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The SOI Spring 2024 Season brims with the beauty of orchestral music featuring the return of beloved artistes and the India debut of a Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano, a celebrated conductor, and a masterful cellist. We speak to Gergely Madaras, Sasha Cooke and Bryan Cheng ahead of their debut at the
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“Maestro” is a word that resonates across concert music. From the Italian word for master, it is applied most frequently to a respected and established conductor of operas and orchestras but can also be used to refer to virtuoso instrumentalists. Despite its gendered form (male), the term has been regularly
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Every corner of the historic cityscape of Edinburgh—the cobbled streets, the tall medieval architecture and the green hills—has learned to breathe art and music. It is a small city, but the cultural wealth it nurtures is enormous. The Scottish Parliament Building that sits within the UNESCO World Heritage
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The acclaimed British contemporary cellist Steven Isserlis is also passionate about music education for children. During my England years, much before I became a father myself or was even contemplating beginning a music education charity for children (incidentally, both my son and Child’s Play India Foundation were born the
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The 2023 edition of the eight-week long BBC Proms festival finally ended with a crash, boom and wallop on 9 September. It had me glued for all that time to internet radio, so the abrupt absence of the daily ritual is a little disorienting. It has been a remarkable season
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One of the many things I love about listening to internet radio podcasts, especially when listening to music is that the focus is solely on the aural sense, as opposed to watching a concert. I am able to listen more attentively without the distraction of the visual element. But occasionally
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Almost four decades ago, I experienced live in action India’s greatest living legend, Maestro Zubin Mehta. 17 September 1984, Shanmukhananda Hall Sion in then Bombay. It was the maiden and so far only visit of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra to India. Until then I had only been exposed
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In January 2020, the gorgeous façade of Jacksons Lane Art Centre was faced with a completely overturned reality on the inside. As severe winter flooding across the U.K., and an exploding boiler that bled hot brown liquid down the office walls painted a grim picture, a sold-out edition of
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The violin, with its soul-stirring melodies and captivating sound, has enthralled music enthusiasts for centuries. Behind this beautiful instrument lies an essential element that breathes life into its music – the violin bow. The bow, a simple yet intricate creation, is the key to producing the enchanting tones that resonate from
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Stradivarius violins have long held a position of fascination and awe in the world of classical music. Their mystique and extraordinary value make them the crown jewels of the violin world. From their unrivaled craftsmanship to their exceptional sound quality, Stradivarius violins have captivated musicians, collectors, and enthusiasts alike. But
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It takes a pair of eyes that understands music to capture the sight of sound. A deep dive into the art of documenting live music. The final bell chimes, the doors shut. A dignified quietude takes over the concert hall as if not a strand of hair is allowed to
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You sing like angels. Yes, you do. Why don’t you record your songs professionally? Twenty-five year old Joel Samuel and his twin brothers, Johan Paul Samuel and Jowin Sam Timothy Samuel (22), heard such comments with increasing regularity. The brothers, residents of Chennai, India, had been making home videos