A capacity crowd, numbering more than 15,000 according to the organizers, was drawn from the tri-state region.

Armed with an 82-member troupe, music director A.R. Rahman lifted the spirits of the audience at Long Island's Nassau Coliseum, performing in front of a capacity crowd that loved every pulsating minute of it.

Described as the biggest "musical extravaganza" of its kind to come out of India, the "A.R. Rahman Live in Concert" on Sept. 23 had fusion as its theme, combining Brazilian percussionists, African beats, the tabla and sitar.

Rahman, 34, showed more than 15,000 enthusiasts the essence of fusion music and why he is often considered a musical genius.

Photo Left, Playback singers Udit Narayan, left, and Kavitha Krishnamurthy were among 14 vocalists at the event. Photo Right, British lyricist Don Black, left, told the audience about his association with Rahman, right.

For about four hours the arena was transformed into a musical production that generated 15,000 watts of fiery sound system power, featured 14 singers from India supported by 68 musicians and technicians, equipped with more than 700 tons of musical equipment.

Coordinating the musical was Rahman, standing center-stage with two sets of orchestra on a platform that would have spread across half a football field. On his left was a 40-member orchestra that played Indian music, while a 24-member, locally hired ensemble produced Western musical notes.

"It's a great privilege to play with American musicians," Rahman said at the start of the show. Clad in a white jacket, playing the piano, and at times running across the stage, he seemed always at ease coordinating the singers and the two live orchestras. The show featured several Hindi and Tamil film scores produced by Rahman, and included some songs from his nonmovie albums.

Several of Coliseum's own security staff sat spellbound, frequently tapping their feet and taking a keen interest, notwithstanding the language barrier, a reaffirmation of Rahman's own philosophy that music is created not in any language but has a soul of its own.

Among the singers featured at the event were Udit Narayan, S.P. Balasubramanium, Hariharan, Kavita Krisnamurthy, Sukhwinder Singh, Sadhna Sargam and Shankar Mahadevan.

Scores from Bollywood blockbusters "Bombay," "Roja," "Dil Se," "Taal" and "Thakshak" synchronized with dance performances captivated the audience, generating applause whenever fusion was created.

Several of Coliseum's own security staff sat spellbound, frequently tapping their feet and taking a keen interest, notwithstanding the language barrier, a reaffirmation of Rahman's own philosophy that music is created not in any language but has a soul of its own.

Five giant screens aired live footage from the stage that was often engulfed with a colorful display of pyrotechnics. Several times during the show, a giant spinning wheel resembling the earth -- behind the stage -- lit up with powerful neon lights reading "A R Rahman." A beam of light from the wheel falling on Rahman would often signal the beginning of a new score.

Academy award-winning British lyricist Don Black, best known for writing the songs for James Bond movies, said as a special guest at the event that Rahman's genius was in his originality and skillful improvisation, the "richness and diversity" he could bring to Indian notes. Black, who is working with Rahman on Andrew Lloyd Webber's new dance musical "Bombay Dreams," received a special award for promoting world music. A song from the musical followed, generating a standing ovation.

A fitting finale to the show was Rahman's singing of "Vande Mataram," the title song of his first pop album. Joined by all singers, the song transpired an emotional wave into the arena as people stood and sang with the musician.

Trained at the Trinity College of Music in London, Rahman's eight years in the industry have fetched him 12 Filmfare Awards and won him fans, not only in India but around the globe. His earlier live shows in Kuala Lumpur and Dubai were sold out, and with his association with pop icon Michael Jackson and French multi-instrumentalist Jean Michel Jarre, he is often credited with bringing contemporary Indian music to the international arena.

The New York show was Rahman's North America debut.

The event manager, Rapport Global, and show organizer Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan called the event a "remarkable achievement" in the scale in which it was managed.

"Only music brings together such an extravaganza in the spirit of oneness," P. Jayaraman, the Bhawan's US executive director told India in New York.

Rahman's musical is scheduled to travel across North America with performances set in Toronto, Los Angeles and San Francisco.