A concert can change your life, says Augustin Dumay

French violinist and conductor Augustin Dumay is in Mumbai for National Centre for Performing Arts' (NCPA) ongoing Western Classical Season. And the city is all the richer for it.

Dumay, who serves as music director of Japan's Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra and Belgium's Orchestre Royal, conducted three Mozart violin and piano concertos to an enthralled audience on Tuesday evening. On stage were the Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI), violinists Liya Petrova and Adrien la Marca and acclaimed pianist Maria João Pires.

The Dumay-Pires combine is a lauded one in the hallowed circles of Western classical music. For over 30 years, they've rendered everything from Brahms and Beethoven– and have no intention of slowing down. Which is why Dumay continues doing what he can to bring classical music to the people. As a master in residence at Brussels-based Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, he identifies gifted young violinists and mentors them to give them the platform they deserve. Liya Petrova is one such student.

"This is my way of giving something back. Helping younger generations get a foothold in classical music is most important," he stresses. Although strapped for time between rehearsals, Dumay makes it a point to voice both his love and concern for classical music. It's a topic which, not surprisingly, gives him great joy. "You don't go to a concert just to appreciate technique and talent. You go because it can change your life," he says, smiling knowingly.

The towering Frenchman gave his first violin recital at 15 and trained as a conductor under the watchful eye of Herbert von Karajan, considered to be one of best music conductors who ever lived. But the maestro, who has around 40 recordings under his belt, is no stranger to contemporary music. Dumay worked with legendary English guitarist John McLaughlin for the latter's 1981 album, Belo Horizonte. He's open to collaborating with Indian classical musicians too. "I was in touch with violinist Dr L Subramaniam for some time, but we were busy and distance was also to blame. Hopefully, we'll perform in the near future," says Dumay.

India, like Austria, Belgium and Germany, has a rich heritage of classical music. What's imperative, shares Dumay, is for politicians here to be proactive. Berlin Philharmonic, for instance, is partially funded by the city of Berlin. His other concern is the loss of individuality in all kinds of music. Each orchestra, whether in India or Latin America, has its own distinct sound and variation of symphonies. And Dumay likes it that way. "Otherwise everything will be homogenised. That is very harmful for classical music."

True to his mission of making classical music accessible to the masses, Dumay has even performed for inmates languishing in Belgian and French prisons. He recounts the time prisoners would come up to him and thank him profusely for visiting them. "Music gave them something to look forward to. It gave them hope and a sense of purpose. And there's no greater gift than that," concludes Dumay.