october 2019

ON Stagevolume 9 • issue 3

The Round Midnight Orchestra At the NCPA International Jazz Festival

Cover Options2.indd 1 19/09/19 4:08 PM NCPA Chairman Khushroo N. Suntook

Editorial Director Radhakrishnan Nair

Editor-in-Chief Oishani Mitra Consulting Editor Contents Vipasha Aloukik Pai

Editorial Co-ordinator Hilda Darukhanawalla 10

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

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Editorial Office 4th Floor, Todi Building, Mathuradas Mills Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, ealovega Mumbai - 400013

Printer benjamin Spenta Multimedia, Peninsula Spenta, Mathuradas Mill Compound, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai – 400013 Features Materials in ON Stage cannot be reproduced in part or whole without the written permission of the publisher. Views and opinions expressed you if he’s made a mistake. in this magazine are not necessarily those of 08 By Mikel Toms the publisher. All rights reserved. Reflections A Seminal Influence. By Anil Dharker NCPA Booking Office 2282 4567/6654 8135/6622 3724 20 Good Vibrations www.ncpamumbai.com 10 On the occasion of the annual One A Whole New World of Jazz World Many Musics festival at the Comes to Town NCPA, this year, we take a look at the Ahead of the 2019 edition of the NCPA history, science and myth behind string International Jazz Festival, we talk to the instruments. bevy of spectacular musicians slated to By Meena Banerjee perform this year. By Anurag Tagat 24 A Polish Affair 16 Ahead of their first concert at the Mumbai and the art of not NCPA, we had a quick chat about looking at chickens Polish music and life with the The new resident conductor of the musicians from the Baltic Neopolis Symphony Orchestra of India wants to ask Virtuosi.

Contents.indd 4 19/09/19 3:34 PM 26

26 38 The Woman Who The Genius of Annapurna Devi 31 Reinvented Kathak It is possible that she was one A conversation with Kumudini of the greatest Indian classical Lakhia on breaking out of musicians of our times, yet the tradition and redefining the last time she performed for an Indian dance performance. audience was over 60 years ago. By Shayonnita Mallik By Vipasha Aloukik Pai 31 40 Performing Arts: Theatre Murder She Wrote A monthly column that explores Agatha Christie, writer of any and every aspect of the ‘whodunnits’, looms miles above performing arts. This month, everyone else in the success Akarsh Khurana discusses department. We attempt to the trend of screen to stage explain her seemingly timeless adaptations. popularity. By Oishani Mitra 34 44 The Performing Arts Archives: Phantasmagorical Pantheon Traditions A nostalgic look back at the Dr. Suresh Awasthi looks at the festival of music, dance and surprising commonalities between drama that was held immediately shadow theatre traditions in after the inauguration of the countries across South-East Asia. Tata Theatre. Follow us on:

46 facebook.com/NCPAMumbai 36 Programme Guide The Long Haul A guide to all the events @NCPAMumbai In the inaugural Jamshed happening at the NCPA in October NCPAMumbai Bhabha Memorial Lecture, Jawhar Sircar discussed the youtube.com/user/TheNCPAMumbai1 need to pull out all the stops 56 to preserve our rich cultural What’s Next heritage. We present snapshots What to expect in the We look forward to your feedback and suggestions. Please do drop us an from the memorable evening. following months email at [email protected].

Contents.indd 6 19/09/19 2:37 PM FESTIVAL A Whole New World of

Ahead of the 2019 edition of t he NCPA International Jazz Festival, we azz talk to the bevy of spectacular musicians slated Comes to to perform this year.

By Anurag Town Tagat

t this year’s ncpa international jazz festival, the performers range from seasoned instrumentalists and composers to recent movers and shakers in the sphere of jazz. taking place between 11th and 13th october, Athe festival will clearly have something for everyone, whether it is cerebral saxophone compositions, unfiltered voices who have decades of history in each note or the blend of jazz, western classical music and much more.

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Jazz Festival.indd 10 18/09/19 11:24 AM Members of the Dal Segño Trio include (top to bottom) : David Kingsnorth, bass; Darrell Smith, drums; Santiago Vasquez, piano

SETTING THE STANDARDS Opening the festival will be New York’s Dal Segño Trio featuring LaToya Smith, alongside fellow New York native Camille Thurman, an accomplished tenor saxophonist, flautist and singer, who will perform with the Darrell Green Trio. While Darrell Smith has been an educator, drummer and more for about a decade, his Dal Segño Trio brings forward jazz standards in a new light. He says, “It’s familiar to people but it has a new flavour, that’s basically what happens. I guess that’s what everybody is trying to do or they’re trying to do new music, but I really like standards. People like familiar songs, so we try to modernise songs.” Joined by Santiago Vazquez on piano and David Kingsnorth on bass, Smith has visited India before, but the NCPA International Jazz Festival will be his first time as a bandleader in the country. Smith says, “This is the Dal Segño Trio’s first international tour as a group. However, all of us have gone abroad and played with many groups outside of this performance. We’ve been playing together for 10 years now and it’s a great opportunity to become an international group. I can’t tell you how amazing it is to go to any other country and see people loving the music we do.” They are joined by LaToya, a crooner who has been associated with the drummer since they went to college together. Smith says, “She’s our first call every

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Jazz Festival.indd 11 18/09/19 11:25 AM Clockwise from here: Camille Thurman; Devin Starks; Darrell Green

some of that music to India and share it with the people there. It’s something that we are in love with. It’s been great working with Darrell (Green).” Along the way, Thurman has understandably faced more than just raised eyebrows when people find out she can sing and play tenor sax. “In my formative years, there was a little trouble with that – when you’re young, and especially for young girls, when you’re playing an instrument, a lot of the times, society has a preconceived notion about women in music and how they should sing,” she says. Leading by example, the singer and saxophonist says she uses it as an opportunity to educate people.

SOUL AUTHORITIES The second day of the festival includes the veteran voice of Mandy Gaines, who has over 30 years of performing and composing experience. Gaines has been on stages ranging from theatres to showcases for British and American troops, performing in clubs and at festivals around the globe. Understandably, this will not be her first time in India. She says about audiences from different parts of the world, “Basically, to me they are all the same. Everyone loves to listen, have it (the music) interpreted and everybody is time. I work with some of New York’s best singers, excited and into it. I feel like audiences everywhere and by far LaToya is my first call.” are kind of the same. Maybe Western audiences might Thurman, on the other hand, decided to aim for be a bit more vocal than Eastern audiences.” With an peak jazz versatility. Releasing her latest album aim to create an intimate experience for audiences Waiting for the Sunrise last year, Thurman plays the regardless of the size of the room, Gaines leans sax like she is channeling a little bit of Charlie Parker toward gospel, R&B and jazz in her work. She will or Coleman Hawkins and sings like she has got a bit be joined by pianist Steve Schmidt, amongst others. of Ella Fitzgerald in her. Joined by the Darrell Green She says, “Jazz is a true black American art form and Trio, Thurman says her debut in India will include her that’s what I bring to the table. I’ve grown up with it. tribute to pianist Horace Silver. “We just recently It infuses soul and gospel and R&B. I kind of stay true started working on our Horace Silver project, which to that no matter where I go in the world.” has been doing really well here. I’m excited to bring The tempo changes up just the slightest bit after

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Jazz Festival.indd 12 18/09/19 11:31 AM Clockwise from here: Mandy Gaines; Peter Gemus; Stephen Schmidt; Yuval Cohen

that, courtesy of The Round Midnight Orchestra – a traveling troupe of musicians from New York and Holland, including singer Deborah J. Carter, tenor saxophonists Ben van den Dungen and Alexander Beets, among others. They have all been regulars either in India or at the NCPA over the years in their individual capacities. With The Round Midnight Orchestra however, the intention in its full scale is to transport audiences to the 1930s, 40s and 50s, especially for the nightclub experience. Van den Dungen says, “We actually set up six or seven years for theatres. There are around 250 theatres around here and we started to do theatre shows as a sort of trip down memory lane.” Beets adds with a bit of humour, “It’s for the hardcore people but also not the hardcore – it’s free jazz; the music that everybody remembers from Ella Fitzgerald to crooners like Frank Sinatra and big orchestras like Count Basie or Duke Ellington. It’s a combination of that put together in a small big band.” Carter adds that the allure for her to be a part of The Round Midnight Orchestra is the intent of the shows. “The great thing about the show, the uniqueness about it is that it is a very sneaky way to give information about the legends and the music of the swing era. I call it infotainment – information and entertainment,” she says.

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Jazz Festival.indd 13 18/09/19 11:32 AM The Round Midnight Orchestra is one of the more popular jazz bands consisting of established musicians from New York and Holland

STRINGING TOGETHER of the great jazz virutoso, who was acclaimed for his The first performance on day three marks the Indian technical precision and intuitive innovation. At the debut of Yuval Cohen. The saxophonist is quick to tell NCPA, the ensemble is presented as a quintet, the us that his siblings – trumpet player Avishai Cohen format most celebrated by Mingus during the peak and clarinet player Anat Cohen – have both played in of his career. The Grammy award-winning musicians India, which makes him excited about the trip. “Many that comprise the quintet, have performed all over Israelis used to go to India when they were relieved the world, transforming a rich musical legacy into a from their military service. I didn’t do that, because modern creative force, forging a collective identity when I finished my service at the army orchestra, I that serves to intensify their own characters while directly went to the US to study,” he says. Among the reflecting the protean personality of Mingus himself. leading figures in jazz, Cohen As The New York Times has brings the chamber jazz sextet said: ‘Mingus’s music doesn’t to the NCPA International As The New York Times merely deserve to be heard; Jazz Festival. “For many has said: ‘Mingus’s music jazz needs it.’ years now, I was searching for The festival concludes some kind of zone that I can doesn’t merely deserve to with what is jazz tradition live comfortably in as a jazz be heard; jazz needs it.’ – a jam session between all musician,” he says. Featuring the artistes invited. Smith trombone, saxophone, piano, says, “I look forward to cello, bass and drums, The Yuval Cohen Sextet will those moments. Here in the US, I guess you meet perform a 10-piece suite that moves in different new people, but in this situation, I guess I’ll get to directions. “When we play, we really fill the room like meet new people who play different kinds of music.” a chamber string quartet with the classical chamber Cohen calls it fun as well. Thurman adds, “I look setup,” he says. forward to it and for us to be able to hear and learn, The penultimate performance of the festival is one like, ‘Oh, this is your approach to how you hear jazz’ for the history books. The Mingus Dynasty was the first and to understand where they’re coming from.” ensemble formed by Sue Mingus, widow of Charles Mingus, immediately after his passing in 1979. The The NCPA International Jazz Festival 2019 will be band breathed life into the next chapter of the legacy held from 11th to 13th October at the Tata Theatre.

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Jazz Festival.indd 14 19/09/19 3:37 PM ARCHIVES

Phantasmagorical Traditions 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 last installment of a three-part series, Dr. Suresh Awasthi looks at the surprising commonalities between shadow theatre traditions in India and those in other countries in South-East Asia

The shadow theatre of Indonesia, having In the Cambodian tradition, two or three concentrated with ritualistic overtones two main styles – namely Balinese and characters are delineated portraying infused by the Dalang in Indonesian Javanese known as Wayang Kulit – is a some event from the epic story. The shadow theatre, manipulation in highly evolved and sophisticated theatre figures are most dramatically cut out Malaysian shadow theatre is very form. Wayang Kulit dramatic with a fast tempo. expresses most faithfully In Wayang Kulit, a dramatic The Thai tradition of the story is told in the form of the customs, beliefs, shadows thrown by puppets shadow theatre is similar values and the entire to that of Cambodia, but lifestyle of the people of this tradition is gradually Indonesia. dying. The tradition of the The style and the string puppet in Thailand is technique of the already extinct. In Burma, manipulation of the the tradition of marionettes is puppets by the puppeteer, still a living tradition. called Dalang, is very In spite of the many similar to the style of the similarities between the Indian shadow theatre. tradition of the shadow Like the sutradhar theatre of India and those of in Indian theatrical the countries of the South- tradition, the Dalang in East Asian region, there is Wayang Kulit speaks, recites Some prefer to watch the one big difference. While the Indian and sings the entire dramatic puppets in Andhra and Mysore text and is a great expert in Dalang manipulation of the tradition are translucent and throw the art of vocalisation. Many coloured shadows on the screen, the preliminaries of the performance figures, and others to watch the leather puppets in all the countries and the rituals and ceremonies shadows creating a mysterious of South-East Asia are opaque and observed in Wayang Kulit and in while in India the audiences sit only many conventions of staging, are world of gods and demons in front of the curtain, in Indonesia similar to those followed in the and Cambodia they sit on both Indian tradition of the shadow theatre. with rich designs and full details of the sides. Some prefer to watch the Dalang The Indian tradition of projecting the costume and jewellery. The Cambodian manipulation of the figures, and others to good characters on the right side of the leather puppets are projected on a large watch the shadows creating a mysterious curtain and the bad characters on the screen and a number of puppeteers are world of gods and demons. left side of the curtain is also followed in employed in a performance, depending Indonesia. Just as in the Indian puppet upon the situation, specially during the Modern dance-drama theatre, so also in Indonesia, the spoken royal processions and war scenes. The The urge to perform the Ramayana is word material, the music and many manipulation technique is highly evolved so great that new forms are constantly elements of presentation are the same as and very theatrical. The puppeteers evolved as a result of the marriage in the human theatre. manipulate while standing and not between the new performing techniques sitting as in Indonesia, and also walk in and the traditional material. The dance- Masters of puppets stylised mimetic gaits, depending upon drama with modern choreography and The tradition of the shadow theatre is the character they are manipulating, and some other forms of the human theatre also very strong and the form is highly in the process, they seem to project their are comparatively new forms in a long developed in Cambodia. As against the mime to the puppet figures. tradition of Ramayana theatre. small and single figures in Indonesian In Malaysia also, the shadow theatre The modern dance-drama of tradition, the figures in the Cambodian is very strong, especially in the Kelantan Indonesia, in several regional styles, and shadow theatre are large – three to four region. The Malaysian shadow theatre of Thailand, Cambodia and Burma, have feet high and two to three feet broad – is very close to the tradition of Andhra been structured on the many traditional with two sticks attached to them to be Pradesh. While the manipulation and dance forms and the shadow theatre. The held by the puppeteer for manipulation. the tempo of performance is slow and traditional mask-dances and the Wayang shutterstock

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FOB Archives.indd 42 17/09/19 4:49 PM Kulit have a dominant influence on the choreography and other elements of the dance-dramas. The musical melodies used in the dance-dramas are fixed by tradition for various situations and actions to express different sentiments and moods and to accompany the actor’s entries and exits, the fighting scenes, etc. In a dance-drama, these specified and codified melodies are rearranged and the music composer works in perfect unison with the choreographer. The soft and lyrical gamelan music is a very important factor in determining Wayang Kulit is the nature of the choreography and quite popular in the whole spirit of the dance-dramas. South East Asia In matters of costume, makeup, even today headgear and other aspects, while the tendency is to follow the tradition, 40 dancers are brought on the stage in the dance movement and exploring the choreographers most creatively give standing in a choreographic formation, space, the movements of the hands, the to these elements a modern idiom and a and when Sita moves forward to enter the fluttering of the fingers and the waving of more theatrical character. Structurally, fire, they start waving up and down their the cummerbund, make the dance more these dance-dramas are similar to our cummerband in red and yellow colours, sweeping and lively. Some of the hand modern dance-dramas with constituent creating a most fantastic and powerful gestures convey sentiments like love, elements of choreography, mime, illusion of the flames. separation, anger and hatred, but these music – both instrumental and vocal – Many elements of choreography, are very close to realistic gestures. The rendered by a group of instrumentalists the basic stance and the attitude of the cummerbund is often used like a hand and vocalists. dancers, the positions and the movements prop, as the fan in the Japanese dances, The modern dance-drama is highly of the arms and legs and some of the to suggest a weapon or indicate the flow developed in the art of presentation hand gestures, have a marked similarity of water. in Indonesia, both in the Balinese and to the Indian traditional dances. While A study of the Ramayana tradition in Javanese tradition. But the classical the performing and plastic arts and content of the dance is rather thin literature is of great value not only and there is not a great range and A study of the Ramayana for rediscovering the cultural links variety of choreographic patterns. tradition in the performing between India and the countries The choreographers bring on the of South-East Asia, but also for the stage large numbers of dancers in arts is of great value for study of the artistic and cultural many situations and manage their forms and patterns of ancient India. entries and exits, their groupings and rediscovering the cultural The documentation material that formations, with great directorial links between India and the we find in these countries and skill and a keen sense of plastic also the living artistic practice, form. The slow, graceful and fluid countries of South-East Asia especially in dance theatre and the movements of the dancers and the shadow theatre, can greatly enrich shift from one pattern to another are so the Sunda dance-drama has a marked our knowledge of ancient Indian artistic dramatically paced that, as a spectator, resemblance with the masked Chhau practice. It has so happened that many one has time only to watch, admire dances of Seraikela, the dance-drama elements and features of the arts which and regret its conclusion and live in of the Solo region, with its broad and have fallen into disuse in India have haunting memories. powerful movements with wide open survived in these countries and, therefore, Using a large open-air stage, the legs, is very similar to the Mayurbhanj a study of the arts and culture of ancient choreographers often use simultaneous style of Chhau dances. Abrupt changes India ‘viewed from the East’, promises action employing the technique of in choreographic patterns and jerks in the rich results. Ananda Coomaraswamy, montage, freezing one sequence and waist and the shoulders are also similar writing on Javanese theatre in 1921, keeping it in darkness, and presenting to the Chhau dances. The broad division observed: “Few undertakings could another sequence and relating it to the of the dances into soft and strong dances, be imagined more interesting or more frozen action. The scene of Hanuman meant for the female and male dancers, illuminating than a comparative survey taking the ring from Rama with a message has the same approach to the classification of the forms of the theatre surviving in to be delivered to Sita is frozen, and in of the dance as our lasya and tandava. India, Indonesia and the Far East.” quick succession, a second Hanuman appears on the scene presenting the ring Ramayana: a common link This article first appeared in its entirety in to Sita in ‘Ashoka vana’. In Sita’s fire Along with the soft, rhythmic sway of the NCPA Quarterly Journal in September ordeal scene, at a dramatic point, some the body, as if involving the entire body 1972 (Vol.I, No.1).

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FOB Archives.indd 43 17/09/19 4:49 PM Programme Guide (Programmes are subject to change. Please check the website and refer to our emails for updated information.) October 2019

THEATRE INTERNATIONAL MUSIC DANCE FILMS / SCREENINGS

INDIAN MUSIC WESTERN CLASSICAL MUSIC MULTI ARTS PHOTOGRAPHY & EXHIBITION

dance theatre The Lehman Trilogy, 4th, 16th & 19th, Godrej Dance Begums & Baijis of The Devil Wears Bataa Theatre Bollywood English Play (120 mins) by Manjari Chaturvedi Tata Theatre A Theatrical Dance Presentation Wednesday, 2nd – 4.00 pm & 7.30 pm (90 mins) Tata Theatre There is nothing political about this Tuesday, 1st – 7.00 pm play, because, let's face it, nobody understands politics, not even the This theatrical production is based on politicians themselves. The play is women-centric stories and traces the a hilarious fictitious take on how The story of a family and a company lives of four incredible women from an orange-faced, blonde-haired, that changed the world, told in three the performing arts who were the pompous, loud-mouthed businessman parts on a single evening. Academy first stars of Hindi cinema – as leading in the Oval Office and a sharp-witted Award-winner Sam Mendes (Skyfall, actor, playback singer, first woman Sardarji who is the Indian PM, go about The Ferryman) directs Simon Russell composer and doyen of music. In the their devious plans of finding the next Beale, Adam Godley and Ben Miles theatrical production, two actors on successors to their seats of power. The who play the Lehman Brothers, stage trace the history and discuss Indian and American governments their sons and grandsons. On a cold the various aspects of Hindi cinema share something comedic in common September morning in 1844, a young in a well-scripted dialogue giving without realising it. That is, until they man from Bavaria stands on a New York insight to the life and times of these meet of course. dockside, dreaming of a new life in the brilliant and talented women. This new world. He is joined by his two production, along with an audio-visual, Written and directed by brothers and an American epic begins. traces the music of Hindi cinema and Meherzad Patel 163 years later, the firm they establish its influences. The lead character, the Cast: Danesh Irani, Dilnaz Irani, Jigar – Lehman Brothers – spectacularly classical dancer, forms an integral part Mehta, Darius Shroff, Sajeel Parakh, collapses into bankruptcy, and triggers of the theatrical story and recreates the Danesh Khambata & others the largest financial crisis in history. music and dance of that era, linking This critically acclaimed and five-time the stories together, the songs actually A Silly Point Production Olivier Award-nominated play features sung by these great singers the tawaifs, a stunning set design from Es Devlin songs are remembered even today, the Tickets: (NT Live: Hamlet) women, however, are sadly forgotten. `1,875, 1,500, 1,125, 750, 525 & 375/- The dancer recreates these songs for (Members) Adapted by Ben Power the audiences, bringing to life a lost era. `2,500, 2,000, 1,500 1,000, 700 & Written by Stefano Massini 500/- (Public) Directed by Sam Mendes Conceptualised & directed by (Inclusive of GST) Manjari Chaturvedi Box Office now open Tickets: `400/- Script by Danish Iqbal Box Office now open Cast: Manjari Chaturvedi, Ekant Kaul screening & Burhan Qureshi theatre The Lehman Trilogy ) A Sufi Kathak Foundation Theatre Screening (210 mins) Black Hole trilogy

Production Godrej Dance Theatre English/Hindi Play (90 mins) Friday, 4th, Wednesday, 16th & Experimental Theatre lehman Tickets: Saturday, 19th – 5.00 pm Friday, 4th – 7.30 pm the ( `375 & 225/- (Members) Saturday, 5th – 5.00 pm & 7.30 pm `500 & 300/- (Public) An NCPA-National Theatre Live douet

Box Office now open (London) Presentation An NCPA Presentation mark 46 • October 2019 NCPA

Programme Guide.indd 46 17/09/19 2:56 PM Black Hole, 4th & Workshops 3.30-5 pm | 11-15 years | West Room 1 5th, Experimental Theatre Saturday, 5th October Fee: `400/- + 18 % GST

Tree Walk and Origin Myth Sunday, 6th October Writing (Creative Writing) by Yashasvi Vachchani Little Kathakaars (Art) The module focuses on the genre of by Advaita Mane & Komal myths where students connect with Suryawanshi their surroundings, observe nature Discover the magic of the mythical around them and create a written story of the Dashavatar and create piece. a group art installation of your own 10 am -12 pm | Age: 10-13 years | Tata unique avatar. Theatre Garden Time: 11 am -12.30 pm | 3-6 years | West Fee: `400/- + 18 % GST Room 1 Amongst cosmological objects, black Fee: `400/- + 18% GST holes – regions in space where the Terracotta Birds of Bombay (Art) gravitational force is so strong that by Nimmy Joshi Chitrakatha (Art) nothing, not even light, can escape – Use natural clay in an interactive masterclass by Manjiri Thakoor have a special place, evoking a sense workshop with Nimmy, a Goa-based A specialised masterclass in panel- of mystery and awe for physicists clay artist and sculptor to create your based storytelling down the ages in and ordinary people alike. This own birds of Bombay Indian art with art historian and artist piece explores ideas from theoretical 11 am -12.30 pm | 7-10 years | East Dr.Manjiri Thakoor. physics from the perspective of an Room 1 2.30-4.30 pm | 18+ years | Piramal ordinary person trying to find a greater Fee: `400/- + 18% GST Gallery engagement with the universe. As Fee: `700/- + 18% GST concepts from astrophysics intertwine My Green Superhero (Creative with personal narratives exploring Writing) Storytelling Through Movement love, loss, mortality, experiential limits, by Yashasvi Vachchani (Dance) and the physical bodies we live in, Create your very own Green Superhero by Amey Mehta the piece examines our thirst for using elements of character sketch and An immersive workshop focusing on knowledge, our hunger for experience, setting in this exciting Creative Writing using the body and movement to tell and how the two combine to create workshop. stories. our understanding of the cosmos we 3.30-5 pm | 9-14 years | East Room 1 Time: 3.30-5.30 pm | 18+ years | West inhabit. Fee: `400/- + 18 % GST Room 1 Fee: `700/- + 18% GST Devised and Directed by Jyoti Dogra Bugbots (Art and Science) by Komal Suryawanshi Theatre Review Writing Workshop Suggested age: 16+ A workshop steeped in the art of (Creative Writing) science where students use basic by Deepa Punjani, Editor, Mumbai Tickets: principles of science to create their own Theatre Guide `360 & 270/- (Members) buzzing bots with found materials. A workshop for young adults in `400 & 300/- (Public) Time: 3.30 pm -5 pm | 11-15 years | collaboration with Mumbai Theatre Box Office now open Sunken Garden Guide focusing on the nuances of Fee: `400/- + 18% GST theatre review writing and critiquing. theatre 3.30-5pm | 11-15 years | East Room 1 Spoken Word (Creative Writing) Fee: `400/- + 18% GST WeCreate 2019 by Apeksha Harsh 5th & 6th October This module focuses on honing writing To register contact: skills as well as the ability to find your Ruchika – 8605286418 An NCPA Presentation in voice through reflection. Email: pomegranateworkshop@ collaboration with Pomegranate 3.30 pm -5 pm | Age: 16+ years | gmail.com Workshop Piramal Gallery Fee: `500/- + 18% GST theatre What does art have to do with sustainability? It possibly provides Theatre Review Writing Mind Alone a poetic way to express concerns, Workshop (Creative Writing) English Play (120 mins) understand the universe, create art by Deepa Punjani, Editor, Mumbai Godrej Dance Theatre and in the process, create ways to find Theatre Guide Saturday, 5th & Sunday, 6th – your voice and be heard. Come be part A workshop for young adults in 6.00 pm of Pomegranate’s WeCreate 2019 and collaboration with Mumbai Theatre discover your own path to sustainability Guide focusing on the nuances of An NCPA Presentation in on 5th and 6th October 2019. theatre review writing and critiquing. collaboration with Pomegranate

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Programme Guide.indd 47 17/09/19 3:05 PM Mind Alone, scintillating milieu of music right from with Shaw’s characteristic sparkling 5th & 6th, Godrej Dance Theatre the 1930s to the present, with some dialogue and keen social insight that is of Mumbai's top vocalists and prevalent even in today’s time. choirs. The programme curated by the Stop Gaps Cultural Academy will An Indian adaptation of G. B. Shaw’s encompass the most popular songs The Millionairess by singing sensations from these ages along with film and Broadway hits. Directed by Vikash Khurana The soloists include Ella Atai, Karen Adapted by Ankita Athawale Braganza, Kim Cardoz, Francois Cast: Radhika Joshi, Nirmalya Sinha, Castellino, Dominique Cerejo, Vivek Daga, Shruti Bhojwani, Varun Farah Ghadiali, Boman Irani, Enrico Vij, Onkar Ghare & Sonal Trivedi- Lopes-Pereira, Siddharth Meghani, Malkan Delna Mody, Samantha Noella, Marie Paul, Vivienne Pocha, Tickets: Petula Rodericks & Pia Sutaria. The `450 & 360/- (Members) choirs: The Salvation Singers, The `500 & 400/- (Public) Santacruz Ensemble, The Victory Box Office now open Mind Alone is a play that speaks aloud Chorus Line, The Stop-Gaps Junior the thoughts inside a child’s head Choral Ensemble & The Stop-Gaps theatre as they are trying to make sense of Choral Ensemble. The programme a technology-fuelled world. What will be compered by Shahriyar Atai. Fool's Paradise makes them happy? What makes English Play (70 mins) them sad? What do they feel when Tickets: Experimental Theatre they experience something new, `1,500, 1,000, 800 & 500/- Sunday, 6th – 7.30 pm frightening or challenging? How do (inclusive of GST) they deal with change? What are their Box Office now open An NCPA Presentation in thoughts on the world they live in? Their collaboration with Stagecraft subconscious is full of emotions and theatre Theatre (Nagpur) ideas battling each other. Each section of the play has been created through Ms. Sekhsaria A reporter falls in love at first sight facilitated sessions and discussions, English & Hindi Play (75 mins) with a playwright during an interview; and students have contributed Experimental Theatre a film producer is avoiding women original writing and poetry along Sunday, 6th – 5.00 pm because he is afraid they might with their favourite poems, excerpts propose to him; and three flatmates from popular books, monologues, An NCPA Presentation in vow to remain single for the rest of fables, songs and parodies to translate collaboration with Stagecraft their lives. Fool’s Paradise is a charming, their subconscious thoughts into the Theatre (Nagpur) delightful soufflé of a language that is conscious realm. simply superb and a sense of comic A romantic comedy about an arrogant timing that is second to none. This is a Directed by Joy Fernandes heiress who has married to satisfy the screwball comedy complete with silly Performed by Pomegranate’s teen cast conditions of her father’s will but whose wordplay, comic misunderstandings, marriage has not produced the hoped- laugh-out-loud moments, and very Age: 7+ for happiness. As one character after clever in its execution. another arrives, we soon realise that Tickets: everyone is sleeping with someone Inspired by P. G. Wodehouse’s `450/- (Members) who is not their spouse, that those Bachelors Anonymous `500/- (Public) who are married are miserable, and Directed by Vikash Khurana Box Office now open that with everyone, the pre-eminent Adapted by Ankita Athawale concern is money. The play is packed Cast: Shubhankar Mishra, Ankita international music Ms. Sekhsaria, 6th, Fool's Paradise, Experimental 6th, Experimental As Time Goes By Theatre Theatre Tata Theatre Saturday, 5th – 7.00 pm

A Time and Talents Club Presentation

Commemorating the 85th anniversary of the Time and Talents Club, this musical extravaganza takes one through a

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Programme Guide.indd 48 17/09/19 3:07 PM Athawale, Vivek Daga, Neha An NCPA Presentation Internationally renowned Kathak duo Khanzode, Vikash Khurana, Sonal Nalini Kamalini are devoted disciples Trivedi-Malkan & Onkar Ghare Baltic Neopolis Virtuosi is a new of Kathak maestro, Jitendra Maharaj international ensemble whose aim is of Varanasi gharana, the trendsetter Tickets: to connect the incredible talent of the of the temple style of Kathak dancing. `450 & 360/- (Members) Baltic Sea region. Its members are all The sisters are blessed with rare `500 & 400/- (Public) internationally recognised musicians artistic qualities of natural expression, Box Office now open who enjoy sharing their music through grace, clarity and perfection, and various successful concert tours. The known for their refined sensibilities screening Baltic Neopolis Virtuosi are already and subtlety. They are often invited widely-recognised in Europe and to present this traditional form Fleabag, 9th, Asia, and continue exploring different before visiting dignitaries in the Godrej Dance Theatre musical fields. The group prides itself Parliament, Rashtrapati Bhawan and on long-term collaborations with have participated in several national some of today's finest musicians. The and international festivals of repute programme in Mumbai will feature in various parts of the world viz. the works by Polish composers, with the UK, the USA, Germany, France, Spain, highlight being the performance of Norway and the Middle East. In the Chopin’s first piano concerto, in its most challenging atmosphere of mixed chamber version. race students, the duo have conducted many lecture-cum-demonstrations in Programme: various leading universities like Oxford, Górecki: Uwertura for string quartet Cambridge, Leiden, Manchester and Moniuszko: String quartet in D minor London School of Economics that Kilar: Orawa were of great success. They have Chopin: Piano concerto in E minor, been decorated with various awards. Op. 11 They have set the world record for Fleabag (string quartet version) dancing at the height of 18,000 feet Theatre Screening (80 mins) at Kailash Mansarovar in the year 2003. Godrej Dance Theatre Tickets: They have been awarded the Nritya Wednesday, 9th – 3.00 pm & `600, 500 & 300/- (Plus GST) Shiromani from Sur Singar Samsad, 6.00 pm Box Office now open Delhi Nritya Praveen, Madras Special President Award from President R. An NCPA-National Theatre Live dance Venkataraman, Delhi Mahakal Samman, (London) Presentation Mahila Shiromani Indira Priyadarshini NCPA Utkarsh Series Excellence Award for Dance, Sangeet Fleabag is a rip-roaring look at a – In Reverence to the Natak Akademi Award, amongst others. woman living her sort of life. Fleabag Maestro may seem oversexed, emotionally Lecture-Demonstration by Kathak Admission on a first-come-first- unfiltered and self-obsessed, but that is Duo – Nalini Kamalini served basis. NCPA Members just the tip of the iceberg. With family Godrej Dance Theatre will get preferential seating till and friendships under strain and a Friday, 11th – 6.30 pm 6.20 pm. guinea pig café struggling to keep afloat, Fleabag suddenly finds that she indian music has nothing to lose. Hindustani Music Recital Written and performed by by Gopal Krishan Shah (sitar) Phoebe Waller-Bridge Tulika Ghosh (vocal) Directed by Vicky Jones (approx. 120 mins) West Room 1 Age: 15+ Friday, 11th - 6.30 pm

Tickets: `400/- Box Office now open

western classical music ) Baltic Neopolis Virtuosi fleabag ( Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 and Works by Polish Composers marcus Tata Theatre Wednesday, 9th – 7.00 pm Nalini Kamalini, 11th, Godrej Dance Theatre Gopal Krishan Shah, 11th, West Room 1 joan

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Programme Guide.indd 49 17/09/19 3:08 PM Tulika Ghosh, NCPA International Jazz Stephen Schmidt, piano 11th, West Festival 2019, 11th to 13th, Room 1 Tata Theatre Peter Gemus, bass Benjamin Bratton, drums

Mandy Gaines and her trio will present a concert of jazz classics from The Great American Songbook. This showcase is a rich blend between jazz and blues and even infuses Gospel influences. Acclaimed for her soulful vocals and improvisational gifts, Mandy Gaines An NCPA Presentation 11th October has shared the stage with the biggest Supported by P. L. Deshpande names in jazz such as Wynton Marsalis, Foundation Dal Segño Trio featuring LaToya Randy Brecker, Leroy Jones and Wes Smith: Anderson to name a few. Gopal Krishan Shah was born in LaToya Smith, vocals a family rooted in music. He learnt Darrell Smith, drums Round Midnight Orchestra: music under his father Hari Krishan David Kingsnorth, bass Deborah Carter, vocals Shah, a disciple of D.R. Parvatikar, a Yago Vasquez, piano Tom Ridderbeekx, trumpet legendary musician, musicologist, and Ben van den Dungen, tenor inventor of Datatreye Veena. Presently, The Dal Segño Trio is a professional saxophone he is learning sitar from veteran guru New York jazz trio that has been Alexander Beets, tenor saxophone of Etawah gharana, Arvind Parikh. playing together and recording Miguel Rodriguez, piano He has performed at prestigious numerous albums over the last decade. Marius Beets, bass music conferences like Sangeet Natak For their debut in India, the trio will Tim Hennekes, drums Akademi (Delhi), Harivallabh Sangeet play traditional jazz standards with a Sammelan-2003, Madhurima Sangeet modern flair from the Great American The Round Midnight Orchestra is one Samiti (Haridwar), among others. He Songbook. Expect to be dazzled with of Europe’s hottest bands consisting of has also performed at fusion concerts swinging rhythms that will make you established musicians in Dutch jazz in Iran and the Middle East, Japan, want to move, sing and go home mixed with some of Holland’s greatest Rome, Belgium and France. Tulika wanting more. young jazz talents. Audiences will Ghosh, daughter of the internationally experience the exciting music from acclaimed maestro of tabla, Nikhil Camille Thurman with the Darrell the golden era of jazz that gave birth Ghosh, represents the fourth Green Trio: to orchestras led by Duke Ellington, generation of a family of distinguished Camille Thurman, tenor saxophone & Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong. This musicians. Ghosh has learnt from her vocals band will take you back to the heyday father who was much acclaimed for Darrell Green, drums of jazz, a vibrant world full of thrilling his knowledge of vocal music. She Devin Starks, bass music and compelling stories about has also received exclusive training in Keith Brown, piano love, desire, joy and despair. With this tappa, from Hanuman Prasad Mishra. magnificent show you can enjoy some Her other gurus were, Khadim Hussain DownBeat magazine's rising star hard-swinging jazz classics, meet Khan and Jnan Prakash Ghosh, as saxophonist and vocalist Camille historical jazz figures and experience well as Yunus Hussain Khan. Ghosh Thurman joins the incomparable how vivid and urgent this music still is has performed all over India, and in talented drummer Darrell Green today. Germany, Japan, the USA and the UK, debuting music from their latest and at the prestigious Music Guimet at Horace Silver tribute project. 13th October Paris (2008). She is a regular performer Thurman tours internationally with on the All India Radio and Television. Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Yuval Cohen Sextet: Lincoln Center Orchestra in addition Yuval Cohen, soprano saxophone Admission on a first-come-first- to numerous Jazz and R&B icons such Maya Belsitzman, cello served basis. NCPA Members will as Gladys Knight, Diana Krall and Yonathan Voltzok, trombone get preferential seating till 6.20 pm. Chaka Khan, to name a few. She has Guy Levi, piano also earned accolades from media Gadi Lehavi, bass international music outlets like Jazz Times, DownBeat, The Jonathan Rosen, drums New York Times, NPR, among others. NCPA International Jazz She has appeared on The Late Show Soprano saxophonist, composer, and Festival 2019 with Stephen Colbert. bandleader Yuval Cohen is part of Tata Theatre the critically acclaimed band The 3 Friday, 11th to Sunday, 13th – 12th October Cohens, with his siblings Anat and 6.30 pm Avishai Cohen and is a leading figure Mandy Gaines Quartet: of Israeli jazz. The 10-part KadishZuger Sponsor: Godrej Industries Mandy Gaines, vocals Suite is his latest work of chamber jazz

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Programme Guide.indd 50 17/09/19 3:09 PM sextet, synthesises western Romantic Kapur that is rendered on stage with the Kaveri and Dashrath, typical upwardly music, traditional jazz and the Israeli help of lights and music. It transports mobile Mumbaikars, originally from music that Cohen grew up with. With us through Amma Bi’s journey from UP, are determined to have a beautiful its strong melodies, varied layers and loneliness to self-discovery. traditional wedding for their daughter textures, the piece culminates in a rich Neeta, with Kaveri striving for the most and complex musical experience with Written & Directed by Pankaj Kapur perfect party, food and decor that a uniquely contemporary feel. Performed (rendered) by Pankaj would be talked about amongst her Kapur social set for years to come. The entire Mingus Dynasty Quintet: Produced by Supriya Pathak Kapur household, friends, assorted domestic Abraham Burton, tenor saxophone help, an ever-interfering uncle, have Alex Sipiagin, trumpet Tickets: all been deployed by Kaveri to have Theo Hill, piano `637/- (Members) a perfect traditional, by-the-book Andy McKee, bass `708/- (Public) wedding. Neeta, born and brought Donald Edwards, drums (Inclusive of GST) up in Mumbai, is totally flummoxed by Box Office now open these new-found rituals and the list of New York City's Mingus Dynasty dos and don’ts. Kaveri masterminding Quintet is playing for the first time ever theatre operations will brook no interference in India. Do not miss this exciting night in what she now regards as her of live jazz. The nimble and expert Karl Marx in Kalbadevi major project in life – her daughter’s Mingus Dynasty was the first band Hinglish Play (110 mins) perfect traditional wedding. Neeta’s Sue Mingus organised after legendary Experimental Theatre solution: boycott the wedding by jazz icon Charles Mingus’s death in Sunday, 13th – 5.00 pm locking herself in the bathroom. Will 1979. The first Dynasty bands were the wedding take place at all? Will the expected to include only musicians Karl Marx has made a comeback. The two generations find the middle path who had actually performed with reason is he wants to clear his name, to sanity? Mingus. Today, forty years later, the which he feels has been wrongfully rich legacy of Mingus music ignites the maligned. It has come to his knowledge Written & Directed by Veena Bakshi bandstand while new generations of that Socialism and Communism, two Cast: Preeta Mathur Thakur, Aman musicians add their individual voices words fathered by him, have become Gupta, Shankar Iyer, Arunima Joshi, and continue to interpret and build on dirty words and he is upset about it. Burhanuddin Topiwala, Mani Pillai, his compositions. This band consists of Before the whole world, or a part of Jawed Rehman & others artistes featured in the 2011 Grammy it, starts the celebration of his 200th Award-winning album Mingus Big Band birth anniversary, he wants to tell An Ank Production Live at Jazz Standard. them that this is not what he meant by those words. For some strange Tickets: Jam Session: reason he lands in Kalbadevi and waits `450/- (Members) The finale will conclude with a large- endlessly for a chance to speak his `500/- (Public) scale jam session consisting of all the mind, but in Mumbai, no one has the Box Office now open participating musicians over the course time or inclination to listen to a lecture of the three days. Expect some stellar on economics or politics. When he theatre musicians and the highest standard finally gets his chance, he talks about of jazz heard in the city that craves for everything including his family and Mareez more. friends, Das Kapital and the enormous Gujarati Play (120 mins) thali he had at Bhagat Tarachand. Experimental Theatre Tickets: Sunday, 13th – 7.30 pm `1,500, 1,000, 800 & 500/- Written by Uttam Gada (Plus GST) Directed by Manoj Shah The play is about a deep and serious Box Office now open Cast: Satchit Puranik exploration of the poetic impulse based on the life of Mareez. The poet, theatre An Ideas Unlimited Production writer of the most beautiful ghazals, lover of alcohol, a man who courts Dopehri Tickets: any muse visible to him, man reduced Dramatic Reading in Hindi `450, 360 & 270/- (Members) to selling muse visible to him, a man (80 mins) `500, 400 & 300/- (Public) reduced to selling his poetry to a Experimental Theatre Box Office now open businessman who passes it off as his Saturday, 12th – 4.30 pm & 8.00 pm own. Mareez is a fantasia of poetic theatre improvisation. Dopehri is set in the streets of Lucknow where sits the haveli of an Hamari Neeta Ki Shaadi Written by Vinit Shukla old, lonely woman named Amma Bi. Hindi Play (90 mins) Directed by Manoj Shah Pankaj Kapur brings to us her Godrej Dance Theatre Cast: Dharmendra Gohil, Aishwariya story. Dopehri is a novella written by Sunday, 13th – 7.00 pm Mehta, Kumkum Das, Jay Upadhyay,

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Programme Guide.indd 51 17/09/19 3:10 PM Husseni Dawawala, Pradeep Tuesday, 15th to Sunday, 20th – indian music Vengulerkar & others 12.00 pm to 8.00 pm One World Many Musics: An Ideas Unlimited Production Harsh Javeri: A Retrospective is a selection Celebrating Artistic Plurality of Javeri’s photographic works over the 18th & 19th October Tickets: years covering a range of themes and `675, 540 & 450/- (Members) subjects. His passion for photography, An NCPA Presentation `750, 600 & 500/- (Public) as a hobby, saw him capture some (Plus GST) iconic moments around the world and The world that we live in is buzzing with Box Office now open within his favourite world: Bombay. myriad traditions and musical forms across various indigenous cultures. indian music Entry Free Music from around the world exerts wide cross-cultural influence as styles western classical music influence one another. This festival showcasing varied musical forms Hermann Kretzschmar, reaffirms the peaceful co-existence 18th, Tata Theatre of cultural and artistic plurality in the world. With this event we celebrate the power of music as a healing Annapurna Devi, 14th, Godrej force that promotes cross-cultural Dance Theatre understanding, and remind people of all cultures and religions that we share Music Mirror: GURU MAA a common humanity. A Documentary on Annapurna Devi Sanyog Hindi/English Film with English by Apoorva Krishna & Group Subtitles (approx. 90 mins) (Approx. 75 mins) Experimental Theatre Godrej Dance Theatre Friday, 18th – 7.00 pm Monday, 14th – 6.30 pm Golden Jubilee Apoorva Krishna, Celebrations of the 18th, Experimental In collaboration with Sangeet Natak Goethe-Institut / Theatre Akademi Max Mueller Bhavan Mumbai Daughter and disciple of the legendary Tata Theatre Baba Allauddin Khan, the founder of the Friday, 18th – 6.00 pm Maihar-Senia gharana, Annapurna Devi (1929-2018) was an outstanding guru In October 2019, Goethe-Institut / Max and one of the greatest exponents of Mueller Bhavan Mumbai will celebrate surbahar. Although she trained iconic its Golden Jubilee with a three-day artistes like Hariprasad Chaurasia and festival acknowledging the role played Nikhil Banerjee, she chose to remain by different individuals, institutions and As the name suggests, Sanyog away from all the limelight of the music partners over the years in shaping the brings together five talented young world. This film attempts to understand work of the institute in Mumbai. The instrumentalists belonging to diverse her life and the hard decisions that she festival will open on 18th October at the musical traditions, wielding assorted took. It seeks to follow her journey Tata Theatre with a keynote lecture by instruments. The group led by down the road not often travelled. Professor Homi K. Bhabha. Professor Apoorva Krishna, a Carnatic violinist Bhabha is the Anne F. Rothenberg with several international accolades, Directed by Nirmal Chander Professor of the Humanities in the also includes Hami Keivan, an Iranian Produced by Sangeet Natak Department of English, the Director pianist-composer in the tradition of Akademi, 2019 of the Humanities Center, and the jazz fusion, and Jerzy Maczynski, a Senior Advisor on the Humanities to Polish saxophonist-composer. The Admission on a first-come-first- the President and Provost at Harvard ensemble also comprises two versatile ) served basis. NCPA Members will University. This will be followed by a Indian percussionists: Anoor Vinod get preferential seating till 6.20 pm. rendition of Hans Günther Franz Otte’s Shyam and Sunaad Anoor, who, kretzschmar work The Book of Sounds (1979-82) by besides playing mridangam and photography Hermann Kretzschmar from the kanjira, are also adept in playing other hermann

Ensemble Modern, Germany. percussion instruments. (

Harsh Javeri: A etter

Retrospective Admission passes can be collected Tickets: Photo Exhibition by Members from the Box Office `270 & 180/- (Members) andreas Piramal Art Gallery from 26th September onwards. `300 & 200/- (Public)

52 • October 2019 NCPA

Programme Guide.indd 52 17/09/19 3:12 PM Strings of the World NCPA. The theatre, which also doubles Umakant Gundecha, by Sharat Chandra Srivastava & up as a dance studio with excellent 19th, West Room 1 Group wooden flooring, is a heritage space (approx. 120 mins) where many stalwarts of dance, theatre Tata Theatre and music have presented their works. Saturday, 19th – 7.00 pm Registration Fees: `1,500/- Sharat Chandra (Inclusive of GST) Srivastava , 19th, Tata Theatre For registrations: Call 6622 3822/ 91370 76369 or email: [email protected] or log on to bookmyshow.com 2. Voice culture training for raga music indian music 3. Music and Yoga - Nadayoga in Dhrupad 4. Study of laya and tala Training Sessions in The sessions will be conducted every Dhrupad month to maintain continuity. In collaboration with Krintan Conducted by Umakant & Ramakant Gundecha Enrolment Fee: `1,000/- (plus GST) Strings of the World is dedicated to Supported by their Disciples for one session of 2 hours. A limited the string instruments of the world. West Room 1 number of registrations will be It includes some of the best string Saturday, 19th – 11.00 am to 1.00 pm accepted. For enquiries regarding instrumentalists known for their ability & 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm batches, timing and registration: to collaborate with artistes from diverse contact 66223831 or write to us genres, cultures and continents to In collaboration with Dhrupad at [email protected] create a unique musical and cultural Sansthan Bhopal Nyas experience. The festival was curated indian music by Sharat Chandra Srivastava in 2012, Dhrupad is the oldest surviving genre dedicated to his grandfather-guru Joi of Hindustani music. The tradition is Nad Ninad: From Our Srivastava from the Senia gharana. reputed for following special training Archives The ensemble for this edition includes: methods to groom facets like voice, Listening Session (No. 3) on the Sharat Chandra Srivastava – a breath control, pitch control and Artistry of Vilayat Khan talented Indian classical violinist and systematic delineation of composition. Guided by Arvind Parikh composer, Igor Bezget – a versatile We offer a special opportunity to train (Approx. 150 mins) guitar player from Slovenia, Chintan with the internationally renowned Experimental Theatre Kalra – a well-known ukelele player, exponents of this art form, Umakant Sunday, 20th – 5.30 pm Rasa-lila Buniatyan – a celebrated and Ramakant Gundecha, and their qamancha player from Armenia, senior disciples. Following topics will An NCPA Presentation Joshua Grant – a well-known jazz be covered in the sessions: fusion drummer, and Gyan Singh – 1. Science of svara and raga This programme makes available an accomplished tabla player. Sardar Khan Langa, a gifted Rajasthani folk Vilayat Khan, 20th, Experimental Theatre singer and his group of musicians will join the celebration of the strings, lending a brilliant folk flavour.

Tickets: `375, 270 & 180/- (Members) `500, 360 & 240/- (Public) Box Office now open

dance Kathak Workshop By Kumudini Lakhia Experimental Theatre Saturday, 19th - 11.00 am to 4.00 pm

This is an opportunity to attend a dynamic Kathak intensive workshop conducted by Kumudini Lakhia at the iconic Experimental Theatre at the

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Programme Guide.indd 53 17/09/19 3:17 PM NCPA’s archival recordings to lovers of Kathak. A celebrated group of film Hindustani classical music. We have dancers will present a bouquet of planned a series of sessions based classical Kathak dance choreographies on rarely heard recordings of the sitar by the maestro with their virtuosity, maestro, Vilayat Khan (1927-2004), precision and elegance. The nazakat which were specially recorded for our of Kathak abhinaya will be brought out archives during 1976, where the maestro in ‘Shyambina’. This will be followed Unishe April (1994), speaks at length about his forefathers by ‘Angasuddhi’, a combination of 21st, Godrej Dance Theatre and their style, and chronicles his own intricate footwork, vibrant tukdas journey with ample demonstrations. and subtle abhinaya as the dancers Unishe April (1994) The event will be inaugurated by the celebrate in abundance of joy. The Bengali Film with English Subtitles internationally renowned bansuri evening will continue with ‘Padhant’, (138 mins) maestro, Hariprasad Chaurasia. a fast-paced dynamic presentation Godrej Dance Theatre Khan was born in Gauripur (now in by a group of male dancers who Monday, 21st – 6.30 pm Bangladesh) in a family of outstanding will recite the rhythm patterns or musicians: his grandfather Imdad bols and fill the space with flying The Indian Express Film Club Khan and father Inayat Khan were the footwork, zestful spins culminating in a Presentation in association with most celebrated surbahar and sitar powerful tatkar of pakhawaj, tabla and NCPA players of their time. A child prodigy, permelu bols. The finale presentation Khan went on to become one of the is ‘Aakar’, a structure of the fabric of The film explores the complex most influential instrumentalists of Kathak technique designed to create relationship between a classical dancer, the 20th century. His distinctive gayaki patterns in space and time. ‘Aakar’, Sarojini Gupta (Aparna Sen), and her ang (vocalised style) made his sitar meaning shape, unfolds the basic and fiercely independent daughter, Aditi Sen “sing”, and is probably the most widely intricate forms and movements of (Debashree Roy). The director’s realistic followed sitar style today. The first two Kathak. cinematic style explores psychological sessions covered his great ancestors, realms of the two women through specially his great-grandfather, Choreography: Kumudini Lakhia smartly composed dialogues and Sahebdad Khan, and grandfather, controlled acting. Movement through Imdad Khan. The third session The evening will continue with time is depicted through smooth continues with Imdad Khan and some Aditi Mangaldas presenting her transitions between the past and the of his contemporaries. The session will solo Footprints On Water (Extracts) present, which effectively reflect the conclude with a performance of raga who is honoured and humbled to character's state of mind. Yaman. This session will be guided be presenting in honour of her guru, by Arvind Parikh who has had the Kumudini Lakhia. Mangaldas is a Director: Rituparno Ghosh privilege of training with Khan. The leading dancer and choreographer Producers: Shoubhik Mitra & close association lasting over six in the classical Indian dance form of Renu Roy decades has given him an insight in Kathak. Having trained under Lakhia Cast: Aparna Sen, Debashree Roy, to the subtleties and repertoire of the and Briju Maharaj, her artisty, technique, Dipankar Dey, Chitra Sen, Prasenjit Etawah Imdadkhani gharana. eloquence and characteristic energy Chatterjee & others mark every performance. She was Admission on a first-come-first- recently nominated in the category of The film screening will be followed served basis. NCPA Members will outstanding performance (classical) by a post film discussion with get preferential seating till 5.20 pm. by the National Dance Critics Circle Shubhra Gupta, Film Critic, The Awards 2017 in the UK. Premiered in Indian Express. dance 1996, Footprints On Water was one of her most iconic solos, that explored Admission on a first-come-first- Designs of Space and Time the six changing seasons, evoking served basis. NCPA Members do not By Kadamb & images of life that are transient. She have to register and will be given Footprints On Water is performing four extracts: Varsha, entry on display of membership (Extracts) Sharad, Hemant and Shishir. card. By Aditi Mangaldas Tata Theatre Concept, Choreography and Costumes: western classical music Sunday, 20th – 6.00 pm Aditi Mangaldas Music Composition: Shubha Mudgal Young Generation An NCPA Presentation Pianists Tickets: Zacharias Brandman Kadamb's dance ensemble is one of `525, 450, 375 & 225/- (Members) Rhys Concessao the most outstanding Kathak dance `700, 600, 500 & 300/- (Public) Experimental Theatre troupes in India. The renowned Kathak (Inclusive of GST) Tuesday, 22nd – 7.00 pm legend Padma Bhushan Kumudini Box Office: 26th September for Lakhia has invested her lifetime in Members & 29th September for A Mehli Mehta Music Foundation promoting and propagating classical Public Presentation

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Programme Guide.indd 54 17/09/19 3:19 PM Two highly talented young pianists Sujata Mohapatra, Celebrated dancer and Sangeet Natak 31st, Experimental of Indian origin, aged 15 and 16 from Theatre Akademi awardee Sujata Mohapatra the UK, will perform an exciting is known for her unique artistry and programme of piano repertoire. adherence to Kelucharan Mohapatra’s Zacharias Brandman is a music scholar style of Odissi. Known for her at Westminster School and has already distinctive balance of power and grace, performed concertos and solo recitals in Mohapatra is one of the few Indian the UK and in Europe. Rhys Concessao exponents who has been regarded as is a student at the Purcell School and “one of the great dancers of our time” winner of many competitions and prizes by Alastair Macaulay of The New York in the UK and Europe. Both pianists have Times. She is the daughter-in-law and performed with Lang Lang and have disciple of Kelucharan Mohapatra and been invited to take part in master will be presenting some of his iconic classes with renowned international choreographies. Shila Mehta is a pianists such as Stephen Kovacevic, distinguished Kathak exponent with Vladimir Ashkenazy, Dimitri Alexeev, a Masters in Dance (Gold Medalist) Boris Petrushansky, etc. The programme and choreographer recognised for will include works by Haydn, Beethoven, innovative presentations with the Chopin and Kapustin. established traditions. One of the leading exponents of Lucknow Tickets: Shubhada Varadkar sharing their gharana of Kathak, Mehta has the `750 & 500/- (Plus GST) experiences of teaching and learning privilege of being the shagird of Vijay Box Office: 26th September for this masterpiece. Shankar and Birju Maharaj. This is not Members & 29th September for only a dance production but a raging Public Registration Fees: social comment in the contemporary `3,000 /- inclusive of GST context. The choreography aims photography (Inclusive of practice quality music) to give voice to the most common For registrations: Call 6622 issue of gender bias existing all over Sanctuary's Call of the 3802/ 8879114939 or Email: the world. It is also to challenge that Wild [email protected] or section of the society that is prejudiced Photo Exhibition log on to bookmyshow.com against the third gender. We all know Piramal Art Gallery that the soul has no gender. Gender Saturday, 26th to Monday, 28th – dance comes from flesh. The concept, script 12.00 pm to 8.00 pm & choreography of Nimitta is by Padma Odissi by Sujata Bhushan Kanak Rele. The prize-winning images from the Mohapatra Sanctuary Wildlife Photography & Nimitta Tickets: Awards 2019 will be on display Kathak by Shila Mehta `450 & 360/- (Members) between Saturday, 26th and Monday, Experimental Theatre `500 & 400/- (Public) 28th October, 2019. Thursday, 31st – 6.30 pm Box Office: 26th September for Members & 29th September for Entry Free An NCPA Presentation Public

dance Shila Mehta, 31st, Experimental Theatre Odissi Workshop By Sujata Mohapatra Piramal Art Gallery Wednesday, 30th October to Saturday, 2nd November – 11.00 am to 5.00 pm

An NCPA Presentation

Ahe nila saila is an immortal creation of a Muslim devotee of Jagannath, poet Salabega. Join us as we learn and interpret this iconic choreography of Kelucharan Mohapatra along with Sujata Mohapatra. We also have artistes like Jhelum Paranjpe, Daksha Mashruwala, Debi Basu and

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Programme Guide.indd 55 17/09/19 3:22 PM What’sNOVEMBER & DECEMBER Next 2019 (Programmes are subject to change. Please check the website and refer to our emails for updated information.)

Jungle Book 2, 3rd November, Experimental Theatre theatre Tickets: `720 /- (Members) Massage `800/- (Public) Hindi Play (120 mins) (Inclusive of GST) Godrej Dance Theatre Box Office: 9th October for Members & Sunday, 3rd November – 7.00 pm 12th October for Public

An NCPA Presentation screening

Written by Vijay Tendulkar, Massage peeps Turandot theatre into the underbelly of today’s society by Giacomo Puccini through the escapades of Happy Kumar who Opera Screening (182 mins) Jungle Book 2 comes to join the film industry to become Sung in Italian with English Subtitles Hindi/English Play (100 mins) an actor but becomes the fourth assistant Godrej Dance Theatre Experimental Theatre director of a filmmaker called Kolhi who Tuesday, 5th November – 6.00 pm Sunday, 3rd November – 5.00 pm specialises in the snake and sex genre of cinema. With his sensitivity gone for a toss, An NCPA – The Metropolitan Opera An NCPA Presentation in collaboration he finally lands up in a ladies gym as an (New York) Presentation with Rangbaaz instructor, where Kumar learns the intricacies of massage therapy and becomes a famous Turandot was the final work of Puccini, who A musical adaptation with a twist in the story masseur. Rakesh Bedi deftly plays 24 died before it was completed. Turandot is a of the jungle folk, Jungle Book 2 is a sneak different characters in his inimitable comic love story set in China. Within the walls of the peek into the life of Mowgli as he grows up style in a span of two hours. great violet city of Peking, an announcement surrounded by Baloo and Bagheera, learns is made that Princess Turandot will marry only his life lessons and eventually goes back into Written by Vijay Tendulkar a suitor of royal blood who will answer three the human civilization. But what happens Adapted in Hindi by Rakesh Bedi riddles set by her. Suitors who fail to answer when all your learning comes back to test Directed & Performed by Rakesh Bedi the riddles will be executed. An unknown you and stands in the way of your most trusted friendships? With a twist in the tale, Turandot, 5th November, Mowgli is forced to return to the forest and Godrej Dance Theatre his most cherished friendships with Baloo and Bagheera are put to test.

Based on the Original book by Rudyard Kipling Adapted by Pawan Uttam, Lokesh Rai & Gagan Dev Riar Directed by Lokesh Rai & Swapnil Shrirao Cast: Mohit Agarwal, Kavin Dave, Gagan Riar, Nitin Bharadwaj, Lokesh Rai & others

Suggested Age: 4 +

Tickets: `450/- (Members) `500/- (Public) Massage, 3rd November, Box Office: 26th September for Godrej Dance Theatre Members & 29th September for Public

56 • October 2019 NCPA

Highlights.indd 56 17/09/19 3:40 PM prince who is in love with the princess appears slow nor fast, a madhya laya bandish lends from the crowds and solves the riddles, but itself to an interesting exposition of the Turandot is reluctant to marry him. The Prince raga. In this recital, Kashalkar will present offers her a way out: if she can learn his name madhya laya khayal bandishes and tarana before dawn, then at daybreak he will die. compositions in various ragas from his rich repertoire. Conductor: Yannick Nézet-Séguin Production: Franco Zeffirelli Tickets: Cast: Christine Goerke, Eleonora Buratto, `315 & 180/- (Members) Roberto Aronica & James Morris `350 & 200/- (Public) Box Office: 26th October for Members Tickets: `500/- & 29th October for Public `250/- (only for students on production of valid ID cards) indian music Box Office: 9th October for Members & 12th October for Public Har Ek Pal Ka Sahir Season discount: 15% off on purchase Celebrating the Genius of Sahir Sahir Ludhianvi, of tickets for 6 or more screenings in the Ludhianvi 10th November, 2019-2020 season Concept & Compere: Suhail Akhtar Experimental Theatre Warsi indian music Singers: Smita Rao Bellur & Vaibhav Tickets: Vashishtha `450 & 360/- (Members) Hindustani Vocal Music Experimental Theatre `500 & 400/- (Public) Recital Sunday, 10th November – 5.30 pm Box Office: 9th October for Members & by Ulhas Kashalkar (approx. 120 mins) 12th October for Public Experimental Theatre An NCPA Presentation Friday, 8th November – 6.30 pm screening Abdul Hayee (1921-1980), popularly known as In collaboration with Kilachand Sahir Ludhianvi, was known for his ghazals Bolshoi Ballet: Foundation since his college days. His collaboration with Le Corsaire music directors like Ravi, S. D. Burman, Roshan, by Adolphe Adam A Hindustani music recital typically centres N. Dutta and Khayyam led to some timeless Ballet Screening (150 mins) around one or more compositions known as classics. Suhail Akhtar Warsi is a well-known Godrej Dance Theatre bandishes. As well-structured pre-composed poet and writer who has written plays on Monday, 11th November - 6.30 pm entities, bandishes are carriers of the Amir Khusrau and Sahir Ludhianvi. Smita Rao compositional and improvisational aesthetics Bellur is a popular Hindustani and Sufi music An NCPA-Pathé Live (Paris) Presentation of a gharana and /or the composer. Ulhas singer. Vaibhav Vashishtha is a young vocalist Kashalkar is an outstanding vocalist and who has made a mark as a playback singer. Le Corsaire (The Pirate) is a ballet in three acts, guru. He has had the privilege of training with Highlighting the details of Ludhianvi’s style, with a libretto based on the poem ‘The Corsair’ masters of three gharanas: Gwalior, Agra and the event will showcase some evergreen songs by Lord Byron. Originally choreographed by Jaipur. He has a vast repertoire of bandishes based on his poetry, set to haunting music by balletmaster Joseph Mazilier to the music especially set in madhya laya (medium tempo). directors who had a penchant for classical of Adolphe Adam, the ballet has many Because of its peculiar pace, which is neither music. celebrated passages like the scene Le Jardin ) corsaire

le (

Le Corsaire, Ulhas Kashalkar, 8th fetisova

November, 11th November, Godrej Dance Theatre Experimental Theatre elena

NCPA October 2019 • 57

Highlights.indd 57 19/09/19 4:53 PM Animé, the Pas d’Esclave, and the Grand Pas Tickets: together, or maybe Marianne reveals that she de Trois des Odalisques. The most celebrated `600 & 400/- (Plus GST) is now engaged to someone else. Or perhaps is the Le Corsaire Pas de Deux, which is among Box Office: 9th October for Members & Roland is engaged. Or what if Roland and classical ballet’s most iconic excerpts. 12th October for Public Marianne navigate all of this and get married? Or what if their time together is cut tragically Music: Adolphe Adam theatre short? Does free will exist? Or are we playing Choreography: Alexei Ratmansky out one of a multitude of predetermined Cast: Ekaterina Krysanova, Igor Tsvirko, Constellations, possibilities? Nick Payne’s touching and funny Denis Savin, Nelli Kobakhidze, Denis 21st to 24th November, multi-award-winning play is about many Rodkin & the Corps de Ballet Experimental Theatre things – string theory, the multiverse, free will, choice, honey – but it is also about what it is to Tickets: `500/- love someone so much that you will put their `250/- (only for students on production needs before your own, no matter the cost. of valid ID cards) Box Office: 9th October for Members & Written by Nick Payne 12th October for Public Directed by Bruce Guthrie Season discount: 15% off on purchase Cast: Mansi Multani & Jim Sarbh of tickets for 6 or more screenings in the Set and Projection Designer: Andrzej 2019-2020 season Goulding Lighting Designer: Akshay Khubchandani western classical music Sound Designer: Mike Walker NCPA Theatre Season 2019-20 Composer: Sion Trefor SOI Chamber Orchestra Movement Director: Amelia Cardwell Mikel Toms, conductor Constellations Producer: Pádraig Cusack Experimental Theatre English Play (80 mins) Tuesday, 12th November – 7.00 pm Experimental Theatre Age: 16+ Thursday, 21st & Friday, 22nd November An NCPA Presentation – 7.00 pm Tickets: Saturday, 23rd & Sunday, 24th `675 & 585/- (Members) British conductor Mikel Toms has worked November – 4.00 pm & 7.00 pm `750 & 650/- (Public) with many orchestras and ensembles (Inclusive of GST) around the world, including the Royal An NCPA Production Box Office: 9th October for Members & Philharmonic Orchestra, London Chamber 12th October for Public Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic One relationship. Infinite possibilities. Marianne Orchestra, Oslo Sinfonietta, Ensemble and Roland meet at a barbecue. They are international music Modern, Brno Philharmonic Orchestra, City single, or recently single or in a relationship or of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, and married? Perhaps they go on a date and fall in Mud Morganfield: Live in more. Toms will lead a concert featuring love, or perhaps it does not go well? Maybe Concert musicians of the SOI as soloists in works by they get together and they break up? After a Tata Theatre Mozart, Vaughan Williams and more. chance encounter at a dance lesson preparing Saturday, 23rd November – 7.00 pm for an upcoming wedding, they get back

Mikel Toms, Mud Morganfield, 12th November, 23rd November, Experimental Tata Theatre Theatre

58 • October 2019 NCPA

Highlights.indd 58 17/09/19 3:42 PM An NCPA Presentation lead a concert of beloved classics as part of First to Blink the NCPA’s 50th anniversary celebrations. English Play (120 mins) Multi-award-winning artiste, Mud SOI Music Director Marat Bisengaliev is the Experimental Theatre Morganfield is an established star in the featured soloist. Brabbins and Bisengaliev Thursday, 5th to Saturday, 7th world of blues. He is the eldest son of the recently performed together on the SOI’s December – 7.30 pm legendary blues musician, Muddy Waters, and maiden UK Tour, earning rave reviews in the Sunday, 8th December – 5.00 pm & was brought up surrounded by many of the press and much acclaim from audiences in 7.30 pm finest musicians. Morganfield’s singing is firmly India and the UK. entrenched in the best traditions of Chicago An NCPA Production Blues, but he is also a writer of great new songs Programme: and is backed by some of the best musicians Haydn: Symphony No. 104 First to Blink was originally written and playing the blues today. He is acclaimed by Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor performed in Marathi and was widely both critics and artistes such as Buddy Guy Mozart: Symphony No. 41 “Jupiter” acclaimed. They performed over 300 shows and Jools Holland for his own musical ability. under the Marathi name Chhaapa Kaata. In the Morganfield’s award-winning album, Son of Tickets: outwardly serene city of Nasik, the thirty-three- the Seventh Son was nominated in the Best `2,500, 2,000, 1,500, 1,000 & 500/- year-old Maitreyi and her mother Uttara lead a Album and the Traditional Blues Male Artist (Plus GST) seemingly settled life. When Maitreyi stumbles Album categories of the Blues Foundation’s Box Office: 9th October for Members & upon Aseem, a young teacher from a boarding Blues Music Award. Morganfield’s travels are 12th October for Public school in Uttarkashi, she falls hopelessly in taking him and his music worldwide, with love. When she tells her mother of this, little appearances in the biggest festivals and screening does she anticipate what lies ahead. First to venues – such as the legendary Ronnie Scott’s Blink maps this unique journey, where extreme Jazz Club and the BluesFest at the Royal Albert Hansard animosity coexists with intense love. It is the Hall in London, and on iconic TV shows such as By Simon Wood story where responsibility coexists with desire, Later…with Jools Holland on the BBC network. Theatre Screening (180 mins) and where aspirations coexist with thwarted He has also featured in a documentary by a Godrej Dance Theatre dreams. modern bluesman of international fame, Hugh Wednesday, 4th December – 6.00 pm Laurie, with whom he has also appeared on Written & translated by Irawati Karnik stage in Chicago. An NCPA-National Theatre Live (London) Directed by Anahita Uberoi Presentation Executive Producer: Devika Shahani Tickets: Lighting Designer: Arghya Lahiri `2,500, 2,000, 1,500, 1,000 & 750/- The official report of all parliamentary Cast: Swaroop Sampat, Shivani Tanksale, (Plus GST) debates. See two-time Olivier Award winners, Adhir Bhatt & others Box Office now open Lindsay Duncan (Birdman, About Time) and Alex Jennings (The Lady in the Van, The Tickets: western classical music Queen), in this brand new play by Simon `675 & 585/- (Members) Wood, broadcast live from the National `750 & 650/- (Public) Symphony Orchestra of Theatre in London. On a summer morning (Inclusive of GST) India in 1988, Tory politician Robin Hesketh has Box Office: 9th October for Members & Martyn Brabbins, conductor returned home to the idyllic Cotswold house 12th October for Public Marat Bisengaliev, violin he shares with his wife of 30 years, Diana. But Jamshed Bhabha Theatre all is not as blissful as it seems. Diana has a screening Tuesday, 26th November – 7.00 pm stinking hangover, a fox is destroying the garden, and secrets are being dug up all over Manon An NCPA Presentation the place. As the day draws on, what starts by Jules Massenet as gentle ribbing with the familiar rhythms Opera Screening (232 mins) Martyn Brabbins, Music Director of the of marital scrapping quickly turns to a blood Sung in French with English Subtitles English National Opera and a regular guest sport. Do not miss this witty and devastating Godrej Dance Theatre conductor of the SOI, returns to Mumbai to portrait of the governing class, directed by Saturday, 7th December – 5.00 pm Simon Godwin (NT Live: Antony & Cleopatra, Twelfth Night) and part of National Theatre An NCPA – The Metropolitan Opera (New Live’s 10th birthday season. York) Presentation

Age: 15+ Manon is Massenet’s most popular opera – a

) tale of love, greed and betrayal. Young Manon Tickets: `400/- is sent to a convent by her family but has an brabbins Box Office: 9th November for Members & encounter with a young student, Chevalier des 12th November for Public Grieux, on the way. The two of them quickly get martyn

( acquainted, fall in love and elope to Paris. Manon Martyn Brabbins, theatre longs for riches that des Grieux cannot provide. 26th November,

ealovega When she is persuaded to leave him, Manon has

Jamshed Bhabha Theatre ben NCPA Theatre Season 2019-20 to pay the price for choosing luxury over love.

NCPA October 2019 • 59

Highlights.indd 59 17/09/19 3:43 PM Conductor: Maurizio Benini An NCPA-National Theatre Live (London) of tickets for 6 or more screenings in the Production: Laurent Pelly Presentation 2019-2020 season Cast: Lisette Oropesa, Michael Fabiano, Carlo Bosi, Artur Ruciński, Brett Polegato Matthew Warchus directs Andrew Scott western classical music & Kwangchul Youn (BBC’s Sherlock, Fleabag) in Noël Coward’s provocative comedy Present Laughter. As he Artie’s Festival Tickets: `500/- prepares to embark on an overseas tour, star (approx. 120 mins) `250/- (only for students on production actor Garry Essendine’s colourful life is in Tata Theatre of valid ID cards) danger of spiralling out of control. Engulfed Wednesday, 18th December – 7.00 pm Box Office: 9th October for Members & by an escalating identity crisis as his many 12th October for Public relationships compete for his attention, An NCPA Presentation Season discount: 15% off on purchase Essendine’s few remaining days at home are a of tickets for 6 or more screenings in the chaotic whirlwind of love, sex, panic and soul- The Artie’s regularly bring together stellar 2019-2020 season searching. Captured live from The Old Vic musicians from around Europe to perform in London, Present Laughter is a giddy and chamber music of the highest level. This screening surprisingly modern reflection on fame, desire special edition to celebrate the 50th and loneliness. anniversary of the NCPA will feature a varied Leonardo: The Works programme performed along with members Exhibition Screening (approx. 85 mins) Age: 15+ of the Symphony Orchestra of India. Godrej Dance Theatre Wednesday, 11th December – 6.30 pm Tickets: `400/- Tickets: Box Office: 9th November for Members `600, 500 & 300/- (Plus GST) An NCPA- Seventh Art Productions (UK) & 12th November for Public Box Office: 9th November for Members Presentation & 12th November for Public screening Leonardo da Vinci is acclaimed as the world’s screening favourite artist. Many TV shows and feature Bolshoi Ballet: films have showcased this extraordinary The Nutcracker Madama Butterfly genius, but often not examined, closely by Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky by Giacomo Puccini enough, the most crucial element of all: Ballet Screening (130 mins) Opera Screening (192 mins) his art. Leonardo’s peerless paintings and Godrej Dance Theatre Sung in Italian with English Subtitles drawings will be the focus of Leonardo: The Tuesday, 17th December – 6.30 pm Godrej Dance Theatre Works, as Exhibition On Screen presents Sunday, 22nd December – 5.00 pm every single attributed painting, in Ultra HD An NCPA-Pathé Live (Paris) Presentation quality, never seen before on the big screen. An NCPA – The Metropolitan Opera Key works include ‘The Mona Lisa’, ‘The Last Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, the story of a young (New York) Presentation Supper’, ‘Lady with an Ermine’, ‘Ginevra de’ girl’s journey to a magical land on Christmas Benci’, ‘Madonna Litta’, ‘Virgin of the Rocks’, Eve, is not only the composer’s most famous Madama Butterfly is a tragedy, set in Japan, and more than a dozen others. This film work but also one of the most famous ballets about the love between a United States Navy also looks afresh at Leonardo’s life – his of all time. The Nutcracker is often performed lieutenant, Pinkerton and the geisha, Cio-Cio inventiveness, his sculptural skills, his military around the Christmas season due to its content, San, also known as Madama Butterfly. She foresight and his ability to navigate the and many families make it an annual tradition is in love with him and wants to marry him. treacherous politics of the day – through the to attend a performance. From the Gift of the Pinkerton, though infatuated with her, has to prism of his art. To be released on the 500th Nutcracker to the Attack of the Mouse King, return to the US on duty and there, decides anniversary of his death, this is the definitive from a Magical Land to Dancing Delights; to marry an American woman. Meanwhile, film about Leonardo: the first to truly tell the figure out whether it is a dream or a reality. If Butterfly has given birth to their son. She waits whole story. you have never seen this ballet, or you need a for her love to return only to find out that she refresher on the story, join us at the NCPA for stands to lose everything she holds dear. Directed by Phil Grabsky this marvellous screening. Conductor: Pier Giorgio Morandi Tickets: `400/- Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Production: Anthony Minghella Box Office: 9th November for Members Choreography: Yuri Grigorovich Cast: Hui He, Elizabeth DeShong, Andrea & 12th November for Public Cast: Margarita Shrainer, Semyon Chudin, Carè & Plácido Domingo Denis Savin, Alexandre Vodopetov & the screening Corps de Ballet Tickets: `500/- `250/- (only for students on production Present Laughter Tickets: `500/- of valid ID cards) By Noël Coward `250/- (only for students on production Box Office: 9th October for Members & Theatre Screening (180 mins) of valid ID cards) 12th October for Public Godrej Dance Theatre Box Office: 9th October for Members & Season discount: 15% off on purchase Saturday, 14th December – 2.00 pm & 12th October for Public of tickets for 6 or more screenings in 6.00 pm Season discount: 15% off on purchase the 2019-2020 season

60 • October 2019 NCPA

Highlights.indd 60 17/09/19 3:44 PM