Indian composer AR Rahman exploded onto the international scene with his Oscar-winning score for Slumdog Millionaire. Now, he arrives at Expo 2020 for several boundary-shattering performances. Developed exclusively for Expo 2020, the Firdaus Orchestra is a visionary ensemble of 50 female musicians from across the Arab world, mentored and conducted by Rahman. Firdaus – Arabic for “paradise” – will perform both an original Rahman composition and a fusion of global melodies, with a focus on Emirati musical traditions. Their world-class rehearsal space, Firdaus Studio, will then live on as a permanent fixture of the future city of District 2020.