir
London Voices
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Robert Ziegler, conductor

Jean-Yves Thibaudet
Through elegant musicality and an insightful approach to contemporary and established repertoire, Jean-Yves Thibaudet has earned a reputation as one of the world’s finest pianists. He is especially known for his diverse interests beyond the classical world, including numerous collaborations in film, fashion, and visual art. He is a devoted educator and the first-ever Artist-in- Residence at the Colburn School, which awards several scholarships in his name.

A prolific recording artist, Thibaudet has appeared on more than 70 albums and six film scores; his extensive catalog has received two Grammy nominations, two ECHO Awards, the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik, the Diapason d’Or, the CHOC du Monde de la Musique, the Edison Prize, and Gramophone awards. His recent recordings include Gershwin Rhapsody, a collection of Gershwin pieces recorded with Michael Feinstein, including four newly-discovered ones; Night After Night, a celebration of James Newton Howard’s scores for the films of M. Night Shyamalan; and Carte Blanche, a collection of deeply personal solo piano pieces never before recorded by the pianist. He is the soloist on Alexandre Desplat’s score for Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch; his playing can also be heard in Desplat’s score for Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, Dario Marianelli’s scores for Pride and Prejudice and Atonement, and Aaron Zigman’s score for Wakefield.

Robert Ziegler
Acclaimed conductor Robert Ziegler captivates audiences worldwide with his stimulating and imaginative performances. He leads orchestras globally and records with major labels such as Deutsche Grammophon, Decca, and Universal. He recently made his debut with London’s Philharmonia Orchestra leading a sold-out performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Ziegler is equally sought after for classical music programs and collaborations with legendary pop and jazz artists.

His diverse discography includes The Disney Book with pianist Lang Lang and Pete Townshend’s Classic Quadrophenia (both with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra), Max Richter’s ballet Woolf Works, and recordings with Ludovico Einaudi, Randy Newman, David Gilmour, and Stewart Copeland. He has contributed to numerous film scores, including those by Howard Shore, Jonny Greenwood, Alberto Iglesias, Max Richter, and Alf Clausen’s iconic music for The Simpsons. Ziegler recently recorded the music of Yupeng Chen for the internationally successful computer game Genshin Impact with the London Symphony Orchestra.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s (RPO)
mission to enrich lives through orchestral experiences that are uncompromising in their excellence and inclusive in their appeal places it at the forefront of music-making in the UK and internationally. Typically performing approximately 200 concerts a year and with a worldwide live and online audience of more than 60 million people, the Orchestra is proud to embrace a broad repertoire and reach a diverse audience. Whilst artistic integrity remains paramount, the RPO is unafraid to push boundaries and is equally at home recording video game, film and television soundtracks, and working with pop stars as it is touring the world performing the great symphonic repertoire with its Music Director Vasily Petrenko.

Susan Lim
is the creator, storyteller, and songwriter of the ALAN Trilogy. Through her ambitious ALAN Trilogy, she orchestrates a powerful conversation about humanity's future, exploring the intricate dance between societal challenges and the disruptive technologies that define our era.

ALAN isn't just music and animation; it's a thought-provoking exploration of how human ingenuity and AI-enabled Inanimates might collaborate to shape a better tomorrow. From the intimacy of Earth in ALAN I: Fantasy of Companionship, confronting the pervasive issue of loneliness, to the vast expanse of space in ALAN II: Cosmic Rhapsody, seeking solutions to environmental crises, and finally, diving into the mysteries of the ocean in the upcoming ALAN III: Symphony of the Oceans, addressing the growing problem of space debris, Lim's trilogy is a journey through the critical questions of our time.

Dr. Lim brings a unique breadth of experience to her artistic vision. A Cambridge-trained immunologist with a 30-year career as a pioneering surgeon in transplantation and robotics, she seamlessly integrates the rigor of scientific inquiry with the boundless creativity of artistic expression. Inspiration strikes in diverse locales, from the snowy peaks of Courchevel and Deer Valley to the shores of the Mediterranean and rice fields of Bali, reflecting the global nature of the challenges she addresses.

ALAN I introduced us to this unique vision with a seventeen-song pop album, ALAN’s Fantasy (Signum Records, 2022), the orchestral masterpiece Lim Fantasy of Companionship for Piano and Orchestra recorded with Tedd Joselson and the London Symphony Orchestra, London Voices at Abbey Road Studios (Signum Classics, 2021), and an award-winning animated film Fantasy of Companionship between Human and Inanimate which garnered numerous accolades, including Best Score at the British Short Film Awards 2021, and Best Family / Children Film at the Annual Cannes World Film Festival 2023.

ALAN II: Cosmic Rhapsody launches us on an interstellar voyage. Born from the tumultuous events of 2020 – a world grappling with a pandemic and witnessing the devastation of wildfires, yet inspired by the historic return of NASA astronauts to space aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon– Cosmic Rhapsody captures the spirit of resilience and hope. It began with the poignant song Is Anybody Out There (lyrics by Susan Lim, music by Joi Barua), which was launched as an animated tweet just before the SpaceX Crew Dragon liftoff, and evolved into a full-fledged musical and cinematic experience, co-created with Christina Teenz and the ALAN team, with the orchestral score composed by Manu Martin, and animation by Samudra Kajal Saikia. The world premiere of Lim Cosmic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra recorded with Jean-Yves Thibaudet and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Robert Ziegler and London Voices at Abbey Road Studios (Decca Classics, May 2, 2025) marks a significant milestone in this ongoing exploration. A 17-song pop album mirroring the orchestral work and an award-winning animated film are also on the horizon.

This exploration of the future takes center stage in the ALAN Trilogy, which is more than just entertainment; it's an invitation. An invitation to ponder the future of humanity, to consider the ethical implications of bio-engineering, and to explore the potential for collaboration between humans and AI. It's a call to action, disguised as a symphony. In Lim Cosmic Rhapsody, the opening act introduces us to the Humanimate, a being with an expanded genetic code, inspired by the cutting-edge research of Steven Benner's NASA lab. These hybrid beings, combining human and inanimate elements, represent a potential future of collaborative evolution.

Dr. Benner himself will be present at the world premiere, witnessing his scientific creation brought to life through the artistry of Jean-Yves Thibaudet and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. As Dr. Lim’s lyrics for Humanimate proclaim (music by Ron J Danziger, orchestration by Manu Martin): "A cocktail of building blocks / A,T,G,C (the bases in DNA) - Animate / A cocktail of building blocks / S, B, P, and Z – Inanimate / Forms an eight-letter code / It’s a Hachi-moji / Human and Inanimate combined / A new species defined".

Susan Lim's ALAN Trilogy invites us to imagine – and empowers us to build – that new species, that new future, together.

This album contains no booklet.