Sarah Brightman will perform with Liu Huan with the accompaniment of the China Philharmonic at her Friday concert in Beijing. Photo provided to China Daily

Gospel twins in tune with Beijing

Jazz player melds musical styles of East and West

British crossover soprano Sarah Brightman and Chinese singer-songwriter Liu Huan thrilled more than 1 billion people worldwide with their song, You and Me, at the opening ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Six years later, the two will perform together again during Brightman's concert at Beijing's National Indoor Stadium on Sept 12.

"We have always wanted to do something together again. I think this is the perfect time," says Brightman in Beijing, three days ahead of the concert.

Having just celebrated her 54th birthday, the youthful soprano regards the performance at Beijing Olympic Games as a highlight of both her musical career and life.

Despite touring China early this year with her 11th studio album, Dreamchaser, Brightman says that the upcoming concert is full of excitement since she will not just perform with Liu again but also sing with the accompaniment of the China Philharmonic for the first time.

"You won't see a big production this time. We will simplify the stage design and I will build the connection with audiences just with my singing to the orchestra," she says.

Liu, 51, the veteran singer-songwriter known for his work in popular TV series, will perform two of his best-known songs, The Curving Moon and Heaven and Earth in My Heart.

"I listened to his music and I am aware of his songs. He has such a distinctive voice and a beautiful tone," says Brightman. "He is a person who is very experienced and always has an assuring smile."

Liu once said in an interview that he met Brightman for the first time during rehearsals before the Games' opening ceremony. "We just had four days to rehearse and we became good friends," said Liu in an early interview. The veteran singer-songwriter gave the soprano the soundtrack he wrote for the popular TV series, The Legend of Zhenhuan, when they met again in Beijing in 2013.