Lovers of classical music have a treat in store for them a few days from now. West will meet East as the Renga Ensemble of the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) will appear in concert with the Karnataka College of Percussion at the NCPA on April 3.
This is the second India visit of the LPO. “(It) first performed in India in 1962 in Bombay (as Mumbai was known then), Delhi and Calcutta (now Kolkata),” says Matthew Todd, educative head, LPO.
The orchestra will give two more concerts, in Delhi and Bangalore. “In addition, we are planning workshops with schools in each city to introduce students to some of the ideas and influences behind Western classical music,” Todd says.
The Karnataka College of Percussion was started in 1964 by mridangam player TAS Mani. He and his Carnatic vocalist wife Ramamani have made the college play a vital role in creating awareness about Indian classical music. “Last April, at the behest of the LPO, we performed with the Renga Ensemble at a concert. It was well received; so they invited us to perform again,” says Ramamani, the vice-principal of the college.
The focus of the LPO visit will be Carnatic jazz, which provides the perfect means for musicians from the LPO and Karnataka College of Percussion to collaborate. “The music is arranged in a way that allows the musicians to be free and individual in their musicality, whilst creating something entirely new. It is an equal meeting of styles,” Todd says.
Though the LPO does not have any Indian musicians, Indian composers have sought to work with orchestras like it to create a fusion of Indian and Western classical music.
“The work of musicians and composers like Ravi Shankar and AR Rahman is having a real effect on the interest in orchestral music, but from a distinctly Indian perspective,” Todd says. During its visit, the LPO will also focus on building relationships with those seeking to develop orchestral music in India.
While there are scores of music schools in India dedicated to Western classical music, the field remains rather elitist. “These schools are usually so strongly focused on passing examinations that the approach often tends to lack passion, diversity, creativity and enjoyment. We want to put more joy into the learning of music,” says Vimmi Singh, India head, Trinity College, London.
The college will be partnering with the LPO on its visit with the aim of nurturing talent in India.
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