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A Conversation with Asad Lalljee, Curator of the Royal Opera House, Mumbai
Excitement was in the air at the Royal Opera House, Mumbai when I met with the curator, Asad Lalljee. In a few short hours, the very first full opera was to be performed at this historic venue since its reopening. I was there to gain an insight into the mind
Reviews
GIVING VOICE TO INDIANS – AN ENCHANTING PREMIERE IN MUMBAI
First of all kudos to Giving Voice for producing this delightful comic opera using predominantly an Indian cast. This would not have been possible without the support of various sponsors and donors. However, had it not been for the artistic directors Patricia Rozario and Mark Troop who have single-handedly groomed
Reviews
All That Jazz
Jennifer Heemstra, the iconic entrepreneur, pianist and social activist (Yes, I actually said that) of cultural enlightenment and change, who has in three brief years made this city her second home and brought some great American talent to its audiences, presented in the latest of this year’s series, the
Features
The Forgotten Voyager
It is often a great mystery what people, works, and instruments remain in the minds of those who enjoy classical music. Even in the very small world of saxophonists, there are certain legends which take hold and others which fall by the wayside. Sometimes, though, there are flashes of incidents
Music Education
Is This The Most Difficult Piece Ever Written for Piano?
“It’s unplayable,” said the virtuoso pianist and composer Milij Balakirev, “there are passages in this work that I simply can’t manage.” Alexander Scriabin seriously damaged his right hand frantically practicing this composition, and Maurice Ravel remarked that his goal in writing Gaspard de la nuit was to compose
Interviews
A Danish musician discovered her origins in a briefcase – they led to a holy city in Maharashtra
Maria Badstue had set aside all thoughts of her adoption from India. An invitation to conduct an opera in Mumbai made her confront her past. The Royal Opera House in Mumbai is poised to stage its first full-length Italian opera, Domenico Cimarosa’s comedy Il Matrimonio Segreto, with a run
News
Domenico Cimarosa’s Il Matrimonio Segreto, The Secret Marriage | ROH Mumbai
The opening of the Royal Opera House, Mumbai offers a huge opportunity for prestige events. We, Giving Voice Society, are preparing the first ever full-length opera production in this beautiful venue, an occasion of great significance. Following the success of our productions of Britten’s Little Sweep in 2013 and
Reviews
A concert at the Sheldonian
A concert at the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford is, at least for this reviewer, never just a concert at the Sheldonian. Woven into the Sheldonian’s tapestries are the stuff of legend; blending with its paintings are picture windows framing the gleaming, sunburnt walls of Oxford’s architectural treasures. This
News
International Western-Music Education Conference 2017
Music educators from across India and the US will gather in Delhi on Sunday, July 23rd for The Western Music Education Association (WMEA) 3rd Annual Music Conference entitled “A New Era for Music Education in India.” This year’s conference will take place at the India International Centre, Lodhi Road,
Reviews
A STAR IS BORN – TENOR AMAR MUCHHALA
I was fortunate enough to hear Amar during both his performances in Mumbai, this year. Had I only heard him during his first appearance on Saturday 8th July, this would have been a lukewarm review. This was because his second performance was much better than the first one. The Prithvi
Reviews
Figaro’s capers, sans props
The Théâtre des Champs Elysées Paris has, to its credit, revived the 17th century tradition of operas in concert version, where the orchestra appear on stage and the singers are allocated limited space in front of them, with few or no props. However, this demands an even higher standard of