The sound of India echoes in Russia

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The Western classical music culture in India has been growing steadily in the country and has also seen a lot of activity on that front over the years. This year when the Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI) represented the country on a global platform at the World Symphony Orchestra Festival in Moscow, it echoed a common sentiment among the Western classical aficionados to take the style seriously and give it more impetus in the country.
It was for the very first time in the history of orchestras in India, that the SOI performed on this prestigious international platform. In doing so, it became a matter of great honour for the group, as some of the world’s greatest orchestras have graced the World Symphony Orchestra Festival in Russia.
Prior to their Russia departure, we spoke to them about their preparation and the excitement surrounding this major trip. Marat Bisengaliev, the SOI music director has been instrumental in providing a solid foundation for the young musicians. The zest and enthusiasm was visible in his voice, as he sounded extremely excited about the performance. “The level of dedication among them was tremendous and it was exciting to be a part of their first tour to Moscow,” said Marat, who has been a professional in the field for over two decades. He has studied and lived in Moscow for almost a decade of his professional life and describes it as an incredible experience. “The culture for symphony orchestras in Russia is simply out-of-the-world and it leaves one with such a high,” he added.
This is the fifth year of the annual World Symphony Orchestra Festival, a festival dedicated to Russia, which aims at strengthening its relations with Eastern Asia.
For all the SOI musicians who were part of the festival, this was an unforgettable experience. For Amy and Elvina, two of the Indian musicians who travelled to Moscow, their emotions were a mix of excitement and nervousness. Amy started playing the violin only a few years ago after realising her passion for music. “The preparations were tough and rigorous and we were confident after having gone through intense training sessions with Marat,” said Amy before she left for Moscow with the SOI. “He has been very patient with us and knew exactly what he wanted while training us. The individual lessons with him were a great learning experience as he paid attention to every small detail,” Amy added.
They will be presenting Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, a composition that is considered to be among the best-known works of the Western classical repertoire (A lesser-known fact is that Beethoven struggled and worked extremely hard on this composition, which later on went on to become one of his masterpieces).
This being their maiden performance, the enthusiasm reflects in their spirit. “We couldn’t have asked for more. With such professional training, we are sure it’s going to be a fabulous experience,” Elvina said.
Having Marat around was very inspiring for all the musicians and to see him play meant learning so much. Marat, who has been training the troupe and has interacted with them extensively, believes that India has come a long way in promoting the symphony orchestra culture. “The concept of a symphony orchestra is still relatively new to this country and now with SOI going international, things will definitely improve,” says Marat. Competition across the world among such symphony orchestras is tremendous and is catching up among other Asian countries like Singapore and China, who will also be performing in Russia.
In order to boost the culture for Western classical music in the country, Marat has already initiated training programmes, which are currently held at different centres across Mumbai. “With institutions like the National Centre of Performing Arts (NCPA), which have excellent infrastructure and state-of-the-art facilities encouraging these activities, it won’t take long for India to be among the best,” said Marat.
Khushroo Suntook, chairman, NCPA, says, “It’s a matter of pride for the NCPA that its very own Symphony Orchestra of India is making waves over such a short time and is fast gaining recognition for its quality in music-making. It is also an honour for an Indian orchestra to have been invited to perform in a country known all over the world for its contribution to Western classical music,” he said.