Interviews
During the 2021 Festival summer, two completely opposed ways of perceiving the world are a central preoccupation of our opera and theatre productions: radical individualism versus the humanistic idea of a society based on solidarity, as invoked by Luigi Nono in his work Intolleranza 1960. “While Don Giovanni, Richard III
Music Education
Last year the Metropolitan Opera staged Philip Glass’s ‘Akhnaten’ starring Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo. Following the premiere much media attention was directed towards the countertenor in the leading role. Glass’s hypnotic, repetitive music is a big sing for any countertenor. Costanzo not only negotiated the vocal challenges of
Know Your Composer
It’s not an exaggeration to declare that the Mason family decidedly and uniquely contributed to American music during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The patriarch Lowell Mason (1792-1872) was a significant composer of church music, including many original hymns. As a strong advocate and educator of classical music,
Interviews
The turn of the year is always an occasion to look back and gaze into the future. The Festival’s President talks to Daniel Barenboim, who has been a Salzburg Festival artist since 1965, who contributed decisively to the success of the centennial edition in the special summer of 2020
Music Education
In a world where parents are constantly re-evaluating the cost of a recurring service, job security may depend in part upon how indispensable we are to our piano students. How do we become indispensable? How do we keep parents from jumping from teacher to teacher or experience to experience? How
Interviews
The Bagri Foundation was established in 1990 to provide support for education, healthcare and relief work. Its founder, Lord Bagri, CBE, believed in a collective responsibility to give back to society. He saw education as a great enabler; a means of empowering individuals and bringing communities and ideas together. His
Interviews
When houses of culture are built, culture makes its way there without quite concerning itself with ribbon-cutting galas. Years before the NCPA came to call Nariman Point its permanent residence, music had begun to swaddle it in a Breach Candy building. A decade earlier and 6,000-plus miles to the
Opinion
Ritwik Bhattacharya, guitarist and academic consultant with Trinity College London-India, gives an overview of the classical guitar scene in India. The guitar is undoubtedly one of the most popular musical instruments in the world. Almost every child, at some point or another, dreams of making that dramatic stage entry, slinging
Opinion
Eminent businesswoman, Vinita Bali, draws on her experience in the corporate world to examine why supporting the performing arts is not only culturally important but is also good for business. “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time” – Thomas Merton The cultural heritage of civilisations
Interviews
Cecilia Bartoli has assembled a treasure trove of delights for the coming Whitsun Festival: she focuses on her native city of Rome, telling us why this city has always inspired poets, composers, filmmakers and painters, and how it inspires her. From 21 to 24 May 2021 she has invited some
Opinion
Renowned names from the world of Western classical music, whom the NCPA has hosted on its stage, weigh in on what cancelled concerts, the gift of gestation, and the return to live performances amidst restrictions entail for the performing arts. Dame Felicity Lott, soprano This pandemic has made me try
Know Your Composer
Happy 250th birthday this Wednesday, 16 December 2020, Ludwig! The world had such great plans to celebrate this milestone, but a minuscule virus put paid to all that. My reading marathon on Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) in his birth sestercentennial year continues to throw up the most fascinating trivia about