All-Baha’i choir makes its India debut today

Today, Mumbaikars will have the pleasure of witnessing a performance by an extraordinary international choir, The Voices of Baha formed by 125 singers from 20 countries. This will be the choir’s first appearance in India.

The lineup includes both  Indian and Western songs, including 10 Hindi ones composed by Pandit Ravi Shankar.

The sitar maestro had composed these songs back in 1986 in collaboration with music director Tom Price and Indian composer Ashit Desai for the inaugural ceremony of the Baha’i House of Worship (Lotus Temple), New Delhi. These beautiful Hindi songs were specially written to combine Indian and Western choral singing, and have not been performed publicly since.

The Voices of Baha staged their first performance in Russia in 1993 under the guidance of Tom Price, its conductor. Over the past 17 years, the international choir has performed in 35 countries, this being its first performance in India.

“This is the first time that we have half the songs in Hindi and the rest in English and Persian. And the orchestra band consists of all Indian musicians,” says Price. The Voices of Baha will also
perform in Lucknow and New Delhi.

The members of the choir have journeyed to India at their own expense.

“It is the power of music that brings everyone together. Music touches everyone’s heart. The two things that they have in common are their faith and music,” says African-American solo Gospel singer, Van Gilmer.

Classical opera vocalist Emily Price says that the songs are a mixture of traditional Indian ragas and Western classical harmonisation. She does admit that the choir initially faced problems of singing in a new language but at the same time they thoroughly enjoyed the experience of learning something new. 

“Every year, whichever country we tour, we sing one song in their local language. By performing in different countries, you get to learn more about their culture and tradition than you would as a tourist,” says Concord Records’ jazz and pop recording artist Rachael Price.

Ashit Desai and his wife Hema are the solo singers who will sing the Hindi song. “We will sing Hindi words and the choir will sing the harmonised songs,” Desai says.

Each member of the choir will be dressed in his/her respective national dress. But, some like Emily and Rachael will wear Indian sarees.

“India is all about bright colours; so why not show that through our concert,” says Emily smiling.

The concert will be held at the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre in the National Centre for the Performing Arts at 7pm.