"I'm here to tell you everything is a fucking lie." The crowd erupted in applause as Serj Tankian serenaded them with his orchestral version of "Lie, Lie, Lie."
The lead singer of rock band "System of a Down" performed with the CSUN Symphony on November 12, 2016, at the Valley Performing Arts Center of California State University, Northridge. Other than being the frontman of the largely successful band, Tankian is also a political activist, artist, and painter. After a sold out performance on Thursday, another show was added to accommodate his dedicated fans.
The CSUN Symphony, under the direction of John Roscigno, performed "Elect the Dead" and "Orca Symphony," Tankian's original classical compositions. He also performed some of his popular pieces, such as "Sky Is Over," "Baby," and "Empty Walls."
Tankian, charming and animated, was a pleasure to watch on stage. He engaged the audience in between performances with stories of his travels and shared his creative vision for "Orca." The contrast between the classical music of the symphony and Tankian's rock 'n' roll demeanor added a modern, cool dynamic to the show. The CSUN alumnus celebrated a night a music at his Alma Mater, creating a beautiful collision of rock and symphonic harmonies.
Serj Tankian performed at the Valley Performing Arts Center at Cal State Northridge on Nov. 10 and 12, along with the university’s student orchestra. System of a Down has recently announced they are working on a new album.
Annenberg Media