A R Rahman has made his debut at London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall with a new orchestral composition titled ‘Rangreza’, marking a cross-cultural collaboration aimed at blending musical traditions.
The Oscar-winning composer joined forces with UK-based musicians Rushil Ranjan and Abi Sampa for the premiere, which featured across a four-show series over the weekend. The work brought together Eastern and Western classical influences, performed alongside Rahman’s Sunshine Orchestra from Chennai and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Rahman described the project as an attempt to move beyond divisions through music, highlighting unity as its central theme. He also performed orchestral renditions of some of his popular film tracks, including ‘Jaage Hain’ from ‘Guru’ and ‘Khwaja Mere Khwaja’ from ‘Jodhaa Akbar’.
The concerts also featured choreography by Akram Khan, along with performances by the London Voices choir under conductor Melvin Tay. Indian classical elements were added by soloists Sarthak Kalyani and Janan Sathiendran, further reinforcing the production’s fusion concept.
Speaking about the venue, Rahman told the media that performing at the Royal Albert Hall was a deeply meaningful experience, describing it as a historic space where music and legacy meet.
Co-creator Rushil Ranjan said the project was designed to highlight connections between diverse musical styles and encourage audiences to experience those links in a shared space.
Rangreza was commissioned with support from several international institutions, including orchestras in Birmingham, Toronto and Melbourne, reflecting its global creative scope.
