ON A HIGH NOTE
The Symphony Orchestra of India returns yet again this season with some of the biggest names in classical music from around the world to present unique performances
It all began in 2006 when Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI) premiered at the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA). For almost 14 years, SOI has hosted a number of musicians from across the globe. This year, the SOI Spring Summer Season 2020, comprises four concerts, which kick-starts on February 16. Speaking about the festival, NCPA Chairman and co-founder of f SOI, Khushroo N Suntook, says, “This time, our schedule is a diverse one. We have a classical concert with pianist Maria João Pires conducted by Augustin Dumay. Then, we have excerpts from musicals sung by stars from the West End, John Owen-Jones and Lucie Jones. This season will see the Indian premiere of a work by Ustad Zakir Hussain, under our associate music director, Zane Dalal. And finally, a French music concert with Jean-Philippe Collard and Laurent Petitgirard.”
Ahead of this season, we spoke to the likes of Augustin Dumay, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Shankar Mahadevan, Hariharan and Jean-Philippe Collard, to know more about the performances they have planned.
A CLASSICAL MASTERPIECE
Conducted by Augustin Dumay, the opening act of the eason will see pianist Maria João Pires perform Mozart and Beethoven’s ieces. Speaking about the erformance, Dumay says, The performance will ave Mozart Concertone or two violins, oboe and ello. It will also have eethoven e 3rd piano oncerto, which is not layed often. Out of the rst r five symphonies, it is ymphony No 4 that has a oncentration of all the ifferent characteristics istics f these symphonie s. The virtuosity in the last movement for the strings s is quite unequalled in any ofo the other symphonies.” Dumay will be accompanied by Maria João Pires, with whom he has previously recorded Beethoven’s complete sonatas. Talking about the partnership, he adds, “There are many qualities in Maria Joao’s musicianship that I admi ire, but the important thing isi that we have the same fin nal aim in music.”
A TRIBUTE TO THE MAESTROS
Jean Philippe Collard’s reputation precedes him anywhere he goes. The 72year-old pianist will be playing the Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No 5 and Franck’s radical Symphony in D minor at the event. Ask him about his choice and he says, “I wanted to bring a beautiful French masterpiece to the Indian listeners.” The pianist is known for his interpretations of Gabriel Fauré and Camille Saint-Saëns, , but says that he also lovesl to play work ks of composers Claude Debussy and d Maurice Ravel in the French repertoire, so to speak. “I love so many man others s such h as Chop pin, Rach hmanino ov, Schu umann, anda even ran nados. I just recorded e beautiful set of Goyescas,”
adds.