Quick viewing(Text Mode)

Jashn-E-Ishq Sharmila Tagore on Spring: the Season of Love SOI MUSIC ACADEMY the Graduates NT CONNECTIONS Theatre for the Young

Jashn-E-Ishq Sharmila Tagore on Spring: the Season of Love SOI MUSIC ACADEMY the Graduates NT CONNECTIONS Theatre for the Young

March 2020

ON Stagevolume 9 • issue 8

Jashn-e-Ishq on Spring: The season of love SOI MUSIC ACADEMY The graduates NT CONNECTIONS Theatre for the young

Cover Final.indd 1 14/02/20 5:28 PM NCPA Chairman Khushroo N. Suntook

Editorial Director Radhakrishnan Nair

Editor Snigdha Hasan Consulting Editor Contents Vipasha Aloukik Pai

Editorial Co-ordinator Hilda Darukhanawalla 24

Art Director Tanvi Shah

Associate Art Director Hemali Limbachiya

Advertising Anita Maria Pancras ([email protected]; 66223835) Tulsi Bavishi ([email protected]; 9833116584)

Senior Digital Manager Jayesh V. Salvi

Cover Credit Gift in honor of Madeline Neves Clapp; Gift of Mrs. Henry White Cannon by exchange; Bequest of Louise T. Cooper; Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund; From the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection

Produced by

Editorial Oce Features 4th Floor, Todi Building, Mathuradas Mills Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, - 400013 08 20 Re ections Music Lessons for Life Printer The descendants. By Five graduating students of the SOI Music Spenta Multimedia, Peninsula Spenta, Academy look back on their seven-year Mathuradas Mill Compound, journey and how it has shaped them, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, inside the classroom, on the stage and Mumbai – 400013 10 The Season of Love out in the world. Materials in ON Stage cannot be reproduced in In an intimate setting, a musical duo along part or whole without the written permission with legend Sharmila Tagore of the publisher. Views and opinions expressed invite you to spend an evening with the 24 in this magazine are not necessarily those of timeless poems of Tagore, Shakespeare, A Master’s Songbook the publisher. All rights reserved. Browning, among others, that celebrate the Ahead of his rst performance in , we talk to Canada’s leading saxophonist NCPA Booking Oce many moods of love. By Ela Das Kirk MacDonald about inuence, the kind 2282 4567/6654 8135/6622 3724 www.ncpamumbai.com he has been impressed by and the kind 16 he has impressed upon others. A Stage for the Young In a rst-of-its-kind theatre project, children from schools in Mumbai are rehearsing to 27 step onto the professional stage at the NCPA The Sound of Music to present plays written by some of the A mobile museum project, curated most interesting playwrights of the National under the guidance of the NCPA’s Indian

Theatre in London. Music department, takes children on an BARCO

By Arwa Mamaji interactive musical journey. LEO

conetnts march.indd 4 17/02/20 11:10 AM 32

painter Lucian Freud was obsessed 28 with the human form. Heavily The Odia Experience 38 impastoed and exceptionally This year’s edition of Living realist, his paintings are polemical Traditions presents curated studies of the human condition. performances from the By Vipasha Aloukik Pai artistically abundant state of . By Vidhi Salla 42 32 A Romantic Recovers Taking Wing Known for his melodic invention Students of the NCPA’s and wonderful harmonic Nrityaparichay programme are language, Sergei Rachmanino’s now consistently showcasing Piano Concerto No. 2 was an act of their training in dance across hope and rehabilitation. platforms. Their latest feat: By Manohar Parnerkar performing at Mumbai’s

celebrated arts festivals. By Snigdha Hasan 45 Kaleidoscope Your window to the latest in the performing arts across India and 36 the world. Performing Arts: Film A monthly column that explores any and every aspect of the performing and visual arts. 50 Archives: An Education in This month, Shivendra Singh Dramatics Dungarpur discusses his ght to In the rst instalment of a save India’s audio-visual heritage. three-part series, discusses the assorted experiences IMAGES that led him to a life in theatre. 37 Follow us on: The Anatomy of Greatness BRIDGEMAN A series of sessions at the NCPA, facebook.com/NCPAMumbai , with stalwarts of Indian classical 52

Programme Guide ARCHIVE @NCPAMumbai music, seeks de nitive answers A guide to all the events FREUD

to those eternal questions on happening at the NCPA in March @NCPAMumbai virtuosity. LUCIAN .com/user/TheNCPAMumbai1 62 THE What’s Next 38 We look forward to your feedback and suggestions. Please do drop us an The Freudian Gaze What to expect in the following email at [email protected]. For most of his career, British months

conetnts march.indd 6 17/02/20 11:11 AM Jashn-e-Ishq.indd 10 14/02/20 2:28 PM TheThe SeasonSeason ofof

LoveInLove an intimate setting at the NCPA, a musical duo along with Bollywood legend Sharmila Tagore invite you to spend an evening with them to celebrate love. By Ela Das HISTORICAL PICTURE ARCHIVE/CORBIS/CORBIS VIA GETTY VIA IMAGES ARCHIVE/CORBIS/CORBIS PICTURE HISTORICAL

Jashn-e-Ishq.indd 11 17/02/20 11:23 AM Sharmila Tagore

Shantanu Moitra

12 • March 2020 NCPA

Jashn-e-Ishq.indd 12 14/02/20 2:43 PM hile pop culture may make us strongly influenced by , often called consider February as the month ‘Malika-e-Ghazal’ (Queen of Ghazals), one of the of love, through every period greatest singers of the 20th century. in history, the season of spring has always been celebrated A festive evening to mark the beginning of new In March, the onset of spring begins to feel like possibilities,W new joy, and new love. Come March, as nature’s way of saying: let’s celebrate. In India, we do the winter chill begins to thaw, there is a renewed so with the pomp and pageantry of . The festival freshness in the world around us – the days grow has its own freestyle form of song called ‘Hori’ – longer, flowers and trees start to bloom, the weather usually performed by Dhrupad singers accompanied is just right for al fresco living – creating the perfect by a and pakhawaj – which unfolds with surroundings to inspire anyone with feelings of hope the theme of celebration of colour often through and revival. - leela. And, this month, closer to home, a duo comes A natural awakening together to pay homage to the season of the new. It is, perhaps, with this inspiration that the season of Pianist Sourendro and vocalist Soumyojit, who have spring has moved writers down the ages to compose worked together for over a decade to perform with some of their greatest works in literature and poetry. artistes such as , , Kavita From Matsuo Bashō to William Shakespeare, through Krishnamurti Subramaniam, Bhardwaj, Runa haikus, sonnets, poetry – and ghazals, khayals and Laila and Sunidhi Chauhan, will present an intimate thumris in our country – March has blossomed the concert titled Jashn-e-Ishq: Celebrating Love with most romantic prose to warm the hearts of lovers Sharmila Tagore, who will be reciting poetry by and optimists. , Shakespeare, Angelou, Expressing a wide range of complex emotions in Christina Rossetti, Robert Browning and Ali juxtaposed a humble couple of lines, most of Bashō’s haikus with a blend of tunes by the musical duo. The concert

“In Jashn-e-Ishq, the audience gets to be a part of the conversation with Sharmila Tagore, to delve into the personal { journey of her accomplished life” }

surround the enigmatic cherry blossom tree, a symbol will be presented in association with Sahachari of love and renewal, and the life that sprouts around Foundation Events. it, from the innocent joy of a child’s play to lovebirds “We were working on a project where 100 eminent nesting. Similarly, William Wordsworth’s ‘Lines Written would perform ‘’ in in Early Spring’ transports the reader to a wooded 2011. For this, we had the opportunity to work closely grove in bloom, to ponder on the many moods and with Sharmila Tagore. Over time, we composed a live emotions of a human soul through the motions of life. stage production where she would recite poems from In lighter contrast, Shakespeare’s earliest comedy, across the globe and we would intersperse it with Love’s Labour’s Lost, which follows the hijinks of complimenting songs,” recalls Soumyojit. The show Ferdinand, King of Navarre, and his three noble was designed to be performed in a drawing room companions, speaks of spring in the first half of its format, which was meant to look like a play but sound two-song set, creating a vividly sensorial tone for like a concert. Sourendro adds, “Through the years, the play, full of life, colours and sound. Filled with we have started to share a bond, and understand wordplay, puns and layered meanings, the song each other’s mizaaj when inviting the audience to turns to nature to describe the interweb of life watch us play out our friendship on stage. So, in a and love. way, it’s a very happy and personal performance for With rhyming couplets, ghazals are an ode to all three of us.” the many forms of love, celebrating the beauty of Revolving around the season of spring and love, each togetherness, and painting a poignant picture of the recital will also include Tagore sharing anecdotes and burden of viraha or separation, loss and heartbreak. stories from her past, her favourite memories, and the Interpreting love as an emotion that completes man, films she has worked on. “We’ve travelled around the these poetic expressions speak of unconditional, world with this production,” says Sourendro, adding, superior love for a higher being or true beloved. “And it has been well-received throughout. Each American-Indian poet Agha Shahid Ali’s verses are an performance is innovated to play out differently – the archive of longing, with memories and seasons playing audience gets to be a part of the conversation with a strong symbol of the power of love. Instrumental Sharmila Tagore, to delve into the personal journey of in popularising ghazals in the West, his poetry was her colourful and accomplished life, which has seen

NCPA March 2020 • 13

Jashn-e-Ishq.indd 13 14/02/20 2:44 PM Pianist Sourendro (left) and vocalist Soumyojit (right)

“Through the years, we have started to share a bond, and understand each other’s mizaaj when inviting the audience to { watch us play out our friendship on stage” }

some remarkable feats and milestones.” conversation,” says Soumyojit. For their performance The duo shares an abiding love for cricket and at the NCPA, they invite the audience and listeners “to with Tagore. “While we may be from different be a part of our adda, where we sit around a grand generations, our shared interests and conversations piano and interpret our love letter to the season of together have always led to enthralling and interesting new beginnings.” bits and revelations. With this concert, we have tried to create an intimate and personal mood to make Jashn-e-Ishq: Celebrating Love will be presented on every audience member feel like they are a part of this 28th March at the Tata Theatre.

14 • March 2020 NCPA

Jashn-e-Ishq.indd 14 14/02/20 2:44 PM ARCHIVES

An Education in Dramatics ON Stage brings you excerpts from the NCPA Quarterly Journal, an unsurpassed literary archive that ran from 1972 to 1988, and featured authoritative and wide-ranging articles. In the first instalment of a three-part series, Vijay Tendulkar discusses the assorted experiences that led him to a life in theatre.

I did not learn at a school. found it altogether strange – this real. You didn’t feel that they were In those days, there were no drama transformation. mouthing words written by someone schools. No theatre workshops either. Both my father and my brother else. You thought that the words were Reading well-known foreign plays. used to write. My father wrote several said on the spur of the moment, that Watching our own productions – good, plays, but he did not publish them. they stemmed naturally from the bad or indifferent. Getting involved He believed them to be inferior to situation. At that time, I found this in productions. Learning from one’s the creations of giants like Kirloskar, captivating and wonderful. It was mistakes. Discussing with others who Deval, Gadkari or Warekar. But when unlike the films I had seen till then, and shared my interests. These, in the main, the mood seized him, he recited with certainly quite different from the plays constituted my drama education. fervour scenes from his own plays. He, I had witnessed. I was overwhelmed by too, did not publish them or perhaps the ‘true’ness of Manoos. Afterwards, I Theatrical DNA saw the film many times over. Fortunately, my family had I learnt from it how characters a passion for the theatre. e very core of my being awoke ought to speak. Manoos taught My father acted in amateur me the art of dialogue. The productions. He was a devoted to the realisation of what a dialogues for the film were by drama practitioner at a time Anant Kanekar. when people were firmly shaering experience a play convinced that a natakwala could be, and perhaps that night A cinematic diet was a degenerate, when no When I was about 16 or 17, I rooms could be found in had something to do with my used to while away the hours respectable localities for I played truant from school rehearsals of even amateur becoming a playwright (because I didn’t want this to productions. Rehearsals be known at home) watching used to be held in red-light excellent American films, districts. My father clung with equal they could not be published. But he was all paid by my tuition fees. Whether I determination to his respectability an avid student of drama. Everyone understood a film or not, I was there and to his mad passion for the theatre. envied his collection of dramatic in the cinema house. The Second He refused to become a professional literature which included criticism, World War raged. It was a time when, actor but he stayed awake nights on biographies and plays. Wherever he among others, Greta Garbo, Norma end for rehearsals and did a job as a read anything worthwhile, he would Shearer, Greer Garson, Joan Crawford, clerk during the day. This was his daily recommend it to me and explain why Paul Muni, Leslie Howard, Charles grind. After I was born, he stopped it ought to be read. He used to distil Laughton, Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, acting in plays, but he continued to its essence so exceedingly well that Robert Taylor, Errol Flynn reigned. direct amateur productions. Holding I would sleep with the book by my The American and British films of on to his fingers, I went with him to pillow. I’ve read it, I would tell him. the time were informed by a kind of rehearsals. I was never bored. Once Quite unconsciously, these Romantic idealism. I saw again and rehearsals were over, I used to watch the influences were at work – and it was again The Life of Emile Zola, The Story actual performance and go backstage during this period (when I was about of Louis Pasteur, The Good Earth, How with my father. The atmosphere there 11 or 12) that I saw the Marathi Green Was My Valley, The Citadel, was even more interesting than the film Manoos. I can’t say that I fully Goodbye, Mr. Chips, Blossoms in the performance, and more so because understood the film but I was struck Dust, Romeo and Juliet and other well- men played female roles. by the way its characters spoke – like known films. Not that I grasped all My elder brother used to act in real people. When the actor who that was depicted, but the films left plays. I remember how fascinated I played the policeman spoke, I felt their mark. They did not contribute COMMONS was by the similarities and contrasts it was a policeman speaking. It was directly to an understanding of drama, – in his behaviour at home and the same when the prostitute spoke. but I feel that there was some kind the way he conducted himself, as The policeman’s old mother, or the of relationship between those films WIKIMEDIA a different person, on the stage. I prostitute’s drink-soaked uncle seemed and my plays. Theme, story, build-

50 • March 2020 NCPA

FOB Archives.indd 42 13/02/20 11:33 AM up of situations, contours of were rare. ey were to do characters and, most important scenes from Shakespeare in of all, the life-view which the Capitol Cinema (which formed their base influenced was once a playhouse). In me greatly. those days, I used to work for Aside from excerpts in a newspaper and my father school textbooks, what is called and I lived in a book godown. classical Marathi drama hardly I took him with me, hoping le any impression on me during to show him a specimen of those intermediate years. I think Western theatre. that it was the lms of the time Among the items we watched which shaped me. were one or two scenes from The magic of the stage first Hamlet. The show got over and captured my heart during for quite some time, my father an open-air performance at didn’t utter a word. When I Marine Lines. The Mumbai questioned him, he said, “I Marathi Sahitya Sangh used have seen Ganpatrao Joshi’s to organise a festival of plays Hamlet several times over. We every year. Deval’s Zunjarrao used to believe that Hamlet (an adaptation of Othello) was could be only portrayed by being staged that evening. Joshi, and without doubt he Baburao Pendharkar (already was a great actor. But what I renowned for his portrayal watched then was not Hamlet, of the villain in films) was but Joshi. I realised this after to make his first appearance I saw today’s performance. as Zunjarrao. Desdemona Today we saw the play Hamlet.” was going to be played by What my father gleaned Snehaprabha Pradhan. K. through his comparison, I Narayan Kale, and (if understood quite I am not mistaken), independently in my Chintamanrao own way. e words in Kolhatkar, Raja Hamlet have their own Paranjape and other e movies I watched did not contribute natural rhythm. It was well-known artistes directly to an understanding of drama, but I eectively expressed formed the cast. in the performance P.L. Deshpande was feel that there was some kind of relationship through the movements on the organ. I had of the characters and watched many other between those lms and my plays particularly those performances in of the actor who that mandap but the played Hamlet. ese atmosphere on that particular evening Zunjarrao, the lit area of the stage movements on the stage had a sense of was different. It was charged with and the sigh emitted by thousands rhythm, a consistency and meaning, a enthusiasm, the air of expectancy of of spectators under the open sky. I touch of beauty. is controlled motion thousands of spectators. A tremor experienced, for the first time in my held the audience and indirectly helped passed through the crowd when life, a revelation of the magic of the to convey the essence of the play. e the third bell rang and the curtain theatre. The very core of my being visual and the aural did not function as parted. The clear and vibrant words awoke to the realisation of what a separate entities but merged to create of Kolhatkar reached us, and drew shattering experience a play could be. the performance. is was new to me. I a response. But the audience was Perhaps that night had something to used to see characters on the stage enter, waiting for the entry of Zunjarrao. do with my becoming a playwright. depart, rise or sit down – simply to serve Pendharkar entered, wearing a the plot of the play or because they dazzling costume of the Moor – and When the plot is king wanted to. is particular performance there was no applause. For an instant, What is a play? A text? Words? Dialogue? taught me that these physical actions sudden silence descended on the huge Vocal delivery and the rise and fall of the had something to do with the latent audience. Then a drawing in of breath, voice? Gestures and facial expressions? meaning of the play and the glow in a a sigh from the whole mass gathered All this was part of the plays I had performance. there. I was way behind in a seat among witnessed. And, of course, there was the the last rows. But to this day, I seem to seing to indicate where and when the is article rst appeared in its entirety hear that drawing in of the breath and action was taking place. Around 1947 in a special issue of the NCPA Quarterly remember the masterful presence of or ’48, a British troupe came to perform Journal in September and December 1982 the resplendent, haughty and untamed here. At that time such occurrences (Vol.XI, Nos. 3 and 4).

NCPA March 2020 • 51

FOB Archives.indd 43 17/02/20 11:34 AM Programme(Programmes are subject to change. Please check the website and refer to our emails for updated Guideinformation.) March 2020

THEATRE INTERNATIONAL MUSIC DANCE MULTI ARTS & PRESENTATIONS

INDIAN MUSIC WESTERN CLASSICAL MUSIC FILMS / SCREENINGS PHOTOGRAPHY & EXHIBITION

Madonna, Tina Turner, Neil Diamond, strikes her best friend. Bulbul, free- Cli Richard and so many more. The spirited, rebellious and stubborn, audience can also expect some fantastic begins to question herself and her medleys of ABBA, Bee Gees, Boney M. love life. and Lionel Richie. Be prepared for an interactive and spectacular evening Director & Producer: Rima Das with the greatest hits from the ’70s and Cast: Paia Beam,Arnali Das, ’80s with uber talented performers and Manabendra Das & others exciting dancers. Magic Moments, 1st to 8th, Piramal Art Gallery The lm screening will be followed by PHOTOGRAPHY Directed by Karla Singh a post lm discussion with Shubhra Cast: Siddharth Meghani, Shazneen Gupta, Film Critic, . Magic Moments Arethna, 2Blue & Zervaan Bunshah Photo Exhibition Produced by Raell Padamsee’s ACE Admission on a first-come-first- by Dr. Mukesh Batra Productions served basis. NCPA Members do not Piramal Art Gallery have to register and will be given Sunday, 1st to Sunday, 8th – Tickets: entry on display of membership 12.00 pm to 8.00 pm `3,000, 2,625, 1,875, 1,500, 1,125, card. 750, 570 & 375/- (Members) Dr Batra’s Foundation unveils the `4,000, 3,500, 2,500, 2,000, 1,500, SCREENING 15th edition of ‘Magic Moments’ – a 1,000, 760 & 500/- (Public) photography exhibition by eminent (Inclusive of GST) Romeo and Juliet homoeopath and photography Box Office now open by erei Proofie enthusiast Dr. Mukesh Batra. It Ballet Screening (175 mins) has been displayed in over 50 art FILM Godrej Dance Theatre galleries including in India and Dubai. Tuesday, 3rd – 6.30 pm This charitable photo exhibition is Bulbul Can Sing sponsored by The Tourism Board indiAssamese ilm with An NCPA-Pathé Live (Paris) of Western Australia and Pan- English Subtitles Presentation Paci c Hotels. It features a series of (2018 / 95 mins) photographs by Dr. Batra along with Godrej Dance Theatre The ballet begins with feuding Australian artist Lene Makwana and Monday, 2nd – 6.30 pm between the Capulets and the captures the natural beauty of Western Montagues. Wearing a disguise, Australia. The Indian Express Film Club Romeo Montague crashes a party at screening in association with NCPA the Capulet house, where he meets Entry Free. Juliet Capulet. He instantly falls in love Bulbul, a teenage schoolgirl, growing Romeo and Juliet, THEATRE up in a rural setting in Assam, falls 3rd, Godrej Dance in love. While she is on the verge of Theatre Simply the Best discovering her teen life, a tragedy A Musical Tribute Show (90 mins) Bulbul Can Sing, 2nd, Godrej Dance Tata Theatre Theatre Sunday, 1st – 7.30 pm

Raell Padamsee’s ACE Productions Simply the Best – A Tribute Show to the Legends of 70s & 80s will honour megastars such as Michael Jackson,

52 • March 2020 NCPA

Programme Guide.indd 52 14/02/20 11:23 AM with her and the two secretly proclaim this modern master of British art of one year, culminating in a stage their eternal love for each other on turned his uninching eye rmly on performance by the students at the the balcony. Hoping to nally put an himself. One of the most celebrated NCPA. With successful programmes end to the family feud, Friar Laurence painters of our time, Freud is also for the last four years, the NCPA secretly marries the couple after which, one of very few 20th-century artists currently has projects running across that night, Juliet drinks a potion. When who portrayed themselves with such six schools in Mumbai supported by her distraught family nds her dead consistency. Spanning nearly seven leading companies. The students the next morning, they proceed to decades, his self-portraits give a of many programmes perform on a bury her. The news of Juliet’s death fascinating insight into both his psyche regular basis with their teachers in reaches Romeo, and he returns home and his development as a painter, recognised dance festivals. desperately grieving because he has from his earliest portrait painted in lost her. Believing that Juliet is really 1939 to the nal one executed 64 xperimental heatre dead, he also drinks poison. When she years later. When seen together, his hursday, th pm awakens, she sees that Romeo is dead portraits represent an engrossing and stabs herself. True love indeed lasts study into the dynamic of ageing and upported by odre onsumer forever. the process of self-representation. Products imited This intensely compelling exhibition Music: erei Proofie creates a unique opportunity for Seventy ve students started their Choreography: Alexei Ratmansky Exhibition On Screen to reveal the training in July. The students of Cast: aterina rysanoa, ladisla life’s work of a master in one show. National Sarvodaya High School, antrato, or siro, Dmitry Chembur, will present three styles of Doroho, italy Bitimiro & the Directed by Daid Bicerstaff dances, Manipuri, Thang-ta, Bengali folk orps de Ballet dance and . icets `- icets `500/- Box Office now open ata heatre `- only or students on riday, th pm production o alid D cards DANCE Box Office now open upported by ota ahindra Ban NCPA Nrityaparichay imited SCREENING ol Dance rainin or chool hildren Close to 170 students from three dierent Lucian Freud: A Self Annual Perormances by tudents schools – Dharmaveer Sambhaji Portrait th, th th arch Vidyalaya from Vikhroli, Dnyandeep xhibition creenin Mandal High School, Nerul, and Bal Approx mins An NCPA Presentation Jeevan Trust, Vakola – will showcase an odre Dance heatre evening of folk dances and martial art Wednesday, th pm NCPA Nrityaparichay is a CSR forms from around the country. This will initiative, supported by corporate include the dance form of the sherfolk An PA-eenth Art Productions organisations, which seeks to impart (Koli) of , postures with Presentation folk dance training to underprivileged dance, Bidayi from Madhya Pradesh, children. Apart from the training, Sambalpuri from Odisha. A classical For the rst time in history, the students are also provided with a performance in Kathak will also be Royal Academy of Arts in London, in rich understanding of the traditions showcased by the students. collaboration with the Museum of Fine and customs of the place of origin Arts in Boston, is bringing together of each dance form. The programme xperimental heatre Lucian Freud’s self-portraits. The encompasses visits to the NCPA Wednesday, th - pm exhibition will display more than 50 to watch dance performances by paintings, prints and drawings in which renowned artistes and provide upported by arsen oubro necessary exposure in terms of ucian reud, th, odre technicality in relation to dance. A In their fourth year of training, 120 Dance heatre total of three dance forms, including a students from Green Lawns English martial art form, are taught in a period High School, Powai, will present a total of four dance forms. Level 2 of the Manipuri traditional dances will be presented, namely Manjiranartan, which is a dance with cymbals in the tradition of devotional singing and dancing in praise of Radha and Krishna; and Thang-ta (‘The Art of the Sword and Spear’) which is the NCPA Nrityaparichay, th, th th, traditional martial art of Manipur in xperimental ata heatres Northeast India. Thang-ta integrates

NCPA March 2020 • 53

Programme Guide.indd 53 14/02/20 11:25 AM onami andy, various external weapons – swords, Rohini Baneree, th, odre th, odre spears, daggers, etc. – with the internal Dance heatre Dance heatre practice of physical control through soft movements coordinated with the rhythms of breathing. It is part of the great heroic tradition of Manipur. They will also showcase Pung Cholom – a unique classical dance of Manipur. This dance may be performed by men or women and is usually a prelude to the Ras Lila. In this style, the dancers play the pung (a form of hand beaten drum) while they dance at the same time. There will be a presentation by our beginners in the programme, students of Dr. Datta Samant Madhyamik Vidyalaya, presenting mobility exercises, Kajri folk dance from U.P. and stuti in classical form. Krishna’s childhood, which set him apart, Admission on a first-come-first- as an avatar. sered basis PA embers will et preerential seatin till pm Evocation – The One of the important contributions of DANCE Sharmila Biswas is to incorporate the art of traditional into the NCPA Umang 2020 classical dances of Odisha. The research th, th th arch work had been supported by the rishnendu Central Akademi. The Kathak aha, th, variety and richness of the mridangam odre Dance by iita Banawaliar heatre inspired Biswas to study this art form and Trio Presentation incorporate the avor, the energy and by harmila Biswass senior disciples the intricacies into her dance. Through Approx mins onami andy, Rohini Baneree and Evocation, we present the exuberance odre Dance heatre rishnendu aha They are pursuing of the rustic community clubs where hursday, th - pm a career in dance with utmost sincerity people gather to nd in the arts their and dedication under the guidance spiritual evolution. iita Dilip Banawaliar has of Awardee successfully completed her Masters Sharmila Biswas. in Performing Arts with distinction by Dipyoti Dipanar from Bharati Vidyapeeth, . A Bharani – the Invocation. promising Kathak exponent, she was Traditionally, during the festival of by achhidanand introduced to at Dussehra, a group of drummers invoke Approx mins the age of four. She initially trained in the spirit of the Devi through the body odre Dance heatre Bharatanatyam but developed interest of a medium in the Samaleswari Temple Wednesday, th - pm in Kathak at the age of nine. She was and other temples in . under the tutelage of Dr. Manjiri Deo for This mystic and the spectacular ritual of Dipyoti-Dipanar started learning about 10 years, and completed Visharad the spirit of the Devi rising is called Devi Sattriya at a tender age under Bobby from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal Bharani. In the invocatory dance, we Rani Talukdar, Dolly Rani Talukdar and under her guidance. She then trained imbibe and express this essence. are presently receiving training from at the Kadamb Centre for Dance, Ram Krishna Talukdar. Dipjyoti-Dipankar , under Sanjukta Sinha. She Gativilas – Nritta graduated from Luit Konwar is currently training under Shama Bhate Gativilas is based on a Sanskrit verse in Pune. A CCRT young artist scholarship commonly chanted by rural mridangam holder, Banawalikar has been conferred players of Odisha. It illuminates the with numerous prestigious awards and attributes of a performer – the di erent presented solo classical recitals in many kinds of energies, the gait, stances, festivals in India and abroad. moods – each inspired by an appropriate animal or bird. Offerins - Odissi rio Presentation Dipyoti- by senior disciples o harmila Biswas Bal Gopal - Abhinaya Dipanar, th, odre Dance This performance will be presented by Bal Gopal describes the episodes from heatre

54 • March 2020 NCPA

Programme Guide.indd 54 14/02/20 11:27 AM Sonam-Sachhidanand, Vaidehi Rele Lal, 18th, Godrej Dance 26th, Little was Sam Phillips… the place was Sun Theatre Theatre Records… That night they made rock ‘n’ roll history. Million Dollar Quartet, the Tony award-winning worldwide smash hit musical, brings that legendary night to life, with its extraordinary true story of broken promises, secrets, and the once-in-a-lifetime celebration of four musical superstars. Featuring 24 of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll hits, Million Dollar Quartet is truly a show in a million.

Written by Colin Escott & Floyd Mutrux Directed by Ian Talbot Cast: Peter Duncan, Matthew Barua State College of Dance and Music many others. Sinam has been awarded Wycliffe, Robbie Durham, Philip in Assam. They have been graded by the Ustad Bismillah Yuva Puraskar Murray Warson, Ross William Wild, and empanelled by the of Sangeet Natak Akademi for his Katie Ray & others. ICCR in the duet category in 2017. They notable talent in the eld of Manipuri have participated extensively at several dance. Vaidehi Rele Lal comes from A Blank Slate Presentation prestigious dance festivals in India. a family of traditional Indian classical Sonam & Sachhidanand are a young dancers. Having always been inclined Tickets: `8,000, 7,000, 6,000, and promising couple who have been towards Indian traditions, she has learnt 5,000, 4,500, 4,000, 3,500, 3,000, graded by Doordarshan and quali ed Bharatanatyam, Mohiniattam and 2,500, 2,000, 1,500 & 1,000/- by U.G.C NET. They are dedicated . Lal holds the title of being (Plus GST) teachers, creative choreographers the youngest performer (she was eight Box Office now open and administrators with postgraduate at the time) at the Khajuraho Festival degrees in Bharatanatyam from of Classical Dance. She also holds the INDIAN MUSIC Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidyalaya Nalanda Nritya Nipuna Title 2016 and established by . Guru Kadirvelu Pillai Nritya Saadhaka Living Traditions: Sachhidanand is a core member Title 2016 and was the winner of Sandip Festival of Odisha of Vaibhav Arekar’s Sankhya Dance Soparrkar’s India Dance Week 2016. (Approx. 135 mins each day) Company. The duo have performed Experimental Theatre extensively in India and abroad in Admission on a first-come-first- Friday, 6th & Saturday, 7th – festivals like the Doha Tribecca Film served basis. NCPA Members will 6.30 pm Festival, Serendipity Arts Festival and get preferential seating till 6.20 pm. Ellora-Ajanta International Festival, An NCPA Presentation among others. THEATRE Supported by Godrej Industries

Manipuri Million Dollar Quartet ‘Living Traditions’ is our ongoing by Basu Sinam & English Play (140 mins) series showcasing folk traditions of Bharatanatyam Jamshed Bhabha Theatre dierent regions of India. This year by Vaidehi Rele Lal Thursday, 5th & Friday, 6th – 7.30 pm the focus is on Odisha, an Eastern (Approx. 90 mins) Saturday, 7th & Sunday, 8th – state with prehistoric roots and rich Little Theatre 3.00 pm & 7.00 pm cultural heritage. The region is heavily Thursday, 26th - 6.30 pm forested with abundant natural On December 4, 1956, one man brought resources, and varied ora and fauna. Basu Sinam received his initial training Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee The state is also known for its mighty in Manipuri at the Lewis and Carl Perkins to play together rivers and artistically built temples. The Manipur Dance Academy in Imphal. for the rst and only time. His name ethnic diversity of the region is amply He later continued his training at the Visva-Bharati University and obtained Mayurbhanj Chhau, 6th, a postgraduate degree in Manipuri. Experimental Theatre He has also studied under Y. Hemanta Kumar, N. Tiken Singh and W. Lokendrajit Singh. He has performed extensively in prestigious festivals within the country such as the Dance Festival (2007), Ganjam Mahotsav (2007), Pratibha of East Zone Cultural Center (2009), Nataraj Dance Festival (2011) and Purush Festival (2013), among

NCPA March 2020 • 55

Programme Guide.indd 55 14/02/20 11:28 AM re ected in the variety of dance forms, of Sandhya Anusthan Umakant Gundecha, 7th, textiles, and its visual and sculptural The group will present devotional West Room 1 art forms. Artistic presentations are songs characteristic to eastern Odisha, characterised by colourful costumes, especially from the region. The accessories, ingenious instruments, poetry invokes blessings of various and skilled body movements including deities, especially Lord Jagannath, the mesmerising acrobatic gestures. Over presiding deity of the land. the two days, six well-known troupes will present two forms each of music, Ghudka Dance dance and folk theatre representing by Basudev Sa & group folk forms from western, eastern and Named after the tribal community that southern regions of Odisha: Balangir, patronises this dance form, ghudka Puri and Mayurbhanj. The presentation originates from Balangir region. The will be accompanied by narration in beats, the tunes, and the music of by Rakesh Tiwari, a well-known this folk form are known to create a folklorist. mesmeric eect on the audience. The dance is characterised by the use of a to train with the internationally 6th March local wooden , also renowned exponents of this art form, called ghudka or khamak, which is Umakant Gundecha, and his senior Devotional Music covered with iguana skin. Originally disciples. The following topics will be by Nilanchal Nanda and members performed within the community to covered in the sessions: of Dholmuhuri Kalaparishad express their aspirations and anguish, 1. Science of svara and raga The group will present folk songs typical today the dance form is a representative 2. Voice culture training for raga music of western Odisha, especially from the of the culture of Odisha. 3. Music and Yoga - Nadayoga in Dhrupad Balangir region. The poetry is in praise 4. Study of laya and tala of both male and female deities. Dance Drama: The sessions will be conducted every Jhoti Chita Muruja month to maintain continuity. Mayurbhanj Chhau Dance by Rangashala by Dayasagar & group It has been a long-standing practice at Enrolment Fee: `1,000/- (plus GST) Having originated from the forests the holy shrine of Puri that, irrespective for one session of two hours. A of Mayurbhanj region during the 18th of their caste and creed, all devotees limited number of registrations will century, the dance form has some partake of the prasad together. What be accepted. elements of martial arts. Unlike other is the reason? The dance-drama based For enquiries regarding batches, chhau traditions, this style avoids the on a story revolving around Lord timing and registration: contact use of masks, laying emphasis on the Jagannath, his wife, Devi, and or write to us at portrayal of a character only through his brother, Balaram, reveals the truth. [email protected] facial and body gestures. Although many episodes are based on the great Daily Tickets: INTERNATIONAL MUSIC epics of and , `180 & 135/- (Members) some forms also depict the arduous ` - Public Kirk MacDonald life of daily labourers and sherfolk. Box Office now open “Generations” Quartet The performance, either solo, duet Featuring Virginia MacDonald or in a group, mainly elicit heroic and INDIAN MUSIC (Approx. 120 mins) fearful sentiments. Songs are based Experimental Theatre on traditional folk tunes and are Training Sessions in Sunday, 8th – 7.00 pm accompanied by wind instruments like Dhrupad mahuri and drums such as and Conducted by Umakant Gundecha An NCPA Presentation dhumsa. Supported by his Disciples West Room 1 Kirk MacDonald, saxophone Lok Natya: Raaha Saturday, 7th – 11.00 am to 1.00 pm Virginia MacDonald, clarinet by Anveshan & 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm Neil Swainson, bass The folk play starts o with a meeting Terry Clarke, drums between two men, one from the city In collaboration with Dhrupad and the other living in a jungle. The Sansthan Bhopal Nyas The Kirk MacDonald Generations story unfolds revealing customs, rituals Quartet featuring rising star clarinettist, and morals of the rural folks living in Dhrupad is the oldest surviving genre Virginia MacDonald, carries unison with nature. of Hindustani music. The tradition is international acclaim and includes reputed for following special training leading players from the international 7th March methods to groom facets like voice, world. Virginia, at the age of 24, breath control, pitch control and has already established herself as a Folk systematic delineation of composition. respected and sought-after musician. by Prasad Barik and members We oer a special opportunity Saxophonist, prolic composer and

56 • March 2020 NCPA

Programme Guide.indd 56 14/02/20 11:29 AM he ir acDonald Aoy harabarty, chamber musician, she has taken part in "Generations" th to th, uartet, th, West Room 1 numerous festivals and regularly gives xperimental heatre recitals with the Grier Trio. Tom Poster is a musician whose skills and passions extend well beyond the conventional role of the concert pianist. Poster has performed over 40 concertos ranging from Bach to Ligeti with the BBC Philharmonic, BBC Scottish Symphony, Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and St. Petersburg Philharmonic among others. He features regularly on BBC Radio 3 and the BBC Proms. He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and King’s College, Cambridge. He won multiple Juno Award nominee and to several students at the ITC-SRA and the rst prize at the Scottish International winner, Kirk MacDonald, has been Shrutinandan, Kolkata. Piano Competition 2007 and the BBC recognised as one of Canada’s leading Applications are invited from vocalists Young Musician of the Year Competition saxophonists and composers for over of Hindustani music (khayal and/or in 2000. He is also a successful composer 35 years. A “bridge between traditional thumri). Preference will be given to and arranger and regularly features as and modern saxophone playing”, those with at least a ‘B’ grade of the AIR. soloist on lm soundtracks. the Toronto-based saxophonist and A limited number of students will leading educator has over 50 CDs be admitted to participate in the Tickets: (as leader and sideman) to his credit. workshop. `700 & 500/- (Plus GST) MacDonald has worked and recorded A limited number of students will also Box Office now open with leading Canadian, American be enrolled as observers. and international jazz musicians such INDIAN MUSIC as John Sco eld, Kurt Elling, Seamus Reistration now open Blake, John Taylor, Bob Mintzer, John Reistration ees Meet the Maestro: Ajoy Clayton, Chris Potter, Danilo Perez and or participants `1,500/- Chakrabarty in Rosemary Clooney, to name a few. inclusie o or three days Conversation or obserers `- per day with Tickets: or enuiry xperimental heatre `750 & 500/- (Plus GST) [email protected] riday,th pm Box Office now open WESTERN CLASSICAL MUSIC An PA Presentation INDIAN MUSIC Savitri Grier, violin Behind the success of any maestro, Guru in Residence Tom Poster, piano there are ideas and ideologies, asterclass on Bandish in Approx mins which can indeed inspire others. In Hindustani Music xperimental heatre a special interactive session, Aoy onducted byAoy harabarty Wednesday, th pm harabarty, celebrated vocalist West Room 1 and revered Guru of Patiala gharana, Wednesday, th to riday, th A ehli ehta usic oundation will reminisce about his musical am to pm Presentation journey including the lineage, training, struggle, career and musical artistry. An PA Presentation Savitri Grier studied at Oxford upported by B University, Guildhall School of Music Arind Parih, th, xperimental heatre and Drama with David Takeno, and in Under this educational initiative, Berlin with Nora Chastain. She performs a senior guru is invited to impart recitals across Europe and has appeared advanced training to a select as soloist with the Royal Philharmonic, group of music practitioners. Aoy Bournemouth Symphony, English harabarty, doyen of Chamber Orchestra, London Mozart Patiala gharana, will conduct a Players, Welsh National Opera and workshop on ‘Bandish’ in classical several other British orchestras. and semi-classical music. An eminent Highlights of the coming season vocalist who has had the privilege of include recitals at the Wigmore Hall and training with great masters like Gyan Carnegie Hall and a residency at the Prakash Ghosh and Munawar Ali Edinburgh Fringe Festival, performing Khan, Chakrabarty has been a guru the complete Beethoven Sonatas. As a

NCPA March 2020 • 57

Programme Guide.indd 57 14/02/20 11:30 AM Arvind Parikh, an eminent The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, exponent of the Emdadkhani- th, odre Dance heatre Etawah gharana, will engage the maestro in a dialogue.

Admission on a first-come-first- sered basis PA embers will et preerential seatin till pm

THEATRE Crossing to Talikota nlish Play mins amshed Bhabha heatre riday, th pm aturday, th unday, th pm pm Dorothy eyward ra ershwin Cyrano de Bergerac, Opera creenin mins th, ’s last work Crossing to un in nlish with nlish odre Dance Talikota had a fantastic world premiere ubtitles heatre in Bengaluru on 2nd October, 2019, odre Dance heatre opening to universal acclaim. This aturday, th pm spectacular, elaborately costumed historical drama deals with the events An PA he etropolitan Opera leading to the battle of Talikota which ew or Presentation eventually lead to the destruction of the famed Vijayanagar Empire. The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess is set Ramaraya, ruler of Vijayanagar, and in Catsh Row, a dockside area of the four Bahamani sultans who border Charleston, about 1930. The plot his empire clash in this riveting drama depicts the story of Porgy, a disabled, of betrayal, ambition and passion. black, street beggar, living in the slums Starting with the adoption of Adil Shah, of Charleston and beautiful Bess who the sultan of Bijapur, by Ramaraya, the wants to turn away from her former unday, th pm pm story depicts the ravages caused by life of a prostitute and cocaine addict. Ramaraya’s overblown ego and the Following a murder Bess’s abusive An PA-ational heatre ie greed that is instrumental in causing partner Crown ees, leaving her ondon Presentation this geopolitical conict. amongst a disapproving community and her drug dealer Sporting Life. In a new version by artin rimp, Written by Girish Karnad Porgy and Bess develop an unlikely directed by amie loyd, charismatic Directed by Arun anani relationship and Bess nally nds swordsman and brilliant poet, Cyrano Cast: Asho andanna, eena acceptance on Catsh Row – until a de Bergerac is in love with his beautiful anani, Darius araporala, hurricane and return of Crown change cousin Roxane, who is unaware of his iec ayanth hah, hashan everything. feelings. His one curse in life, he feels, Purushottham, Arun anani & is his large nose and although it may others Conductor: Daid Robertson have been a forming inuence in Production: ames Robinson his razor-sharp wit, he believes that A iht and ound Perormin Arts, Cast: Anel Blue, olda chult, Roxane will reject him. When the Banalore, Production atonia oore, Denyce raes, handsome but unpoetic Christian falls rederic Ballentine, ric Owens, for Roxane, he asks Cyrano to help him icets Alred Waler & Donoan inletary win her heart. Cyrano de Bergerac can `,, ,, ,, - be delivered as an allegory of inner embers icets `- and outer beauty. `,, ,, ,, , - `- only or students on ` Public production o alid D cards icets - ) nclusie o Box Office now open Box Office now open

Box Office now open BERGERAC

DE SCREENING THEATRE SCREENING CYRANO Cyrano de Bergerac Beatles Tribute ( The Gershwin’s Porgy By dmond Rostand nlish usical mins BRENNER and Bess heatre creenin ataheatre

by eore ershwin, DuBose eyward, odre Dance heatre unday, th pm MARC

58 • March 2020 NCPA

Programme Guide.indd 58 14/02/20 11:34 AM Come together as it is time to Twist and new ground by relegating the actors’ Admission passes can be collected Shout on a Yellow Submarine while disabilities to the background and rom the Box Office by embers on we hold your hand on a journey where instead, emphasising their talent. Their th arch and by the Public on th you Imagine the greatest for Eight mission is to demonstrate the skills and arch Days a Week. The songs of the Beatles artistic talent of the dierently abled are being brought to life on stage in a thus facilitating their social integration. WESTERN CLASSICAL MUSIC way you have never seen before. In the course of the past two decades Baltazar Theatre Company has India-Denmark Cast: Danesh Irani, Hormuz staged numerous critically acclaimed Symphonic Collaboration Ragina, Sarosh Nanavaty, Danesh performances, both in Hungary and usicians o the ymphony Khambata, Arish Bhiwandiwala, abroad, proving that the word ‘disabled’ Orchestra of India and Musicians Naquita Dsouza, Brent Tauro, means nothing when it comes to levels from Denmark Sidharth Shankar & Adil Kurva of artistic expression. Dandelion is a th th arch dance-theatre performance in two A Silly Point Production parts with an interval in between. The An NCPA Presentation rst part, titled Dandelion is based on Tickets: 20th-century Hungarian love poems. The association INDK Symphonic `1,875, 1,500, 1,125, 750, 640 & The play is inspired by a famous 19th- Collaboration works to strengthen 375/- (Members) century Hungarian impressionist relations between India and Denmark `2,500, 2,000, 1,500 1,000, 800 & painting and uses music from classics through culture. In March 2020, for the 500/- (Public) like Debussy, Ravel, Mozart and Bach. rst time, orchestra musicians from (Inclusive of GST) Dance is a poetic language, and the both countries will work together to Box Office now open choreographer and the director have present two concerts in Mumbai. Both tried to nd the connection between the concerts will be conducted by THEATRE movements and words. The whole Maria Badstue. piece is happening as someone Dandelion is lying on the grass of the spring xperimental heatre by Baltaar heatre ompany, meadow watching the clouds. It is hursday, th pm Budapest about humans, feelings, connections, English Play in Two Parts humour and beauty. The second part Mendelssohn: The Hebrides Overture Approx mins of the performance titled Dust is a kind Mozart: Violin Concerto, xperimental heatre of search game. What sort of dust is it soloist Emma Steele Monday, 16th & Tuesday, 17th – after all? The one that bothers us when Langgaard: Unnoticed Morning Stars pm a gust of wind blows it into our eyes? Sibelius: Valse Triste Or the magical one in a kaleidoscope? In collaboration with Consulate The performance is an experiment to Tata Theatre General of Hungary nd out and show what we can’t do riday, th pm otherwise: ourselves. The Budapest-based Baltazar Theatre, Mendelssohn: The Hebrides Overture founded in 1998, is a unique professional Writers of Dandelion: Frigyes Karinthy, Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5, theatre company whose members are Gyula Juhász, Attila József & Attila soloist Christina Bjørkøe actors with mental disabilities. During Medetz Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 the past 22 years the company has Writer of Dust: István Vörös become a signicant part of Hungarian Director & choreographer: Dorka Tickets: theatrical life. Baltazar Theatre breaks Farkas & Olívia Réti-Harmath xperimental heatre `600 & 400/- (Plus GST) Dandelion, 16th & Tata Theatre th, xperimental Theatre `1,500, 1,000 & 500/- (Plus GST) Box Office now open

INDIAN MUSIC Kuchh Dil Ne Kaha: Celebrating the Genius of by aritha Rahman roup Approx mins xperimental heatre riday, th pm

An NCPA Presentation

NCPA March 2020 • 59

Programme Guide.indd 59 14/02/20 11:35 AM aritha Rahman, Sherlock Homi, SCREENING th, xperimental st, ata Theatre Theatre Agrippina, th, odre Dance Theatre

In this thematic event, we present select 221B Baker Street with his partner in Agrippina songs immortalised by the legendary crime Dr. Jamshed Wadia. He uses his by eore rideric andel playback singer, Lata Mangeshkar (b. Parsi sense (the equivalent of a sixth Opera creenin mins 1929). Having recorded over 1,000 Hindi sense, just crazier), to solve crimes in a un in talian with nlish ubtitles lms and sung in over 36 Indian regional way only a Parsi can – with a cup of tea, Godrej Dance Theatre and foreign languages, Mangeshkar is a two eggs every morning and using a aturday, th pm living legend whose silken voice and lot of swear words...or as we call immortal songs will be remembered for it – punctuation. An PA he etropolitan Opera many years to come. The list of her non- ew or Presentation lm songs is also equally impressive. Written & Directed by Meherzad Patel Saritha Rahman had the privilege of Cast: Danesh rani, Danesh A classic love feud between rulers being born in a musicians’ family. Having hambata, Amin istry & others and rulers to be and all of it for one been initiated into music at a young woman. The story is set in ancient age, she went on to give her rst public A illy Point Production Rome, and its line-up includes the performance at the age of 10. Following emperor Claudius, along with the a Bachelor’s degree in , Tickets: whole raft of plotters and schemers she also trains in Hindustani music at `,, ,, , , - who surrounded him. His fourth wife present. Rahman has to her credit over (Members) Agrippina plots his death, so her son 450 public performances of lm music `,, ,, ,, , Nero from her previous marriage can and ghazals. 300/- (Public) secure the throne. nclusie o Tickets: Box Office now open Conductor: arry Bicet `360 & 270/- (Members) Production: Sir David McVicar `400 & 300/- (Public) WESTERN CLASSICAL MUSIC Cast: Brenda Rae, oyce DiDonato, Box Office th ebruary or ate indsey, estyn Daies, Duncan embers th ebruary or Public Christoph von Weitzel, Rock & atthew Rose baritone THEATRE Ulrich Pakusch, piano Tickets: `- Approx mins `- only or students on Sherlock Homi xperimental heatre production o alid D cards uaratinlish Play mins uesday, th pm Box Office now open Tata Theatre aturday, st pm pm An NCPA Presentation THEATRE

An NCPA Presentation Sleeps a song in things abounding: An NT Connections Mumbai evening of German art and popular song Inaugural Programme Parsis are few in number. That xperimental heatre statement is a myth. Parsis are Programme including music by aturday, th pm everywhere. You just don’t realise it. Schubert, Schumann, Mahler, unday, th pm One such Parsi is none other than Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Mozart, and the world's most infamous detective much more. n collaboration with the ational – Sherlock Homi. To the world, he is heatre, reat Britain suave and dashing, but he is actually Tickets: a typical happy-go-lucky Parsi man, `600 & 400/- (Plus GST) NT CONNECTIONS MUMBAI is an who migrated from Bharucha Baug Box Office th ebruary or exciting new theatre project for young in Bombay and now lives in London’s embers th ebruary or Public people with opportunities to see the

60 • March 2020 NCPA

Programme Guide.indd 60 14/02/20 11:36 AM Admission passes can be collected songs. rom the Box Office rom th arch Love is in the air. Come, soak in it. onwards. Tickets: INDIAN MUSIC `,, , - embers `,, ,, - Public onnections umbai, th th, Jashn-e-Ishq: Celebrating (Inclusive of GST) Experimental Theatre Love Box Office th arch or embers An Evening of Poetry and Music th arch or Public with Sourendro – Soumyojit featuring Sharmila Tagore WESTERN CLASSICAL MUSIC (Approx. 90 mins) Tata Theatre Artie’s Festival aturday, th pm March 2020 Experimental Theatre onnections umbai, th th, In association with Sahachari onday, th uesday, st Experimental Theatre Foundation Events pm

Perhaps no facet of human life An NCPA Presentation has been explored so exhaustively through the arts as the feeling of Pierre Fouchenneret, violin ‘love’. The theme has inspired many Gauthier Hermann, cello poets, both in the East and the West, Romain Descharmes, piano onnections umbai, th th, and has led to some exquisite works Experimental Theatre of poetry in myriad languages – some Programme: stage and screen talents of the future. of these works have been set to Since its inception in 1995, the National music and transformed into haunting th arch Theatre (NT) commissions 10 new plays melodies. Spring is a season of love Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 in each year, for young people to perform. and romance. Sharmila Tagore, C sharp minor ‘Moonlight’ The festival has gained momentum an iconic veteran actress, known Grieg: Cello Sonata in A minor, Op. 36 in the U.K., bringing together more for her brilliant work in Bengali Works by Fauré, Saint-Saens, Dvořák, than 300 youth theatre companies and Hindi cinema, will recite some Rachmanino and over 6,000 young people every evergreen love poems penned by year. Amateur theatre companies get poets, including Tagore, Shakespeare, st arch to meet the playwrights and director Rosetti, Browning and Agha Shahid Beethoven: Piano Trio in D major, workshops are conducted by mentor Ali, as well as other classical and Op.70 No.1 directors from the NT to help them modern poets. Juxtaposing poetry Beethoven: Piano Trio in E-at major, embark on this process. They are also with song will be musical renditions Op.70 No.2 guided and supported every step by the duo, Sourendro (piano) Selections for violin and piano of the way by NT directors. Ten best and Soumyojit (vocal music). The productions are nally selected to be selection of songs, exploring various Tickets: `- a part of the National Festival which hues of love, will span across many Box Office th ebruary or takes place on the stages of the U.K.’s genres: ghazal, thumri, geet and film embers th ebruary or Public leading theatre. This year, a few schools in Mumbai are gearing towards a start ashn-e-sh, th, of what can be a much bigger festival Tata Theatre in years to come. The festival gives a platform for every student to be part of something meaningful and enriching whether they are on stage or working behind the scenes. The three schools participating this year are:

NSS Hill Spring International School performing Status Update by Tim Etchells The American School Mumbai performing Salt by Dawn King Angel Xpress Foundation, Bandra, performing terra / earth by Nell Leyshon and Anthony Missen in a Hindi translation by Neha Singh.

NCPA March 2020 • 61

Programme Guide.indd 61 14/02/20 11:36 AM What’sAPRIL & MAY 2020Next (Programmes are subject to change. Please check the website and refer to our emails for updated information.)

INDIAN MUSIC Mohi Baha’ud-din Dagar, 4th April, Godrej Dance Saz-e-Bahar Theatre Festival of Indian Instrumental Music Godrej Dance Theatre Friday, 3rd & Saturday, 4th April - 6.30 pm An NCPA Presentation Dilshad Khan was mentored by his uncle, The tenth edition of this two-day festival the eminent maestro , and will showcase four internationally renowned today, represents the younger generation of instrumentalists, wielding instruments instrumentalists. Having trained with maestros of dierent categories – string-plucked like his father Zia Mohiuddin and uncle, Zia (rudraveena), string-bowed (sarangi), wind- Fariddudin Dagar, Mohi Baha’ud-din Dagar blown () and drums-percussion (). is one of the very few exponents of rudraveena, a rare instrument today. Coomi Wadia, 3rd April, On each day at 6.00 pm, Dr. Suvarnalata Tata Theatre Rao will present a pre-event talk on Daily Tickets: this masterpiece in his nal days just before specific instruments presented on the `135/- (Members) he died. As a summation of Coomi Wadia’s respective days. `150/- (Public) career as a choral conductor, it is appropriate Box Office th arch or embers that she has chosen this masterpiece by Bach 3rd April 12th March for Public for this landmark concert, a work that she Akram Khan (tabla) knows well and has lived with all her life. Ronu Majumdar (bansuri) WESTERN CLASSICAL MUSIC (approx. 120 mins) Tickets: Paranjoti Academy Chorus `, , ,, - Ronu Majumdar, 3rd April, (Inclusive of GST) Godrej Dance Theatre SOI Chamber Orchestra Coomi Wadia, conductor Box Office th ebruary or embers (Approx. 120 mins) th ebruary or Public Tata Theatre Friday, 3rd April – 7.00 pm THEATRE

An NCPA & B.A.L.O.S. Presentation Bawas Got Talent Tata Theatre Cristina Fanelli, soprano Saturday, 4th April – 7.00 pm Akram Khan had the privilege of learning Beth Moxon, mezzo tabla from stalwarts like Niazu Khan, and his Luca Cervoni, tenor An NCPA & Adi Marzban Endowment own illustrious father, Hashmat Ali Khan of Eugenio Di Lieto, bass Fund Presentation the Ajrada gharana. Ronu Majumdar was Guest singers from: mentored by eminent musicians such as Vijay Madras Musical Association Announcing the grand nale of a much- Raghav Rao, Laxmanprasad Jaipurwale and The Colombo Philharmonic Choir awaited mega event – the Bawas Got Talent Shankar. show. Look forward to a sparkling night that Programme: promises to showcase the community’s 4th April J.S. Bach: Mass in B minor, BWV 232 foremost talents in the performing arts, Dilshad Khan (sarangi) mentored by the nest in the eld. Thanks to Mohi Baha’ud-din Dagar (rudraveena) Bach’s mass in B minor was the summation of the NCPA and the Adi Marzban Endowment (approx. 105 mins) his entire life’s work. He was still completing Fund, after a rigorous set of elimination rounds

62 • March 2020 NCPA

Highlights.indd 48 14/02/20 3:06 PM Bawas Got Talent, 4th April, Tata Theatre his life descends into a hilarious nightmare of dishonesty and double-crossing, and a trial by re of Samson’s integrity. Whoever said blood is thicker than water hasn’t met this family yet.

Adapted by Aarsh hurana Directed by Adhaar hurana Cast: Abhishe aha, Aisha Ahmed, alliroi iaeta, ashin hetty, eith euiera, isha Baa, ucy aharia, aaru Raina, ahira ath, iddharth umar, andana oshi, iash hurana & ayn arie han Production Manager: aatia antamneni

judged by some of the best in the business in Raee Raa (ute) Ae February, Bawas Got Talent gets into its nal Rahul Wadhwani (piano) leg to present stellar acts selected from 150 anred Weinberer (trumpet) Tickets: participants countrywide and across all age And many other stellar musicians `765 & 450/- (Members) groups. “This is a rst-of-its-kind celebration of `850 & 500/- (Public) the incredible performing arts talent we have The timeless songs of Michael Jackson, (Inclusive of GST) in the community,” declares actress Shernaz Madonna, Elton John, Sting, The Rolling Box Office th ebruary or embers Patel, who is a member of the organising Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Eric Clapton th ebruary or Public committee along with her parents, thespians and many more, performed by a jazz big Ruby and Burjor Patel, among others. “It’s band including piano, guitar, bass, drums and INDIAN MUSIC going to be an incredibly joyous evening. I a full blown horn section joined by Austrian hope that all Parsis who cherish the arts will trumpeter, Manfred Weinberger. come to encourage and applaud these gifted nalists.” So, block the date. Tickets: `1,000, 800, 500 & 300/- Tickets: (Plus GST) `570, 375 & 225/- (Members) Box Office now open `760, 500 &300/- (Public) nclusie o THEATRE Prem Rang, 11th April, Box Office th arch or embers Tata Theatre th arch or Public A Small Family Business By Alan Aycbourn Prem Rang INTERNATIONAL MUSIC nlish Play mins (Approx.100 mins) xperimental heatre ata heatre Jazz Goes Retro!, hursday, th to aturday, th April - aturday, thApril pm 5th April, Tata Theatre pm unday, th April - pm & 7.00 pm n collaboration with asubhai oundation and ilachand oundation An PA Production n association with Aarious Productions aumil, hyamal and unshi, three renowned singers from Ahmedabad, and First presented at the National Theatre, their troupe, present timeless poetry and London on the 5th June 1987 songs on the theme of love, as reected in dierent human relationships. Drawn Samson Sequeira is a mis t – a man of from a vast repertoire of Gujarat’s cultural principle in a corrupt world. A mild-mannered heritage of poetry and literature, the literary Goan Christian married into a boisterous gems have continued to enthrall listeners Punjabi business family in Delhi. After two over the last 500 years. ushar hula Jazz Goes Retro! daughters and many years of loyalty to his strings the songs together with his erudite (Approx. 120 mins) wife, Samson’s father-in-law decides to commentary. ata heatre entrust the family business to him. Moments unday, th April pm after he takes on the mantle, Samson is Tickets: approached by a private investigator armed `375, 270 & 180/- (Members) An PA Presentation with some compromising information. And `500, 360 & 240/- (Public) this is only the beginning of his troubles. Box Office th arch or embers The Greatest Hit Songs Ever - Jazzi ed! What was meant to be the happiest phase of th arch or Public

64 • March 2020 NCPA

Highlights.indd 49 17/02/20 11:36 AM Dan Costa, 23rd April, takes places o the coast of Norway during the Experimental Theatre 18th century.

Conductor: Valery Gergiev Production: François Girard Cast: Anja Kampe, Mihoko Fujimura, SOI Academy Orchestra, Sergey Skorokhodov, David Portillo, 18th April, Tata Theatre Evgeny Nikitin & ran-ose eli An NCPA Presentation WESTERN CLASSICAL MUSIC Tickets: `500/- `- only or students on production Dan Costa, piano SOI Academy Orchestra o alid D cards D. Wood, bass Marat Bisengaliev, conductor Box Office now open Aron Nyiro, drums (Approx. 120 mins) Tata Theatre SCREENING Following his critically-acclaimed debut album Saturday, 18th April – 6.00 pm Suite Três Rios, considered one of the best Easter in Art, 22nd April, albums of the year by DownBeat magazine Godrej Dance Theatre An NCPA Presentation proclaiming that “Costa’s melodic sensibility shines throughout”, Dan Costa recorded The SOI Academy Orchestra, comprising Skyness – an invitation to outer harmony and students of the SOI Music Academy, presents inner peace featuring Roberto Menescal, their annual concert led by music director Marat Jorge Helder, Teco Cardoso, Custodio Bisengaliev. Students of the Academy will also Castelo, Romero Lubambo, Nelson Faria and be featured as soloists in the programme. Seamus Blake – at Artesuono studio in Italy. It was released at Blue Note Rio as part of an Admission passes will be available at the international tour that took him to , India Box Office rom th arch or embers Easter in Art and southern Europe. His album peaked at #1 th arch or Public Exhibition Screening (Approx. 85 mins) on the iTunes Jazz Chart and top 10 across Godrej Dance Theatre all genres in . It was considered “rare SCREENING Wednesday, 22nd April – 6.30 pm and luxurious” by All About Jazz, while the track ‘Compelling’ was featured by JAZZIZ An NCPA- Seventh Art Productions (UK) Magazine in their 2019 summer album. He has Presentation attended workshops with musical artistes such as Gary Burton, Kevin Hays, Scott Colley, Kurt The story of Christ’s death and resurrection Rosenwinkel, Jorge Rossy and Chick Corea, has dominated Western culture for the past amongst others. 2000 years. It is perhaps the most signi cant historical event of all time, as recounted by the Tickets: `500/- gospels but, also as depicted by the greatest Der Fliegende Holländer, Box Office th arch or embers 21st April, Godrej Dance artists in history. From the triumphant to the th arch or Public Theatre savage, the ethereal to the tactile, some of Western civilisation’s greatest artworks focus WESTERN CLASSICAL MUSIC Der Fliegende Holländer on this pivotal moment. This beautifully crafted (The Flying Dutchman) lm explores the Easter story as depicted in Celebrating Michelangeli – by Richard Wagner art, from the time of the early Christians to the The Musical Genius Opera Screening (139 mins) present day. Shot on location in Jerusalem, By Duo arinaldi arah hadiali Sung in German with English Subtitles the United States and throughout Europe, the Paolo Rinaldi with Roberta Bambace Godrej Dance Theatre lm explores the dierent ways artists have (90 mins) Tuesday, 21st April – 6.00 pm depicted the Easter story through the ages. Experimental Theatre Friday, 24th April – 7.00 pm An NCPA – The Metropolitan Opera Directed by Phil Grabsky (New York) Presentation An NCPA Presentation Tickets: `400/- When Wagner nally arrived in Paris, he began Box Office th arch or embers The Italian classical pianist Arturo Benedetti writing his new opera, Der Fliegende Holländer th arch or Public Michelangeli (1920-1995) was considered as (The Flying Dutchman), and completed it in an exceptional virtuoso. A perfectionist and 1843. This one-act opera (though sometimes INTERNATIONAL MUSIC hypersensitive, it is said that he cancelled split into three) tells the story of the Flying more concerts than he actually gave and Dutchman who is doomed to an eternity of Brazilian Jazz with Dan Costa yet his mastery over the instrument was wandering the seas. He is only allowed to leave (Approx. 120 mins) so great that he was considered one of the ship once every seven years to search for a Experimental Theatre the greatest pianists of the 20th century. woman whose perfect love will redeem him. It Thursday, 23rd April – 7.00 pm Known fondly as “Il maestro dei maestri”

NCPA March 2020 • 65

Highlights.indd 50 14/02/20 3:10 PM Duo Farinaldi with Roberta Bambace, 24th April, has been acknowledged with a National Experimental Theatre scholarship by the Ministry of Culture (2004), Sringaramani by Sur Singar Samsad in Mumbai (2004), Pt. Samman by Vedic Heritage in Amrita Lahiri, New York (2007), Nalanda Nrutya Nipuna by 25th April, Experimental Nalanda University in Mumbai (2008) and the Theatre Ustad Yuva Puraskar by Sangeet Natak Akademi in Delhi (2015), among other Rajashri honours. Praharaj is also actively involved in Praharaj, 25th April, teaching Odissi. At present, she is a member of (master of masters), he was also a sought- Experimental the senior faculty of Odissi dance at SRJAN. Theatre after teacher with students such as Martha Argerich and Maurizio Pollini. His legacy Tickets: in pedagogy is carried forward by his ` -embers pupil, Isacco Rinaldi, president of the Artis ` - Public Magistri in Italy. Celebrating his centenary, a yearlong series of concerts in Italy, the ‘Ramayana’ by U.K. and India performed by Duo Farinaldi Kalakshetra Foundation – soprano Farah Ghadiali and Steinway An conic Production horeoraphed by Artist Paolo Rinaldi (Isacco Rinaldi’s son) Rumini Dei Arundale along with pianist Roberta Bambace will Kathak by Rajendra Gangani showcase some of Michelangeli’s favourite (Approx mins composers including Beethoven, Chopin, Tata Theatre Liszt, Schumann, Brahms and Rachmanino. unday, th April pm

Tickets: Rumini Dei Arundale was an Indian `500 & 300/- theosophist, dancer and choreographer of the Box Office th arch or embers and choreographies have been acclaimed Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam. th arch or Public for their elegance and dynamism, combined She espoused the cause of Bharatanatyam with a rened approach. She has toured as a which was once considered a vulgar art. Paolo Rinaldi and Roberta Bambace will soloist in India, the U.S.A., Switzerland, South Rukmini Devi features in India Today’s list of ‘100 give a joint piano masterclass open to Korea, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Lahiri began People Who Shaped India’. She was awarded talented pianists on unday, th April, dancing at age seven in Washington, D.C. the in 1956 and the Sangeet at the ittle heatre rom am studying under Anuradha Nehru until she Natak Akademi Fellowship in 1967. Rukmini onwards or reistration and inuiries, shifted to New Delhi at age 15. In Delhi, she Devi also created a new genre of dance- please email: [email protected] started learning Bharatanatyam under Leela that were distinct from Kathakali, Samson, and also studied under Swapnasundari or any other existing dance-theatre form. Of DANCE and Seetha Nagajothy. In Chennai, she studied all her dance-dramas, the six-part Ramayana under Jaikishore Mosalikanti. Her dance reects series choreographed during 1955-1970, is NCPA Mudra Dance Festival, the inuences of all of these outstanding gurus, perhaps her most enduring contribution. 2020 and the experience of many performances. Rajendra Gangani, disciple and son of th th April She has worked for leading arts organisations Kundanlal Gangani, started training in the art of such as the British Council in New Delhi, Kathak at the early age of four. The renowned For this coming year, we pay tribute to John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Jaipur gharana saw the emergence of an iconic dance choreographies and musical Arts in Washington, D.C., Seher in New Delhi, compositions made exclusively for dance Museum Rietberg in Zurich and Kalakshetra in Rajendra Gangani, performance. Chennai. Most recently, she was the head of 26th April, the dance department of the National Centre Tata Theatre by Amrita Lahiri for the Performing Arts, Mumbai (NCPA) Presentin horeoraphies o empati until 2013, where she curated and managed hinna atyam over 200 dance performances, workshops Odissi by Rajashri Praharaj and masterclasses. Rajashri Praharaj is an Presentin horeoraphies o accomplished artiste of elucharan ohapatra gharana of Odissi, having studied with him in Approx mins 2002-2003. Her formal training in SRJAN (Odissi Experimental Theatre Nrityabasa) as a resident student under the aturday, th April pm able tutelage of her Ratikant Mohapatra helped her master the art and technique of Odissi. Amrita ahiri is widely recognised as one of the Praharaj tours extensively as a soloist and as a foremost young performers of Kuchipudi today. lead repertory member of the SRJAN ensemble, Critics describe her as ‘gifted with a radiant performing at various prestigious festivals stage presence’, and her dance performances within India and abroad. Her dedication

66 • March 2020 NCPA

Highlights.indd 51 14/02/20 3:12 PM Louiz Banks, outstanding performer and crusader of the art -mail [email protected] 30th April, in the talented scion of a family of hereditary Online Reistration Tata Theatre Kathak dancers. He graduated from the Kathak www.ncpamumbai.com Kendra, Delhi in the year 1983-84, and ever since has made signi cant contributions to SCREENING this eld. Among the numerous awards and Swan Lake, accolades he has won, are the Sangeet Raj, 28th April, Shastriya Natya Shiromani, and the prestigious Godrej Dance Theatre Sangeet Natak Akademi Award which was bestowed upon him in 2003 by The , A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. He is one among the few Indians who have performed solo in Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, the Festival of India in U.S.S.R., apart from performances in America, Italy, Germany, France, China, Japan and even Afghanistan. Even at home he has been a part of signi cant shows like the Swan Lake Chidambaram Natyanjali Festival, the Konark by Pytor lyich chaiosy From jazz standards to jazz fusion, the concert Festival, the Festival at Bhopal, Ballet creenin mins will feature some of the nest musicians and Kathak Mahotsava, Sharadchandrika at Delhi, odre Dance heatre singers in the country. The NCPA, along with Haridas Sangeet Sammellan at Vrindavan, and uesday, th April pm oui Bans, celebrates this iconic day live at Nritya Ojhas in Pune. the Tata Theatre in Mumbai. An PA-Path ie Paris Presentation Tickets: Tickets: `450, 300 & 225/- (Members) Swan Lake is a timeless love story that mixes `,, , - `600, 400 & 300/- (Public) magic, tragedy and romance into four acts. (Plus GST) (Inclusive of GST) It features Prince Siegfried and a lovely swan Box Office th arch or embers princess named Odette. Under the spell of a th arch or Public Box Office or the estial th arch sorcerer, Odette spends her days as a swan, or embers th arch or Public swimming in a lake of tears and her nights in WESTERN CLASSICAL MUSIC her beautiful human form. The couple quickly THEATRE falls in love. As in most fairy tales, things are not India World Choral Festival that easy and the sorcerer has more tricks to ultiple enues NCPA Summer Fiesta play. That brings Odile, his daughter, into the hursday, th April to aturday, hildrens estial picture. Confusion, forgiveness, and a happy nd ay Worshops, Perormances ore ending with Siegfried and Odette together ea iew Room, ast Room , forever round o the ballet. An PA Presentation West Room onday, th April to unday, th une Music: Pyotr lyich chaiosy The rst India World Choral Festival will be held Choreography: uri rioroich at the NCPA in April-May 2020, featuring the SOI 2020 will celebrate the 11th year of the NCPA Cast: he Bolshoi Principals, oloists & Chamber Orchestra along with internationally Summer Fiesta Festival. It is a community- orps de Ballet recognised composers, conductors, and minded festival designed to empower children soloists. Argentinian composer artin Palmeri by inspiring their imaginations and broadening Tickets: `500/- will serve as the Composer-in-Residence for their creative minds through exciting, `- only or students on production the 2020 festival, which will culminate with a interactive play. This festival continually strives o alid D cards performance of his Misatango, conducted by to provide new and unique opportunities for Box Office now open ariano hiachiarinni. the children to learn, play and be active. Local and national talent conduct workshops on a INTERNATIONAL MUSIC Box Office th arch or embers wide array of skills from acting, public speaking th arch or Public to photography and writing. Summer Fiesta International Jazz Day aims to promote the bene ts and values of (Approx mins SCREENING the performing arts not just by entertaining ata heatre children, but also by getting them involved at hursday, th April pm Tosca the lowest cost possible. We look forward to by iacomo Puccini welcoming your children this year. An PA Presentation Opera creenin mins un in talian with nlish ubtitles Ae roup to years In Mumbai, the International Jazz Day has been odre Dance heatre celebrated for the last eight years. This year, aturday, nd ay pm or worshop reistration, its ninth edition will be curated by the NCPA please contact , and Louiz Banks. The event will feature a huge An PA he etropolitan Opera array of artistes performing for three hours. ew or Presentation

NCPA March 2020 • 67

Highlights.indd 52 14/02/20 3:18 PM Tosca is a political thriller set in Rome in June Ghosal has undergone extensive training An NCPA – The Metropolitan Opera 1800 and is a classic story of love, jealousy, lies, in Kathak before surrendering herself to ew or Presentation betrayal and death. The story revolves around the overpowering beauty of Odissi. After three main characters – Tosca, Cavaradossi (her training in Odissi under Poushali Mukherjee, Mary, Queen of Scots, has ed from her subjects lover) and Scarpia (the corrupt Chief of Police). she came under tutelage of the maestro and has been imprisoned in Fotheringay Castle Its plot depicts the tempestuous opera singer Mohapatra, under whom she studied fro by her cousin, Elizabeth, Queen of England. The Tosca, as she ghts to save Cavaradossi from 16 years. She has played the central roles in encounter between the two queens shows a the sadistic Scarpia. several dance-dramas choreographed by the dramatically eective falsi cation of history but legendary Guru. She had been a member of nonetheless, is quite entertaining. This story tells Conductor: Bertrand de Billy the World Arts Council, a UNESCO-sponsored a tale of the times once lived where plotting, Production: Sir David McVicar organisation of the Valencian Government, suspicion, fury, rage, entrapment, execution, and Cast: Anna Netrebko, Brian Jagde, Spain. She is an A-graded dancer for protest advanced into war where shots were red Michael Volle & Patric arfii Doordarshan and is empanelled with the ICCR by guns and canons. Three shots were red by (Indian Council for Cultural Relations). the canon – the rst one to oer her last wish, the Tickets: `500/- second for her innocence and in the end, Mary `250/- (only for students on production Tickets: walks upright to the third shot from a canon, to of valid ID cards) `270 & 180/-(Members) her death. Box Office now open `300 & 200/- (Public) Box Office th April or embers Conductor: auriio Benini DANCE 29th April for Public Production: Sir David McVicar Cast: Diana Damrau, Jamie Barton, An Evening of Odissi Dance SCREENING tephen ostello, Andre ilocy & by Sutapa Talukdar, Rajib Bhattacharya Michele Pertusi & Nandini Ghosal Giselle (Approx. 120 mins) by Adolphe Adam Tickets: `500/- Experimental Theatre Ballet Screening (130 mins) `250/- (only for students on production Friday, 8th May – 6.30 pm Godrej Dance Theatre of valid ID cards) Thursday, 21st May – 6.30 pm Box Office now open An NCPA Presentation An NCPA-Pathé Live (Paris) Presentation DANCE Sutapa Talukdar, the dedicated, devoted and close disciple of Kelucharan Mohapatra, Giselle is the classic ballet of the Romantic era. Chitrangada by Artistes of has taken the Odissi dance style to a level It transformed the dance world when it was Tagore’s Shantiniketan of national interest. Over the years, she has rst performed in Paris in 1841, and remains (Approx. 90 mins) passionately strived towards making this at the centre of the classical repertory. Giselle’s Experimental Theatre genre a more acceptable form of art. Towards essence has remained the same through Friday, 29th May - 6.30 pm this goal, she set up a dance school, Gurukul. many dierent productions. The role of Giselle Talukdar formed Gurukul’s creative team in the provides the dancer with many technical and An NCPA Presentation year 2004. It is a relentless quest on her part dramatic challenges, from the character’s early to unravel treasures of Indian classical dance love to her poignant descent into madness and Chitrangada, a dance-drama, originally composed – as a performer, a teacher and sometimes a her nal gesture of forgiveness from beyond by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in 1892, choreographer since the early 1980s. Rajib the grave. Giselle is the perfect way to discover is based on the love life of Manipur’s princess Bhattacharya has received his initial training classical ballet. Chitrangada, and Arjun, the third Pandava from from Sharmila Biswas. He completed an M.A. the Mahabharata. It documents the emotional in Odissi from Rabindra Bharati University, Music: Adolphe Adam journey of Chitrangada as she is awakened by Kolkata. His eagerness for specialisation in Choreography: Alexei Ratmansky her passion for Arjun. Tagore took the basic Odissi brought him to SRJAN and he had the Cast: The Bolshoi Principals, Soloists & story from the epic and adapted it in his drama, good fortune to receive training under the Corps de Ballet expanding the narrative with his deep sensitivity able guidance of Mohapatra. A recipient of a in the characterisation of Chitrangada, where national scholarship from the Dept. of Culture, Tickets: `500/- the feminine subjectivity comes out through Ministry of Human Resource Development, `250/- (only for students on production his characteristic lyrical style. Through her Govt. of India, Bhattacharya has performed of valid ID cards) transformation from the masculine warrior in major dance and music festivals of India Box Office now open princess to the diva with charming attributes, and abroad. He is also an ‘A’ grade artiste of Tagore carves her as the timeless, complete Doordarshan. He is the director of Srijan SCREENING woman who personi es love, courage and Chhanda. He is an examiner of Rabindra substance. Bharati University and Nikhil Bharat Sangit Maria Stuarda Samity. Nandini Ghosal is a dancer with a by aetano Donietti Tickets: dierence. Possessing a remarkably original Opera Screening (166 mins) `360 & 270/-(Members) style of representation, she is able to realise un in talian with nlish ubtitles `400 & 300/- (Public) – through interpretation – the unique Godrej Dance Theatre Box Office th April or embers philosophic essence of classical Indian dance. Thursday, 28th May – 6.00 pm 29th April for Public

68 • March 2020 NCPA

Highlights.indd 53 14/02/20 3:20 PM