February 2020

ON Stagevolume 9 • issue 7 The SOI Spring 2020 Season A Season for All

Stellar pianists Maria João Pires and Jean-Philippe Collard Zakir Hussain’s concerto for four soloists Excerpts from the best of musicals

Cover final.indd 1 18/01/20 3:43 PM NCPA Chairman Khushroo N. Suntook

Editorial Director Radhakrishnan Nair

Editor Snigdha Hasan Contents Consulting Editor 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

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

Printer Features Spenta Multimedia, Peninsula Spenta, Mathuradas Mill Compound, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai – 400013 quite out of the ordinary happens. By Freyan Patel Materials in ON Stage cannot be reproduced in 08 Reflections part or whole without the written permission of the publisher. Views and opinions expressed Ageless pursuits. By Anil Dharker in this magazine are not necessarily those of 20 the publisher. All rights reserved. They’ve Got Magic To Do 10 Preparation for the musical theatre gala NCPA Booking Office at the NCPA, featuring excerpts from The Politics of Freedom 2282 4567/6654 8135/6622 3724 beloved musicals is in full swing. We talk The two works slated for performance by www.ncpamumbai.com to the three stars from the West End – the SOI on 25th February could not be more Daniel Bowling, John Owen-Jones and different. But both are compelling essays Lucie Jones – who are slated to have their that convey a message, directly from the maiden performance in India as part of composer, that is far broader than any single the SOI Spring 2020 Season. performance, and as powerfully universal as By Vipasha Aloukik Pai it is timely. By Zane Dalal

16 24 Opposing Forces Before the curtain rises Characters that linger in the memory. While pianist Maria João Pires and violinist Dialogues that are on point. A gripping, and conductor Augustin Dumay – who are no-frills plot that progresses with sleek returning to the NCPA to perform for the SOI movements. Deep into rehearsal, the Spring 2020 Season – are individually revered ensemble cast of the NCPA production of for their outstanding musical capabilities, it The Mirror Crack’d tells ON Stage how it is all is when they share the stage that something coming together. By Snigdha Hasan

4 Contents.indd 4 18/01/20 3:47 PM 28 36 The Spontaneous Mystic Ahead of her performance at this year’s edition of Sama’a, we speak to Parvathy Baul, one of the most popular exponents of the ancient Baul tradition, about life as a mystic minstrel. By Pranita Pandurangi 32 An Eclectic Affair Preparing to perform in this year’s edition of Spectrum, PETRA BECKERS Kathak exponent Aditi Bhagwat chronicling the personal and and flamenco artiste Bettina the political. Joy Bimal Roy shares Castaño discuss the timeless reminiscences of his mother, one 28 connection between the two of the earliest known women dance forms. photographers of India. By Sunayana Mohanty 36 50 Music Without Borders Kaleidoscope One of the very few women Your window to the latest in trumpeters active globally, Saskia the performing arts across Laroo is a master improviser, India and the world. musically adventurous and genre inclusive in equal measure. By Kusumita Das 52 In Memoriam: So long, Doctor 38 The world of theatre and cinema Mythos in Miniature lost an icon in the passing of Distinguished art historian Dr. Shreeram Lagoo. Eminent B. N. Goswamy dissects the playwright Mahesh Elkunchwar miniature paintings in a rare remembers the man behind the manuscript of the Bhagavata legend. Purana, formerly in the collection of the Mysore Palace. 54 Archives: Goethe meets 42 Shakuntala The strength of community Heimo Rau writes about Kalidasa’s The NCPA’s Mumbai Dance lifelong influence on Goethe. Season Finale is a fitting culmination of the unifying spirit of the month-long season that 56 Follow us on: celebrates the coming together Programme Guide of the city’s dance fraternity. A guide to all the events facebook.com/NCPAMumbai By Shayonnita Mallik happening at the NCPA in @NCPAMumbai February 46 @NCPAMumbai Light and Shadow 68 youtube.com/user/TheNCPAMumbai1 In an era when women were What’s Next still in purdah, Manobina Roy What to expect in the following We look forward to your feedback and suggestions. Please do drop us an set about with her camera, months email at [email protected].

4 Contents.indd 6 18/01/20 3:48 PM COMPOSITION THE POLITICS OF FREEDOM The two works slated for and the powerful role of performance by the SOI on music and composition 25th February could not be more different. But both are compelling

t is a great pleasure to write for ON Stage essays that convey a message, once more, to introduce our readers to the directly from the composer, that treasures that lie ahead in the forthcoming is far broader than any single Spring 2020 season of the Symphony Orchestra of India. A word or two about the performance, and as powerfully repertoireI in general is worth repeating. The docket universal as it is timely. for the orchestra is always a challenging subject Zane Dalal traces the origins of – challenging because it is commanded by two instinctive questions that must meet in the middle. these pieces as he introduces the On the one hand, what will play well to our audiences forthcoming season’s repertoire. and inspire them to attend and support us? On the other, what is the appropriate repertoire to challenge This season, we not only deliver on technical and grow the technique, stamina, dexterity and challenge and experience, but we broaden the performing experience of a nascent orchestra, not yet scope for players and audiences alike, with the a middling teenager? We must look to the methodical introduction of French repertoire, performed by the placement of blocks of masonry, especially when experts, pianist Jean-Philippe Collard and conductor/ they are early and foundational. Like a great medieval composer Laurent Petitgirard; a programme of the cathedral – the initial lines of sight and plumbing of core classical repertoire – Mozart & Beethoven – sure lines must be accurate, as they will make or break with the celebrated pianist Maria João Pires and the edifice. Future generations in the decades ahead conductor/violinst Augustin Dumay; and performing will test those true equations – and like the cathedral the Indian premiere of a work by Zakir Hussain, masons, it is possible that the grandchildren of the allowing a meaningful exploration of the boundary original master builders will attend the consecration line. This is how one moves forward. This is the mark of their life’s work, as old men. When we meet to of progress. This is the way that we might prune and decide the best path, to plot the line ahead, these trim our ‘bonsai’ – by knowing where the boundaries factors weigh heavily on our minds, and I know that lie. This is the intent of our thinking. discussion and conversation between our Chairman The objective of this article is to shed some light on Khushroo Suntook, our Music Director and Co- the two works we perform on the 25th. It is of historical Founder Marat Bisengaliev and myself, is a healthy importance to note what the composers were doing, back and forth. We know that consensus, as well as all and what they were thinking, in the gestation period the ideas on the table will point to a path that must be of their composition, and if any outside forces were true and daren’t be whimsical. What makes it all the brought to bear. The idea of putting Shostakovich’s more challenging is the steep trajectory upon which Symphony No. 5 on the same programme as Hussain’s the orchestra finds itself – and whilst we are proud Ameen, Amen, Shanti, a concerto for four soloists, did of the strides we have made in a relatively short not at the time render such a bonded connection as I time, we must maintain the impetus and the search am about to explore with you. But I have found the last for excellence. few months of work on both pieces have compelled

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Zane's story.indd 10 18/01/20 1:02 PM Zane's story.indd 11 Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk of Macbeth Lady opera the including to up and works ofhis All imposed. be to started already had that confines artistic instructed ofsocially aset meeting was that music enough, funnily orchestration, extraordinary music, extraordinary and was Here ascendancy. in was career ofagreat arc grand action. illogical completely and privation extra by marked is near. It be might dominance to their end the feel that forces tyrannical from expects one that ofcriticism kind the itis again, and time that us shows History family. their or friends their individual, the for fatality potential and disgrace national punishment, ofharsh possibility itthe with carried criticism unqualified the case, in this fact, In criticism. unqualified of rollercoaster unfair with the marked is life his yet, and generation, ofany composers Russian greatest ofthe one as stands Shostakovich Dmitri government. ofdictatorial oppression the from conjured and kind – Nationalism of Russian spirit the from derived itis repertoire, modern ofthe ‘warhorse’ A great Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 is fascinating. it as poignant as is that message a broader to see me By 1925, with his First Symphony, it was clear that the the that Symphony, clear itwas First withhis 1925, By , possessed by the need to control and dominate, dominate, and to control by need the , possessed were heralded as genius, and and genius, as heralded were the bad bad the terrifyingly, Shostakovich’s life went on hold. He talks talks He hold. on went life Shostakovich’s terrifyingly, more and hold, on went Symphony Fourth the hold, on went by 1937. May Opera dead The all were –and Stalin by executed to be ordered all were Piotrovsky Adrian Zhilyayev, and Kornilov Tukhachevsky, Nikolai Boris Mikhail Marshal colleagues, and friends close addition, In to Siberia. sent be soon would Mariya sister his and started had of1936-1937 pogroms terrifying The meant. this to naïve what not was Shostakovich badly”. very end could which things, with nonsensical playing is “this threat veiled the containing and piece the condemning appeared, Music’ not ‘Muddle article Two love the scenes. in days later, loud the out laughing and by on sycophants egged performance, entire the through grimaced Stalin consequential. very What happened next is infamous and appalling, but oftriumph. amoment in introduced to be expecting have been would he sure Iam already, piece of the success popular and political the Given Politburo. entire the and by Stalin attended was which opera ofthe performance January 26th the at present was Shostakovich to attend, by a friend advised fact, in and world, withthe well was All simultaneously. Moscow in theatres three in and Europe, in performed being it was around, came 1936 May by time the that 1934, January in debut Leningrad its after successful so was opera the NCPA February 2020 •11 2020 February Dmitri Shostakovich Pravda 18/01/20 1:03 PM

michael ozersky/slava katamidze collection/getty images From left to right: Zakir Hussain; Hariharan; Kelley O’Connor; Shankar Mahadevan; Antonia Minnecola; Alex Kelly; Christoph Eschenbach at the premiere of Ameen, Amen, Shanti at the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.

of the despair of nights spent on the landing outside How do we know this to be fact? If one wants to know his front door, so that his family would not be awoken the real Shostakovich, look to the 15 quartets, not to when the Secret Police came to take him away. Of this the symphonies. The first quartet also comes from the possibility he was sure, and he lived in complete fear. Lady Macbeth period, and in fact quotes generously Lady Macbeth and the Fourth Symphony did not see from it and other snippets from that early unadulterated the light again until the 1960s, when a benign Nikita style. He does not write another quartet until 1946, Khrushchev looked on, unable to stop the international and then, it is always in the quartets that the real, full, acclaim Shostakovich had finally achieved. emotional, private and didactic musician is completely However, in 1937, demonstrable. Fifteen symphonies Shostakovich had to Dmitri Shostakovich and 15 quartets later, one can assess purposefully and publically the true emotional ride by looking redeem himself, and be seen stands as one of the at history. Shostakovich was not to be redeeming himself observing this history as a bystander, if he were to survive. The greatest Russian he was in it, experiencing it, governed Fifth Symphony is entitled, composers of any by it, fearing it and greatly pained by “An artist’s response to just it. The quartets and later symphonies criticism” – and with populist, generation, and yet, his allow a release of the stored emotion easy melodies and fanfares by way of musical commentary. that drive the blood, he life was marked with The seesaw was not over. Following deliberately appeals to the the unfair rollercoaster his rehabilitation with the triumphant lowest common denominator reception of the Fifth Symphony, war in music appreciation. He of unqualified criticism broke out with the Finnish people succeeds, somewhat tongue- in 1939. Despite commissions for in-cheek, to rehabilitate himself, at the same time stirring militaristic works, the Red Army suffered huge deliciously implicating the puerility of the political defeat. The commissions had come from none other critics. This is not to say the work does not have than Andrei Zhdanov – the party leader in Leningrad – extraordinary musical merit. It does. However, it is not however, all were too embarrassed to use the resulting

the real Shostakovich. It is the remoulded, sceptic, Suite on Finnish Themes. The year 1941 brought the schulman

fearful, compliant artiste, who realises that his real force war with Germany and, with it, the depth of human

would have to be controlled and manifested sotto voce. loss in the Leningrad campaign. Despite the Seventh margot

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Zane's story.indd 12 18/01/20 1:04 PM Symphony’s proclamation of victory, the similarity of it with Ameen, Amen, Shanti is to read in his own words, to the Fifth and the effects of the ‘Stalingrad’ Symphony the composer’s impulses, the reason the work takes its No. 8, Zhdanov’s denunciation of Shostakovich, along form, and the reason its message is so important. Here with Prokofiev and Khachaturian, went on without below, a few bon mots from Hussain penned especially mercy in 1948. The grip of this tyrannical and barbaric for this article of ON Stage: oppression of art relaxed just a bit with Stalin’s death “As a child I was brought up in what appeared to in 1953. It should be a shock to the senses that the me to be ‘a normal upbringing’. Around 4 am, I would conditions of the former Soviet Union have been held sit with my father and learn about Indian rhythms up as an example of good society – and the rose-tinted and their divine source i.e. Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, spectacles of memory have seen fit to lay wreaths at Lord Krishna, Goddess Saraswati and more. At 6.30 Stalin’s tomb. Those who rewrite history and forget am, I would go to the madrasa and learn to recite and where they put the truth, do a disservice to the memorise the Quran Sharif and at 8 am, I would walk generation that is most recent. It is the young who will across the street to St. Michael’s church, sing the hymns err – and it is not so much history that repeats itself, but and then march to my classroom. I did not see any rather man’s incapacity for discomfort that forces him difference in these apparently different beliefs. It is this into repeating error. childhood memory that inspired me to write Ameen, Amen, Shanti. I fantasised about the possibility that in Ameen, Amen, Shanti this day and age, there may be leaders of these varied A scheduled composition by Ravi Shankar fell through, beliefs who would take the same journey as I did every and at the last minute, it fell to Hussain and his team, to morning and come to the same conclusion that I did.” provide a work, in a very short time frame, that would This succinct opinion on the merits or failings of not only fit the bill, but stand on its own merits for organised religion has fascinated millions over the posterity. The English text is by Antonia Minnecola. This years, and it seems that we never really sorted out what rather accidental germination of Ameen, Amen, Shanti, a “religion” means – and what it cannot achieve if it is concerto for four soloists, should not be misinterpreted. just another insulating boundary of one people against It is likely that, as with most things, what we thought another. The opinions that follow herein are mine and was the original plan, was never the original plan – and mine alone, and do not represent any official position, what we thought to be a last minute change, was the perceived or actual of any other party. I would avoid the intended result all along. This work could not be more discomfort of the topic, but it is so firmly rooted in the relevant than it is today. The best way to get to grips subject matter that I would be false to ignore it. Derived from the Latin verb ligo - ligare: to bind, religion is the Zakir Hussain act of rebinding oneself to the Divine. That proposition is most successfully achieved on a personal, individual level, and is almost impossible when dictated as a group policy that seeks to separate and divide. That is the opposite of the natural oneness of mankind. Beethoven’s ‘brotherhood’ is never far from mind, and easy to conjure. It does not stray from the bounds of this article to make some natural commentary, especially one that is endorsed by all types of musicians all over the world. Performing musicians are drawn by spirit and training and will and life force to seek out and perfect the harmonic elements in themselves and find concordance with those around them. It is the essence of live music making. It is the living experiment of the orchestra that ‘out of the many’ comes ‘one’, and the power that is transmitted from performer to listener in all types of music, travels on a path that will not stoop to manmade obstacles. If the direction of music is subverted by unnecessary baggage, it simply ceases to be a conduit for music. If one used the same text as I did, to describe the machinery of the Soviet State – and adapted it to apply to ‘organised religion’, it would not need much altering.

…possessed by the need to control and dominate and conjured from the oppression of dictatorial government… … tyrannical forces that feel the end to their dominance might be near…marked by extra privation and completely illogical action... Here, as plain as day, these two pieces force us to

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Zane's story.indd 13 18/01/20 1:04 PM Mr. Khushroo N. Suntook (left) with Marat Bisengaliev (centre) and Zane Dalal (right): the trio behind the curation of the SOI seasons

think upon the Politics of Freedom. In the Shostakovich have their Supreme Leaders. The very word Pope (or symphony, even a first-time listener can hear the Pontifex Maximus or Supreme Pontiff) means “Great antagonistic forces at work that are presented as Bridge Builder”. That is an inconvenient title for anyone firm rock, but perilous to the step. Here and there, who would proclaim elitism, orthodoxy or divisiveness. the individual personality, so eradicated in organised It is still, however, the essence of what all religious forms of tyranny, seeks to be heard – a still small voice – leaders are required to do. They are all “ecumenical a lost voice – that begs for justice. By the finale, though patriarchs”, and but for a thousand years or two, would the party elders may not have realised it, the personal all have likely been matriarchs. Whether priest, monk, individual has triumphed, and has broken the bonds temple, mosque or church, state, politburo, human and shackles that kept ‘freedom a prisoner’. If freedom rights, freedom of expression or individuality, it is not exists, and mankind is free, then political structures inconsequential that both Hussain and Shostakovich surely must claim to champion that freedom. As it write to a broader message – one of freedom. Freedom happens, the chains of political power must be devised to live, create, prosper and enjoy the richness of life by the need to control and dominate – and so, the one according to one’s own heart. And that the words we thing – ‘freedom’ – that good democratic governance know so well from Anton Schiller’s An die Freude or seeks to hold high, is thwarted down at the seed long Ode to Joy might inspire us once more, the way they before it has a chance to grow. did Beethoven: Similarly, in Ameen, Amen, Shanti, the piece finds “Be embraced, millions, this kiss to the entire world, its beginnings in deliberate disagreement – stylised brothers, above the starry canopy a loving father must groupings, one against the other. By its finale, the piece reside. He who would be a friend to a friend, or call has brought a resolution of concordance and peace another soul his own – is truly blest.” to the three competing elements, as if willing – as the composer does – all of us to engage in healthy and Zane Dalal is a frequent contributor to ON Stage, hearty ecumenism. The relationship between different and will be discussing this and other topics in his religions, and dialogue between them, is not a new idea, season lectures. He blogs at www.zanedalal.com nor is it a heresy. The leaders of different worshipping blog. The SOI will present Ameen, Amen, Shanti communities already have their role long established, a concerto for four soloists, by Zakir Hussain and and if they have forgotten what it is, or not looked to Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony on 25th February at the achieving it, that does not change their role. All religions Jamshed Bhabha Theatre.

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Zane's story.indd 14 18/01/20 1:05 PM ARCHIVES

Goethe meets Shakuntala 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 this article, Heimo Rau writes about Kalidasa’s deep and lifelong influence on German poet Goethe.

Before Johann Wolfgang von Goethe appears once every two thousand years…” discovered Kalidasa, he became Herder published three letters on acquainted with India and Indian Shakuntala. He studied Kalidasa’s play mythology through travellers’ reports in the light of drama rules evolved which circulated within the intellectual by Aristotle: “The Greek postulates a society of the 18th century, and were read development of the events which is, in with much interest and pleasure. Olfert each part, natural; the Indian, however, Dapper’s travelogues (Asia or a Detailed aims right from the beginning to the end at Report on the Kingdom of the Great a sacred, divine, miraculous correlation.” Moghuls, Nuremberg, 1681) offered Herder hurried to bring his discovery to Goethe his first contact with India. The Goethe’s notice. His friend’s enthusiasm poet has commented on it in the 12th about Kalidasa was no less exuberant, and book of his autobiography, Poetry and the instantaneous reaction of the poet Truth. Before he begins to express his after reading Forster’s translation was the views on Indian fables, he mentions the famous quatrain: “fables of the Edda”: “…When asked in Shall I embrace the blossoms of spring, the society to tell some tale, these were among fruits of the autumn the stories I most preferred to narrate!” All that enchants and that charms, all that He continues, however: “But all these A painting of nurtures and fills, Shakuntala things, much as I esteemed them, I could Shall I embrace in a name all heaven and never bring within the circle of my own whole of the earth, poetic faculty. Nobly as they excited my and inspire Goethe through decades. It Call I, Sakontala, thee – all is comprised imagination, they remained, nevertheless, started with Kalidasa, on whom we shall in one name. outside the sphere of objective sensuous concentrate, tempting as it may be to In the first verse of his poem, Goethe perception, while the rich mythology dwell on Indian legends like The God and deals with nature, remembering the of the Greeks, transformed by the the Bayadere and The Transposed Heads, flowers of spring and the fruits of autumn. world’s greatest artists into visible and which received a new shape and deep From childhood, his sensitive eyes and conceivable form, still lived before our meaning through Goethe’s creative and receptive mind were open to the charm eyes.” Goethe then jumps from Germanic imaginative transformation. of the landscape and the fascination of to Indian mythology and asserts: “I felt a Goethe’s studies of India are hard nature in its various aspects and changing similar, if not an equal, interest in Indian to imagine without Johann Gottfried moods. Moreover in his Weimar epoch, fables, which I had first learnt to know Herder: In November 1783, the two were he became an observer of scientific from Dapper’s ‘Travels’ and added them reconciled after a long estrangement. exactitude and carried out research work to my store of tales with much delight. The They read and discussed the introduction in botany, mineralogy, anatomy and Altar (Avatar) of Ram was always most to Herder’s “Ideas on the philosophy of physics. successful with my hearers, and in spite the history of mankind”, the first part of These efforts led him to the conclusion of the great variety of characters in this which appeared in 1784. We know how that nature always grows organically, not tale, the ape Hannemann (Hanuman) much Goethe encouraged his old friend to by leaps and bounds, but evolves slowly, remained the general favourite.” So, in his complete this life-work. After an interval step by step, from metamorphosis to twenties, the young Goethe would have of some years in which Goethe, and after metamorphosis. In his geological studies, gladly devoted some of this time without him, Herder, spent some time in Italy, he became convinced that wind and water further thought to the manifold charms of their discussion on India received a new through slow erosion, but not volcanic the Indian legends of gods and heroes. impetus through a happy event: In 1791, catastrophes, have shaped the surface the first German translation of Kalidasa’s of the earth. So he observed in nature, Blossom of the Orient Shakuntala was publish by Georg evolution not revolution. And Goethe If the first encounter with India could Forster. He sent one copy to Herder, concluded that all that man creates and have been considered to be a kind of merry who enthusiastically replied: “I cannot produces in art and literature, all his commons chatter, and it could be said, that in spite of easily find a product of human mind more activities, should develop in the same the stimulation of the phantasy, it had no pleasant than this one: …a real blossom of way, without individual passion and with effect on poetic creations, then the second the Orient, and the first, most beautiful of a constant striving for eternal truth and wikimedia encounter was to have a deeper effect its kind… Something like that, of course, universal validity.

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FOB Archives.indd 42 18/01/20 12:33 PM The scientific and the divine honour the (at the time) famous British Still another aspect of Goethe’s universal meteorologist Luke Howard whose essays conception comes to light in his study on about the clouds he appreciated very much, “The Metamorphosis of the Plant”, wherein he published a poem which mentions god he explains that all varieties of living Kamarupa right at the beginning, and plants can be derived from one prototype later on states that even the most reliable which creates, through innumerable cloud messenger will be dissolved before metamorphoses, all the species existing in reaching his goal in the distance whither nature. He is searching for the one unifying one sends love. power behind the confusing multiplicity of Goethe did not learn Sanskrit, but the phenomena. For Goethe, it is the result trained himself in the Indian scriptures. of scientific research. In Hinduism, it is the In the Goethe Archives, one may find belief that one divine power exists behind some papers on which the poet tried the the veil of maya. These ideas were prevalent Devanagari script. Goethe hailed the in Goethe’s mind in those years when he efforts of August Wilhelm Schlegel, who read Shakuntala. Goethe in 1818 printed the first Indian text with Following the course of the year, from Devanagari types in Germany. All this the buds and blossoms of spring is evidence of the keen interest time to the ripe harvest of the fall, Goethe took in India. But the the first verses of Goethe’s poem Goethe did not learn Sanskrit, picture would not be complete if on Shakuntala brings about the but trained himself in the one does not notice his aversion unfolding abundance as well as for Indian sculptures with their perfect completion of a cycle of Indian scriptures. In the Goethe multiple heads and limbs. The organic evolution. The second reason for this aversion is to be verse turns from nature to man. Archives, one may find some found in Goethe’s distinct idea “Unfeeling is the nature”, says papers on which the poet tried the about precise forms, trained Goethe in his poem “Edel sei der by the examples of the clear Mensch”, only man is capable of Devanagari script classical arts of the Greeks. sensation and evolution. Human But it is always Kalidasa to response to the impressions of nature is a in his supreme duty, as the representative whom Goethe turns time and again, chain of sentiments. of the most natural phase, of the finest full of admiration, whom he regards the After moving through the stages of way of life, of the purest ethical ideals, of representative of the genuine India: nature and man, the poet reaches the the most dignified majesty and the most Kalidas and others have attained climax encompassing the universe, heaven serious religion: But at the same time he their end; and earth, in the third verse, following remains the sovereign and master of his They have the neatness of the poet his maxim: Start from your small house creation, so that he may dare vulgar and Saved us from bad priests and grotesque and win, if possible, the wide world. So we ridiculous contrasts which, however, must images, have the chain of thoughts, which shows be considered as necessary links of the I would have lived in India myself an organic evolution by metamorphoses whole organism.” If there had not been any sculptors. and intensification: From nature to man What can one imagine to be more pleasant the entire creation – all this is comprised The good play Than Sakontala and Nala, whom one for Goethe in the one name – Shakuntala. Two years before his death, Goethe must kiss, Higher praise simply cannot be thought confesses that Shakuntala accompanied And Megha-Duta, the cloud messenger, of. Nearly 40 years later, after the first him throughout his lifetime. And there Who would not like to send him to those translation of Shakuntala, Antoine de is an interesting link between Kalidasa’s whom one loves! Chézy published an edition de luxe of masterpiece and Goethe’s Faust. One of In conclusion, I may state that Goethe Shakuntala, and having sent it to Goethe, the preludes preceding the drama Faust, was deeply impressed by the genius received the poet’s reply as follows: the so-called “prelude on the stage”, of Kalidasa, whose Shakuntala and “The first time when I became aware of where the theatre manager, the dramatic Meghaduta he read many times during this inexhaustible work, it arose such an poet and the actor discuss the problem his life. It was Kalidasa who opened the enthusiasm in me, attracted me so much of a good play – the plan for this came eyes of the German poet to the beauty of that I did not cease from studying it, and I to Goethe by the similar prelude in India. In Goethe’s estimation, Kalidasa even felt myself urged to try the impossible, Shakuntala. ranks high as one of the first few great namely, to adapt it for the German theatre. Later on, Goethe became acquainted poets of mankind who appear in the Through all these efforts, fruitless as they with Meghaduta, too, which was translated world literature – a word which Goethe were, I have become acquainted with this in 1813 by Horace Haymond Wilson. The himself coined – once in a millennium most valuable work to such an extent…that poet mentions the charming small epos only. So the Laureate of Weimar paid for the last 30 years I did not have to read very often, sometimes calling it Kamarupa. homage to the Laureate of Avanti. either the English or the German version… Especially, he had to remember it time and Only now I understood the enthusiastic again when he studied meteorology, and This article first appeared in its entirety in impression which this work made upon the ever-changing shapes of the clouds the NCPA Quarterly Journal in September me in former times. Here, the poet appears stimulated the poet’s imagination. To 1972 (Vol. I, No.1) shutterstock

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FOB Archives.indd 54 18/01/20 12:34 PM Programme Guide (Programmes are subject to change. Please check the website and refer to our emails for updated information.) February 2020

THEATRE INTERNATIONAL MUSIC DANCE MULTI ARTS & PRESENTATIONS

INDIAN MUSIC WESTERN CLASSICAL MUSIC FILMS / SCREENINGS PHOTOGRAPHY & EXHIBITION

Owen-Jones is best known for his Saint-Saëns: Le Rouet d’Omphale record-breaking performances on (Omphale’s Spinning Wheel) the West End as Jean Valjean in Les Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No. 5 Misérables (which he has also played Franck: Symphony in D minor on Broadway) and as The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera. Lucie Celebrated French composer and Spring 2020 Season Jones has appeared in numerous conductor Laurent Petitgirard stage productions, and currently plays and the dazzling and enthusiastic Patron: Citi India the lead in Waitress on the West End. French pianist Jean-Philippe The programme will feature excerpts Collard make their debuts with Sunday, 16th February – 5.00 pm from beloved musicals including The the SOI in a programme of music Jamshed Bhabha Theatre Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Les by Saint-Saëns and Franck. Collard, Misérables, and much more. whom The New York Times describes Augustin Dumay, conductor as being “able to do almost anything Maria João Pires, piano Tuesday, 25th February – 7.00 pm he wants at the keyboard,” will Jamshed Bhabha Theatre perform the delicate Piano Concerto Mozart: Concertone for two violins No. 5 by Camille Saint-Saëns. The Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 Zane Dalal, conductor programme will also include César Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 Zakir Hussain, tabla Franck’s “remarkable and radical” Shankar Mahadevan, vocalist (The Guardian) Symphony in D minor, Maria João Pires, considered one of Hariharan, vocalist once a mainstay of symphonic the greatest living pianists, returns to Kelley O’Connor, mezzo-soprano repertoire, but rarely heard in perform with the SOI for the second concerts today. time. In an essay accompanying her Hussain: Ameen, Amen, Shanti, concerto recording of Beethoven’s Third Piano for four soloists (India Premiere) Tickets (16th & 20th February Concerto, she muses on “music’s Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 and 1st March): essential power to bring out a primal `2,500, 2,000, 1,500, 1,000 & simplicity, which is present deep inside The SOI and Zane Dalal will be 500/- each one of us, waiting to respond when joined by some of India’s leading (Plus GST) summoned.” Conductor and violinist musicians for the India premiere of Tickets (25th February): Augustin Dumay, hailed as a “great Ameen, Amen, Shanti, a concerto for `4,000, 3,250, 2,500, 1,750 & classical stylist”, leads this programme of four soloists by Zakir Hussain, that 1,000/- music by Mozart and Beethoven. centres on the ecstasy of discovering (Plus GST) the sameness in ourselves and the ------Thursday, 20th February – 7.00 pm common experience of the human Jamshed Bhabha Theatre condition. Along with Zakir Hussain on Tuesday, 18th February – 7.00 pm tabla, the work will feature Shankar Tata Theatre Musical Theatre Gala Mahadevan, Hariharan and mezzo- Daniel Bowling, conductor soprano Kelley O’Connor as the Augustin Dumay, violin Lucie Jones & John Owen-Jones, vocalists. The programme also features Maria João Pires, piano vocalists Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony, the composer’s best-known symphony Beethoven: Sonata No. 5 in F major, The SOI presents a rare musical theatre tackling the gamut of human emotion. Op. 24 “Spring” gala featuring stars from the West Schubert: Sonata No. 2 in A minor, End. Conductor Daniel Bowling has Sunday, 1st March – 5.00 pm D. 385 been Music Supervisor/Music Director Jamshed Bhabha Theatre Schubert: Sonata No. 1 in D major, for such iconic productions as Lion D. 384 King, Mary Poppins, Les Misérables, The Laurent Petitgirard, conductor Beethoven: Sonata No. 1 in D major, Phantom of the Opera and Cats. John Jean-Philippe Collard, piano Op. 12

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Programme Guide.indd 56 17/01/20 12:40 PM Hailed for their “unpredictable and West Room 1 Partho Sarothy, 1st, Experimental exciting music-making” (The Guardian), Saturday, 1st – 11.00 am to 1.00 pm & Theatre renowned pianist Maria João Pires 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm and violinist Augustin Dumay team up once again to present a recital at In collaboration with Dhrupad the Tata Theatre. Musical partners Sansthan Bhopal Nyas for decades, their recording of the Beethoven violin sonatas has been Dhrupad is the oldest surviving genre praised as “just about the greatest of Hindustani music. The tradition is set ever recorded” (AllMusic). For reputed for following special training Mumbai audiences, they will perform methods to groom facets like voice, Beethoven’s beloved “Spring” sonata, breath control, pitch control and as well as his Sonata No. 1 and works by systematic delineation of composition. Schubert. We offer a special opportunity to train with the internationally renowned instrument, immediately recognisable Friday, 28th February – 7.00 pm exponents of this art form, Umakant by its large, skin-covered resonator and Tata Theatre Gundecha, and his senior disciples. The polished metal fingerboard. Having following topics will be covered in the evolved from the Afghani rabab Jean-Philippe Collard, piano sessions: around 1830s, the sarod is a relatively 1. Science of svara and raga young instrument. Like the sitar, its Chopin: 24 Preludes, Op.28 2. Voice culture training for raga music older cousin, sarod too has a distinct Fauré: Ballade in F-sharp major, Op. 19 3. Music and Yoga - Nadayoga in Dhrupad repertoire that is independent of vocal Granados: Goyescas Nos. 1, 2, and 3 4. Study of laya and tala music. Having trained since a very The sessions will be conducted every young age with sarod maestros like Renowned pianist Jean-Philippe month to maintain continuity. Radhika Mohan Moitra, Dhyanesh Khan Collard is highly regarded for his and Ravi Shankar, Partho Sarothy has interpretation of French music. With Enrolment Fee: `1,000/- (plus GST) a virtuoso yet meditative approach to more than 50 recordings under his belt, for one session of two hours. music. He has been privileged to have he is a regular visitor to the foremost A limited number of registrations an illustrious career with international musical venues across the world – from will be accepted. presence. In this recital, he will present Carnegie Hall to the Teatro Colón by For enquiries regarding batches, ragas like Chandranandan, composed/ way of the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées timing and registration: patronised by the legendary sarod and the Royal Albert Hall – and has contact 66223831 or write to us maestro Ali Akbar Khan. been hailed by The New York Times for at [email protected] his ability to “do almost anything he Tickets: wants at the keyboard.” The programme indian music `315 & 225/- (Members) features Chopin’s complete 24 Preludes, `350 & 250/- (Public) Op. 28, and works by Fauré and Hindustani Instrumental Box Office now open Granados. Music Recital (sarod) by Partho Sarothy (Approx. 90 mins) theatre Tickets: Experimental Theatre `600, 500 & 300/- (Plus GST) Saturday, 1st – 6.30 pm Agatha Christie’s Box Office now open THE MIRROR CRACK'D In collaboration with Saroj Jhaveri English Play (Approx. 150 mins) Foundation Jamshed Bhabha Theatre indian music Saturday, 1st & Sunday, 2nd – Sarod is a fretless plucked stringed 7.30 pm Training Sessions in The Mirror Crack'd, Dhrupad 1st to 9th, Conducted by Umakant Gundecha Jamshed Bhabha Supported by his Disciples Theatre

Umakant Gundecha, 1st, West Room 1

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Programme Guide.indd 57 17/01/20 3:33 PM Tuesday, 4th to Sunday, 9th – Costume Designer: Marvin D’souza Written by Sneha Desai 7.30 pm Lighting Designer: Malcolm Rippeth Directed by Rajesh Joshi Music & Sound Designer: Jon Nicholls Produced by Bharat Narayandas An NCPA Production of the Wales Music Advisor: Udit Duseja Thakkar Millennium Centre and Wiltshire Movement Director: Joseph Alford Cast: Dharmendra Gohil, Ami Creative Production Voice & Dialect Coach: Hetal Varia Trivedi, Parag Shah, Aniket Tank, Assistant Director: Padma Damodaran Shyam Makhecha & others Wales Millennium Centre and Wiltshire Line Producer: QTP Creative joined forces to produce the Creative Producer: Pádraig Cusack Tickets: first-ever English language adaptation `1,125, 900, 750, 600 & 375/- of the Christie novel, The Mirror Crack’d Suggested age: 14+ (Members) from Side to Side, which premièred in `1,500, 1,200, 1,000, 800 & 500/- February 2019. The adaptation was Tickets: (Public) written by Rachel Wagstaff whose `4,125, 3,375, 3,000, 2,625, 1,500, (Inclusive of GST) other work includes commercial 1,125 & 750/- (Members) Box Office now open theatre adaptations such as Birdsong `5,500, 4,500, 4,000, 3,500, 2,000, by Sebastian Faulks and The Girl on the 1,500 & 1,000/- (Public) Use of the fog machine is a part Train by Paula Hawkins. The ambition of (Inclusive of GST) of this play. We request asthmatic the production was to bring together Box Office now open patients not to book their seats in Agatha Christie fans and devotees the first row. with the new generation of television theatre whodunnit drama audiences through screening an innovative interpretation of this Safarjan classic novel, led by director Melly Still. Gujarati Play (135 mins) Wozzeck A house-bound Miss Mistry (Shernaz Tata Theatre by Alban Berg Patel) is visited by her friend and Sunday, 2nd – 4.30 pm & 7.30 pm Opera Screening (92 mins) rival in crime, Superintendent of Sung in German with English Police Daniel D’Mello (Denzil Smith), An Amardip Presentation Subtitles following a glamorous drinks party Godrej Dance Theatre that ends in murder. Set in 1976, the Safarjan is a heart-wrenching, Tuesday, 4th – 5.00 pm mystery revolves around a fading compelling human story set in the Bollywood film star, Mamta Sonali( village of Khanpora on the LOC. An NCPA – The Metropolitan Opera Kulkarni), making her comeback in The play speaks of the trials of the (New York) Presentation films. Why did she disappear from beautiful Jammu, and Kashmir Valley the silver screen; why has she moved and its youth through its characters A dark story of madness and murder, to the old Portuguese manor house, and their struggles. Four people, Wozzeck is an adaptation of Büchner’s Casa Braganza, in a sleepy, Goan town; Mohammed, Shyamlal, Anwar and ground-breaking and highly influential and who would want to kill her? This Jhelum, completely unrelated to work. Conceived in 1914, Wozzeck’s traditional whodunnit has been re- each other, meet at a point in time composition was halted by World War imagined to focus on the ‘why’ as and bond for eternity. They speak I, in which Berg served. The music much as the ‘who’. Replaying and re- passionately about what each of was then completed between 1921 examining events from a variety of them metaphorically stands for and 1923. The story depicts the life of perspectives, the unexpected staging and their positivity and promise soldiers and townspeople of a rural explores how we try to shape our echoes through the valley. This new German-speaking town. In three acts memories but end up being shaped play comes from the same creative with five scenes each, Wozzeck’s music by them. team that gave Gujarati theatre the is continuous and provides no more masterpiece called Code Mantra. than a few seconds of interlude music Writer: Agatha Christie Adapted for the stage by Rachel Wozzeck, 4th, Wagstaff Godrej Dance Theatre Reimagined for an Indian Audience by Ayeesha Menon Director: Melly Still Cast: Meher Acharia-Dar, Suhaas Ahuja, Avantika Akerkar, Zervaan Bunshah, Sonali Kulkarni, Bhavna Pani, Gillian Pinto, Shernaz Patel, Zinnia Ranji, Harssh Pal Singh & Denzil Smith Understudy: Padma Damodaran, Nikhil Murali & Amruta Sant Set Designer: Richard Kent

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Programme Guide.indd 58 17/01/20 12:49 PM during which the scene change must Tickets: espouse a confluence of knowledge be made. `700 & 500/- (Plus GST) (gyan) and devotion (bhakti) imbued Box Office now open with a deep sense of mysticism, and Conductor: Yannick Nézet-Séguin longing for oneness with the divine. Production: William Kentridge indian music No wonder therefore, that this earthy Cast: Elza van den Heever, Tamara devotional genre transcends man- Mumford, Christopher Ventris, Sama’a: The Mystic made boundaries of religion. Inspired Gerhard Siegel, Andrew Staples, Ecstasy by the soulful music of a blind Baul Peter Mattei & Christian Van Horn Festival of Sufi Music singer, Parvathy Baul sought to train 7th to 9th February with eminent Baul singers, Sanatan Das Tickets: `500/- Baul and Shashanko Goshai Baul, and `250/- (only for students on An NCPA Presentation has subsequently carved a niche for production of valid ID cards) herself as a notable female Baul singer. Box Office now open Based on the mystical branch of Islam, Accompanying herself on ektara and Sufism preaches peace, tolerance and duggi, Baul will present mystic songs western classical music pluralism. Music is regarded as a way of from 15th century onwards in a style deepening one’s relationship with the of her own, which uses the elements Stella Chen, violin Creator, and hence longing to dissolve of theatre and sung storytelling along Boris Kusnezow, piano the physical realm and transcend into with explanatory comments in English. Experimental Theatre the spiritual universe with Sama’a, the Thursday, 6th - 7.00 pm practice of listening to music, chanting Tickets: and whirling, finally culminating in `360 & 270/- (Members) A Mehli Mehta Music Foundation spiritual ecstasy. Sufi music is practised `400 & 300/- (Public) Presentation in different regions of the world through an array of genres. Chalo Hamara Des: Stella Chen is the first-prize-winner Journeys with Kabir and of the Queen Elisabeth Competition Song of the Soul Friends 2019 and has been lauded for her with Parvathy Baul A Documentary by Shabnam Virmani “phenomenal maturity” and “fresh (Approx. 75 mins) Hindi, Malwi & English Film with and spontaneous, yet emotionally Experimental Theatre English Subtitles profound and intellectually well- Friday, 7th – 7.00 pm (Approx. 98 mins) structured performance.” She is also Godrej Dance Theatre the top prizewinner of the Tibor Varga Baul means both, a syncretic sect of Saturday, 8th – 5.00 pm International Violin Competition and mystic minstrels from the region of the youngest ever prizewinner of Bengal, and also the musical tradition Attempting to search for the Menuhin Competition. In the revealing their wisdom. The ideology the des (country) invoked in the 2019/20 season, she has tours of Korea of Baul is based on the elements of poetry of the 15th-century mystic and Japan, multiple European tours Tantra, Sufi, Bhakti and the Buddhist poet, Kabir, this film interweaves the and numerous performances in the thoughts. With the subject of love stories of two people from two very U.S. She holds an Honours degree in at its core, the lyrics of Baul songs different countries, Indian folk singer Psychology from Harvard University Prahlad Tipanya and North American and is currently a doctoral candidate scholar Linda Hess. Where is Kabir’s at the Juilliard School. Her former Parvathy Baul, 7th, country? The answer is elusive, as we Experimental Theatre teachers include Itzhak Perlman and journey through song and poem into Miriam Fried. Chen plays on a 1708 these two lives, brought together in Stradivarius violin on loan from the an unlikely friendship by the cross- Nippon Music Foundation. Boris cultural resonance of Kabir. The film has Kusnezow made his debut at the received several accolades including Carnegie Hall in 2009 after winning the Silver Certificate, Best Film Non-Fiction, German Music Competition Prize. Born Indian Documentary Producers’ in Moscow, he studied at the renowned Association Awards, 2009. Gnessin Academy and completed his studies in Germany. The first prizes he has won in international competitions and multiple CD recordings constitute important milestones in his musical career. Apart from solo performances, he has developed a passion for chamber music and performs worldwide in various chamber music ensembles and Chalo Hamara Des, with notable soloists. He currently lives 8th, Godrej Dance and teaches in Hanover. Theatre

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Programme Guide.indd 59 17/01/20 3:37 PM Admission on a first-come-first- Hadarrattes Souiriyattes, 9th, Experimental served basis. NCPA Members will Theatre get preferential seating till 4.50 pm. Raqsam: Shades of Sufi Kalam with Mohammed Vakil & group Compère: Salim Arif (Approx. 90 mins) Experimental Theatre Saturday, 8th – 7.00 pm

Mohammed Vakil, 8th, Experimental Theatre

(All-female group from Morocco) Kabir Café, 9th, (Approx. 60 mins) Tata Theatre Experimental Theatre Sunday, 9th – 5.00 pm

Sufism has a long history throughout the The pain of separation from the Creator Muslim world from South and Central is at the core of Sufi lyrics and music. Asia through Turkey, Iran, the Levant Themes and styles established in Arabic, and northern, eastern and western Persian and Punjabi-Sindhi poetry have Africa. Morocco especially, has deep ties had enormous influence on the poetry with Sufism, with at least 1,000 different throughout the Sufi world, and is often Sufi brotherhoods that are established an integral part of music included by Sufi teachers. These are known for within Sufi practices like the Indian their message of tolerance and have genre of ghazal and qawwali. While long been viewed as models of moral saint-philosophers like Rumi, Lal Dedh, conduct to be emulated. Prominent Performance by Neeraj Kabir, Bulle Shah and Amir Khusrau have Sufi brotherhoods in Morocco are the Arya’s Kabir Café fervently expressed love and longing for Gnaoua, the Aïssawa, the Hamadcha Tata Theatre the Divine through their poetry, we find and the Jajouka. Across these groups, Sunday, 9th – 7.00 pm similar thoughts also being echoed in the music is an integral part of their spiritual works of others like Mir, Ghalib, Tukaram, tradition, and various instruments are Kabir was one of the first rational voices Rabindranath Tagore, and many used: a long-necked lute of African to emerge from India. Challenging all the Bhakti poets across ages in numerous origin called the guembri, nay and lira established religious and philosophical languages. In this event, the artistes (reed flutes), garagab (castanets), bendir traditions, he dared to reject sacred will attempt to showcase similarity of (frame drum), rhaita/ghaita (oboe), writings, rituals, pilgrimages and thoughts underlying the diverse poetic qsbah (flute), etc. Some of these sessions idolatry. With his commitment to works set to music. The artistes will are also believed to have therapeutic eradicate social inequality, he became present Sufi kalams of Khusrau, Shah, functions like “mind-healing”. Hadra a powerful symbol for self-respect Kabir and others, juxtaposing the works means “divine presence” and the amongst the lower classes. Neeraj of other mystic poets like Guru Nanak tradition of Hadarrattes goes back a long Arya’s Kabir Café is a neo-folk fusion and Meerabai. Born in a family of ghazal way in the Moroccon history. Based on band, which exclusively dwells on singers, Mohammed Vakil made his traditional Moroccon melodies, the the mystic poetry of Kabir. With an stage debut at the tender age of nine. singers are known to practise chant- objective to bring the philosophical Trained with his uncles, the well-known music inducing trance, bringing to message of Kabir into the playlists of pair of ghazal singers, Hussain brothers, life the blue nights called Hadra Sufi the young generation, the group has Vakil went on to win 1998 Sa Re Ga Ma nights. Hadarrattes Souiriyattes is an evolved a unique style embedded in Mega final. Salim Arif is a well-known eight-member, all-female group of a substrate of Indian folk music, mixed writer, director and designer from the musicians who themselves play various with contemporary genres of rock, world of drama and films. instruments. The group seeks to invoke reggae, pop and Carnatic music. In a the divine and spread the message of short span of time, they have managed Tickets: love and peace with their trance music to make a mark on the international `450 & 360/- (Members) imbued with hues of spirituality. music arena and also made a foray `500 & 400/- (Public) into Bollywood. Besides Neeraj Arya Tickets: (lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist), the Sufi Presentation by `450 & 360/- (Members) band includes Mukund Ramaswamy Hadarrattes Souiriyattes `500 & 400/- (Public) (violin), Raman Iyer (mandolin), Viren

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Programme Guide.indd 60 17/01/20 3:38 PM Solanki (percussion and drums) and One Man, Two Guvnors, Dr. B. N. Goswamy, 13th, Experimental Theatre Poubuanpou Britto KC (bass guitar). 11th, Godrej Dance Theatre The collective voices conveys the message of Kabir, highlighting devotion to an invisible and formless (nirgun) god, which resides in the heart, and can only be experienced with faith and devotion.

Tickets: `750, 630, 525 & 375/- (Members) `1,000, 840, 700 & 500/- (Public) (Inclusive of GST) Box Office now open

film Miss Lovely Hindi Film with English Subtitles (2012 /113 mins) screening presentation Godrej Dance Theatre Monday, 10th – 6.30 pm One Man, Two Guvnors A Canopy of Arrows; A Theatre Screening (180 mins) Mountain on Fire The Indian Express Film Club Godrej Dance Theatre Great Images from a Bhagavata screening in association with NCPA Tuesday, 11th – 6.00 pm Purana of the Mysore Court Illustrated Talk by Dr. B. N. Goswamy A Hindi feature film set in the lower An NCPA-National Theatre Live Experimental Theatre depths of Bombay’s “C” grade film (London) Presentation Thursday, 13th – 6.30 pm industry. Miss Lovely follows the devastating story of two brothers who Fired from his skiffle band, Francis In collaboration with Sahachari produce sleazy horror films in the mid- Henshall becomes minder to Foundation Events 1980s. The plot explores the intense Roscoe Crabbe, a small-time East and mutually destructive relationship End hoodlum, now in Brighton, to The NCPA, in collaboration with between younger sibling Sonu Duggal collect £6,000 from his fiancée’s dad. Sahachari Foundation Events, will and his elder brother, Vicky. Sonu finds But Roscoe is really his sister Rachel present an illustrated lecture by the himself drawn to a mysterious young posing as her own dead brother, distinguished art historian, B. N. woman named Pinky eventually leading who’s been killed by her boyfriend Goswamy. Professor Goswamy will to his downfall. Stanley Stubbers. Holed up at The speak on great images from a rare Cricketers’ Arms, the permanently manuscript of the Bhagavata Purana, Director: Ashim Ahluwalia ravenous Francis spots the chance formerly in the collection of the Mysore Producer: Sanjay Shah of an extra meal ticket and takes a Palace. The paintings are based on Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Niharika second job with one Stanley Stubbers, the latter half of the celebrated Book Singh & Anil George who is hiding from the police and Ten of the Purana, which starts with the waiting to be reunited with Rachel. career of Krishna after he becomes the The film screening will be followed by To prevent discovery, Francis must Lord of Dwarka. The winsome childhood a post-film discussion with Shubhra keep his two guvnors apart. Simple. and the seductive growing years of Gupta, Film Critic, The Indian Express. In Richard Bean’s English version of Krishna get left out here, and one is Admission on a first-come-first- Goldoni’s classic Italian comedy, sex, led into a different world where the served basis. NCPA Members do not food and money are high on the great city of Dwarka is founded, a fierce have to register and will be given agenda. James Corden returns to the contest with the bear-king Jambavana entry on display of membership National for the first time since The is fought, the Khandava forest is burnt card. History Boys to play Francis. down, the great fortress of Narakasura is attacked and vanquished, the city of Miss Lovely, Written by Richard Bean Hastinapura is dragged to the waters, 10th, Godrej ) Dance Theatre Directed by Nicholas Hytner great pilgrimages are undertaken, Based on The Servant of Two Masters by Shishupala is slain, Jarasandha is riven. guvnors Carlo Goldoni with songs by Grant Wide-eyed, one sees wonders piling two Olding upon majestic wonders. , man Cast: David Benson, Oliver Chris, one

Polly Conway, James Corden & others Tickets: ( `360 & 180/- (Members) persson Tickets: `400/- `400 & 200/- (Public) Box Office now open Box Office now open johan

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Programme Guide.indd 61 17/01/20 3:42 PM theatre Ranbir Singh’s Hai Mera Dil, the An Ank Presentation longest-running play in the history of Readings in the Shed, Hindi theatre, having completed 1,155 Kaveri and Dashrath, typical upwardly 14th, Tata Garden shows, is a hilarious look into the life of mobile Mumbaikars, originally from a well-meaning hypochondriac who UP, are determined to have a beautiful turns his life upside down with his traditional wedding for their daughter irrational fears. Confusion, delusion, Neeta, with Kaveri striving for the most illusion…it is the ECG of a comic perfect party, food and decor that fusion. would be talked about amongst her social set for years to come. The entire Directed by Dinesh Thakur household, friends, assorted domestic Cast: Preeta Mathur Thakur, Aman help, an ever-interfering uncle, have Gupta, Shankar Iyer, Ashish all been deployed by Kaveri to have Saleem, S.C. Makhija & others a perfect traditional, by-the-book wedding. Neeta, born and brought Tickets: up in Mumbai, is totally flummoxed `450/- (Members) by these new-found rituals and the `500/- (Public) list of dos and don’ts. Kaveri, who is Box Office now open masterminding operations, will brook no interference in what she now theatre regards as her major project in life Readings in the Shed – her daughter’s perfect traditional Chapter XIX: Letters of Love (75 mins) Gender Bender wedding. Neeta’s solution: find a Tata Garden English Play (80 mins) novel way of boycotting the wedding! Friday, 14th – 7.30 pm Tata Theatre Will the wedding take place at all? Will Saturday, 15th – 7.30 pm the two generations find the middle An NCPA Off-Stage Presentation path to sanity? Six men, no wait, six women, no wait Love – a word used liberally to express – six...umm...people – six people come Written & Directed by Veena Bakshi an emotion that remains undefined. together on stage in this satirical Cast: Preeta Mathur Thakur, Aman The sentiment may be universal, but comedy about the ‘other’ people Gupta, Shankar Iyer, Arunima Joshi, its interpretations are individual. And, who defy and challenge traditional Burhanuddin Topiwala & others that is why it is difficult to say what notions of gender, with the way brings two people together and they dress, talk, walk, laugh, cry and Tickets: makes them fall in love with each make audience members laugh with `450/- (Members) other. Is it chemistry, or is it fate? Or nervous discomfort. `500/- (Public) perhaps it is the right dosage of both, Box Office now open swirled together as Cupid takes aim Written and directed by Meherzad and shoots at his mark. This Valentine's Patel theatre Day, we read out letters of love which Cast: Danesh Irani, Darius Shroff, narrate the love stories of some of the Sajeel Parakh, Danesh Khambata, Bone of Contention in most complex, creative minds of our Siddharth Merchant & others. Cosmopolitan CHS times. Multilingual Play A Silly Point Production (90 mins) Performer: Meher Mistry Experimental Theatre Soundscape: Keith Sequeira Age: 12+ Sunday, 16th – 4.30 pm & 7.30 pm Creative Editor: Himali Kothari Director: Nikhil Katara Tickets: A bone falls into a resident’s balcony in `1,500, 1,125, 750, 600 & 375/- Cosmopolitan Co-operative Housing Tickets: (Members) Society. A farce ensues, as this starts a `270/- (Members) `2,000, 1,500 1,000, 800 & 500/- string of naming, blaming and shaming `300/- (Public) (Public) within the various families of the Box Office now open (Inclusive of GST) housing society. Kalpana, the common Box Office now open house-help, and the storyteller, is the theatre only voice of reason theatre Hai Mera Dil Written & Directed by Faezeh Jalali Hindi Play (120 mins) Hamari Neeta Ki Shaadi Cast: Meher Acharia-Dar, Karan Godrej Dance Theatre Hindi Play (90 mins) Desai, Nidhi Bisht, Muskkaan Jafferi, Friday, 14th – 7.30 pm Godrej Dance Theatre Niketan Sharma & Parna Pethe Saturday, 15th – 7.30 pm An Ank Presentation A Fats Thearts Production

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Programme Guide.indd 62 17/01/20 3:44 PM Tickets: Dallas Smith, Bettina Castano, 16th, Tata Theatre `720, 630 & 540/- (Members) 16th, Tata Theatre `800, 700 & 600/- (Public) (Inclusive of GST) Box Office now open

theatre Dastangoi Gujarati Short Stories in Gujarati (90 mins) Godrej Dance Theatre Sunday, 16th – 5.00 pm & 7.30 pm

A Utopia Communications Presentation

When the lost words of Gujarati (approx. 120 mins) Crossroads, a compilation of versatile literature (stories) meet the lost format Tata Theatre artistes and highly skilled performers of Persian storytelling, the result is Sunday, 16th – 6.00 pm in their own fields. This team of eight something timeless, namely Dastangoi artistes will explore traditions of each Gujarati, a 90-minute rendezvous with Aditi Bhagwat - Kathak form in their own styles and cross the nectar and tradition of Gujarati Bettina Castaño - Flamenco over to embrace the other. Kathak language and the expression and Susan Mazer - Jazz Harp and Flamenco converge to jazz tunes aesthetics of Urdu tradition. Dallas Smith - Soprano Sax, Flute and and the harp, guitar and violin render Clarinet exquisite melodies to the tapping feet. Directed by Pritesh Sodha Sanjay Divecha - Guitar Conceived by Hiten Anandpara Swapnil Bhise - Tabla Tickets: Stories by Zaverchand Meghani, Shruti Bhave - Violin `750, 525, 375 & 225/- (Members) Chunilal Madhia, Ketan Munshi, Emmanuel Simon - Percussion `1,000, 700, 500 & 300/- (Public) Dhoomketu & Ajay Oza (Inclusive of GST) Story Tellers: Mehul Buch, Alpana Kathak exponent Aditi Bhagwat has Box Office now open Buch, Hemang Vyas, Sejal Pondaa & explored varied traditions of dance Pratap Sachdeo and music through collaborations for international music the last two decades. Having started Tickets: with jazz maestro Louiz Banks in her Klaus Graf Quartet `450/- (Members) experiments with jazz music and then (Approx. 120 mins) `500/- (Public) going on to collaborate with U.S.-based Experimental Theatre Box Office now open jazz musicians Dallas Smith and Susan Tuesday, 18th – 7.00 pm Mazer, she actively brings this story to dance stage again in Mumbai. Exploring the An NCPA Presentation foot-tapping traditions of Flamenco, Spectrum 2020 – A Bhagwat and Bettina Castaño Klaus Graf, alto saxophone Festival of Dances from (Seville, Spain) go a step further in their Olaf Polziehn, piano Around the World collaboration by including jazz music. Axel Kühn, double bass Renowned guitarist Sanjay Divecha Meinhard Obi Jenne, drums An NCPA Presentation in performs his original compositions that collaboration with The Consulate resonate with Flamenco and Indian After having played as a sideman with General of Spain in Mumbai in disciplines of music, adding a different different national and international jazz partnership with IE Business School flavour to the collaboration. Swapnil formations, alto saxophonist Klaus and ICICI Bank Bhise and Shruti Bhave are the Indian Graf founded his own quartet in 2001. counterparts of this collaboration, A large part of the music consists of Dance and music need no language, bringing the best of Hindustani music Graf’s compositions which were written no boundaries, political or social. We to the platform to join hands with for the purpose of serving the quartet’s erase borders with music and people Flamenco and jazz. Lending seamless come together to celebrate. Flamenco, grooves and adding the percussive Klaus Graf Quartet, 18th, Experimental Theatre Kathak and jazz are three disciplines of elements is Emmanuel Simon, rhythm, dance and music that will meet who has worked with both jazz and and greet on the same stage, in a rare Flamenco traditions of music before. All juxtaposition of the three forms. three styles, equally exuberant and spontaneous, are a great match…The Crossroads Consulate General of Spain in Mumbai, Flamenco/Kathak/Jazz in collaboration with Bhagwat, presents

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Programme Guide.indd 63 17/01/20 3:46 PM concept: jazz with the character of soul, Sunanda Sharma is adept in both years later, the firm they establish melody-based and groove-driven for classical and semi-classical music. An ‘A’ – Lehman Brothers – spectacularly the body and mind. The musicians in the grade artiste of All India Radio, she has collapses into bankruptcy, and triggers Klaus Graf Quartet are internationally performed at many prestigious venues the largest financial crisis in history. recognised jazz soloists who have at home and overseas. In this thematic This critically acclaimed and five- worked together with iconic jazz presentation, Sharma will present songs time Olivier Award nominated play legends such as Al Jarreau, Patti drawn from her wide repertoire ranging features stunning set design from Austen, Scott Hamilton, Chaka Khan, from khayal to thumri, dadra, chaiti, Es Devlin (NT Live: Hamlet) Benny Golson, Clark Terry and Phil hori and folk music, to celebrate the Collins, to name a few. joyousness of Phagun. Adapted by Ben Power Written by Stefano Massini Tickets: Tickets: Directed by Sam Mendes `750 & 500/- (Plus GST) `270 & 225/- (Members) Box Office now open `300 & 250/- (Public) Tickets: `400/- Box Office: 26th January for Box Office now open indian music Members & 29th January for Public theatre Aayo Phagun: Splendour screening of the Spring Isharon Isharon Mein by Sunanda Sharma The Lehman Trilogy Hindi Play (120 mins) Hindustani Music Recital Theatre Screening (210 mins) Tata Theatre (Approx. 120 mins) Godrej Dance Theatre Saturday, 22nd – 4.30 pm & 7.30 pm Experimental Theatre Saturday, 22nd – 3.00 pm Thursday, 20th – 6.30 pm Isharon Isharon Mein has completed An NCPA-National Theatre Live almost 200 shows in Gujarati and An NCPA Presentation (London) Presentation Marathi. A unique love story of a musician and a deaf and mute girl, Phagun is the last month in the Hindu The story of a family and a company their journey from falling in love, their solar calendar. The season of Basant that changed the world, told in three unique way of coordination and sign (Spring) that just sets in at this time parts on a single evening. Academy language synchronisation to filing for extends into Phagun. Nature continues Award-winner Sam Mendes (Skyfall, divorce without falling out of love, a to wear a verdant look with the fragrance The Ferryman) directs Simon Russell passionate tale of two people seeking of fresh blossoms, birdsong and a riot Beale, Adam Godley and Ben Miles divorce despite being in love. Why do of colours of Holi. Indian music, be it who play the Lehman Brothers, they want one despite their care and classical, semi-classical or folk, is replete their sons and grandsons. On a cold love for one another? Will their love with melodies and compositions September morning in 1844, a young outlast all the hurdles? describing life in all its aspects and man from Bavaria stands on a New capturing varied hues associated with York dockside, dreaming of a new life Written by Prayag Dave Phagun including the festive season in the new world. He is joined by his Directed by Jay Kapadia of Holi. Trained under the legendary two brothers and an American epic Cast: Jay Kapadia, Sanjana Hindupur vocalist of Benaras gharana, Girija Devi, begins. One hundred and sixty-three & others

Sunanda Sharma, The Lehman Trilogy, 22nd, 20th, Experimental Godrej Dance Theatre Theatre ) trilogy

lehman

the ( berger

stephanie

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Programme Guide.indd 64 17/01/20 3:48 PM A Vaachikam Productions in Live: Antony & Cleopatra, Twelfth Night) of an unjust government. One chose association with Theatre Peoples and part of National Theatre Live’s 10th the bomb, the other chose the power of birthday season. self-pride. Heroes who were present for Tickets: us at the break of dawn, so that our days `1,500, 1,125, 900, 675, 525 & 375/- Age: 15+ could be lived in dignity and peace. (Members) `2,000, 1,500, 1,200, 900, 700 & 500/- Tickets: `400/- A piece with solo performances by (Public) Box Office now open Swati Das & Shubham Choudhary (Inclusive of GST) Written and Directed by Box Office: 26th January for theatre Mahesh Dattani Members & 29th January for Public Based on an idea by Snapshots of a Fervid Dushyanth Gunashekar screening Sunrise Movement direction by Avinash Ujjain English Play (75 mins) Hansard Tata Garden A Playpen Performing Arts Trust By Simon Woods Saturday, 22nd – 7.30 pm Production Theatre Screening (100 mins) Godrej Dance Theatre An NCPA Off-Stage Presentation Tickets: Saturday, 22nd – 7.30 pm `270/- (Members) The story of two teenagers in love. `300/- (Public) An NCPA-National Theatre Live Not the kind of love we associate Box Office now open (London) Presentation with teenagers. Khudiram Bose and Thillayaadi Velliamai never met, but they theatre The official report of all parliamentary were both connected by a common debates. See two-time Olivier Award passion – a love for their motherland. Akal Ki Pudiya winners, Lindsay Duncan (Birdman, Beyond jingoism, and certainly beyond Children’s Play in Hindi About Time) and Alex Jennings (The blind faith or parochialism, these Godrej Dance Theatre Lady in the Van, The Queen), in this brand brave young people took on an entire Sunday, 23rd – 12 .00 pm new play by Simon Woods, broadcast establishment, shaking the foundation live from the National Theatre in London. An NCPA Presentation On a summer morning in 1988, Tory politician Robin Hesketh has returned The annual Jhande ka mela has come to home to the idyllic Cotswold house he the town of Badripur, and Bhanu and his shares with his wife of 30 years, Diana. friends are most excited about the festive But all is not as blissful as it seems. sights and sounds. Bhanu is fascinated Diana has a stinking hangover, a fox by the wisdom-seller Chatura and is is destroying the garden, and secrets happy to buy wisdom from her for a are being dug up all over the place. As gold coin but this completely displeases the day draws on, what starts as gentle his father who demands that Chatura ribbing with the familiar rhythms of return his money. Chatura relents only marital scrapping, quickly turns to a on the promise that Bhanu will never blood sport. Do not miss this witty and Snapshots of a follow her advice; rather do exactly the Fervid Sunrise, devastating portrait of the governing 22nd, Tata opposite of what she has advised. Bhanu class, directed by Simon Godwin (NT Garden faithfully fulfils his father’s promise only to land himself in deep trouble with the Hansard, 22nd, two queens. He now has to appear at Godrej Dance Theatre King Chandrasen’s court and the only recourse is to seek Chatura’s advice. But will Chatura now agree to help Bhanu? And if she does, will her advice really save him?

Akal Ki Pudiya, 23rd, Godrej Dance Theatre ) hansard ( ashmore

catherine

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Programme Guide.indd 65 17/01/20 3:49 PM Adapted & Directed by Nivedita women in today’s society and how to remains constant, waiting to welcome Baunthiyal deal with them. The play is scripted, her next Prime Minister. Cast: Preeta Mathur Thakur, directed and enacted by women. Aman Gupta, Sumit Bhardwaj, Directed by Stephen Daldry Rohit Choudhary, Mitarth, Shilpa Written by Aarti Pandey Cast: Helen Mirren, Michael Elwyn, Chakraborty, Arunima & others Directed by Dr. Pooja Pandey Tripathi Haydn Gwynne, Richard McCabe, Cast: Dr. Pooja Pandey Tripathi, Nathaniel Parker, Paul Ritter, Rufus An Ank Production Usha Rao, Chandni Agarwal, Kalyani Wright & others Menon, Mini Raj, Imran Pasha & others Tickets: Tickets: `400/- `360/- (Members) A Being Theatre Production Box Office now open `400/- (Public) Box Office now open Tickets: screening `360/- (Members) dance `400/- (Public) Present Box Office: 26th January for Members Laughter, 28th, Godrej NCPA Mumbai Dance & 29th January for Public Dance Season 2020 – Finale Theatre Tata Theatre screening Sunday, 23rd – 6.00 pm The Audience Co-curated by Bharatanatyam exponent A Play by Peter Morgan Vaibhav Arekar and Odissi exponent Theatre Screening (158 mins) Daksha Mashruwala, the NCPA Mumbai Godrej Dance Theatre Dance Season 2020 – Finale is an Thursday, 27th – 6.00 pm evening of duet choreography by young Present Laughter performers from the city as well as a An NCPA-National Theatre Live By Noël Coward very special performance by Sanddhya (London) Presentation Theatre Screening (180 mins) Pureccha and Gauri Sharma Tripathi, Godrej Dance Theatre who were the curators last year. For 60 years, Elizabeth II has met each Friday, 28th – 6.00 pm of her 12 Prime Ministers in a weekly Tickets: audience at Buckingham Palace. A An NCPA-National Theatre Live `375, 300 & 225/- (Members) meeting like no other in British public (London) Presentation `500, 400 & 300/- (Public) life, both parties have an unspoken Box Office: 26th January for Members agreement never to repeat what Matthew Warchus directs Andrew & 29th January for Public is said. Not even to their spouses. Scott (BBC’s Sherlock, Fleabag) in Noël The Audience breaks this contract of Coward’s provocative comedy Present theatre silence, and imagines a series of pivotal Laughter. As he prepares to embark meetings between the Downing on an overseas tour, star actor Garry Ladies Compartment Street incumbents and their Queen. Essendine’s colourful life is in danger Hindi Play (70 mins) From Churchill to Cameron, each of spiralling out of control. Engulfed by Godrej Dance Theatre Prime Minister has used these private an escalating identity crisis as his many Sunday, 23rd – 6.30 pm & 8.30 pm conversations as a sounding board and relationships compete for his attention, a confession – sometimes intimate, Essendine’s few remaining days at The play captures the essence of life sometimes explosive. From Elizabeth home are a chaotic whirlwind of love, through the stories of women coming as a young mother to a grandmother, sex, panic and soul-searching. Captured from different worlds. These include these private audiences chart the arc of live from The Old Vic in London, Present

a housemaid, a corporate woman, a the second Elizabethan Age. Politicians Laughter is a giddy and surprisingly ) socialite, a widow and a lady police come and go through the revolving modern reflection on fame, desire and laughter officer. One night in Delhi as the metro door of electoral politics, while she loneliness. train comes to a halt, these ladies

The Audience, present

who are co-passengers engage in Age: 15+ ( 27th, Godrej conversations with each other and Dance Theatre harlan what results is an engaging narrative Tickets: `400/- with drama, humour, music and dance Box Office now open manuel

and these women come to realise their ); very own power and potential and the dance audience will to survive against all odds. They the

realise that life is nothing but moments... The 30th Pt. Durgalal ( moments to be lived. The play has also Festival persson received extensive coverage in the Tata Theatre media as it deals with issues faced by Saturday, 29th – 6.00 pm johan

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Programme Guide.indd 66 17/01/20 3:53 PM Sreelakshmy Tickets: just pure jazz, but also influences from Goverdhanan, 29th, Tata `450, 300 & 225/- (Members) hip-hop, dance and world music – as Theatre `600, 400 & 300/- (Public) if those styles have always belonged (Inclusive of GST) together. Box Office: 26th January for Members & 29th January for Public Tickets: `750 & 500/- (Plus GST) international music Box Office now open

theatre The Bose Legacy A Performative Reading (75 mins) Tata Garden Saturday, 29th – 7.30 pm Bijayini Satpathy, 29th, An NCPA Off-Stage Presentation Tata Theatre Amiya Nath Bose was born in 1915 in a Saskia Laroo, 29th, family of stalwarts. Vociferous protestors Experimental Theatre against British oppression, Amiya’s father Sarat Chandra Bose and uncle Trumpets Around The Subhas Chandra Bose often found World themselves imprisoned or detained Experimental Theatre under some pretext or another. But, Saturday, 29th – 7.00 pm the separation did not stop them from being connected to young Amiya. They An NCPA Presentation wrote to him often. From prison cells and faraway lands, in good times and Saskia Laroo - trumpet, sax, vocals bad. Many words were censored and Warren Byrd - piano/keyboard, vocals lost but some stayed, long after the Vaibhav Arekar, MC Complex - spoken word, vocals people who wrote were gone, leaving 29th, Tata Theatre Daniel Gueli - bass behind a legacy that we read today. The Sven Rozier - drums reading will be followed by a discussion with Madhuri Bose, the grandniece of Amsterdam trumpet player, Saskia Subhas Chandra Bose, and playwright Laroo, not only presents her latest Mahesh Dattani. album “Trumpets Around The World” with her band, she also celebrates three A Playpen Performing Arts Trust anniversaries; Laroo turns 40 “stage Production years” old, has run Laroo Records for 25 years and the Saskia Laroo Band Tickets: has existed for 25 years. The “Lady `270/- (Members) Miles Davis of Europe” – dubbed so `300/- (Public) by the press and public in America – is Box Office now open one of the few women on trumpet on the international stage for four decades at the top level, and leader In collaboration with Samved Society of her own band. She is known for her for Performing Arts improvisational purity, music to which she has given her own twist, flavoured The Pt. Durgalal Festival pays homage to with influences from all over the world. Uma Dogra’s guru and mentor Durgalal, It is music with the mystical elusiveness doyen of the Jaipur gharana. The of jazz improvisation, packed in modern evening will host a grand performance grooves, beats, vocals and rap. The of Kuchipudi by Sreelakshmy “Dutch Lady of Jazz" plays with her Goverdhanan, Odissi by Bijayini bands all over the world in large and Satpathy and Bharatanatyam by small festivals, in concert halls, clubs Vaibhav Arekar. Dogra is the founder and more; last year she performed in and Managing Trustee of Samved Thailand, Burundi, the Netherlands and Society for Performing Arts to promote the United States. Her music, in kind, The Bose Legacy, 29th, Tata Garden Indian classical dance and music. sounds like a musical journey with not

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Programme Guide.indd 67 17/01/20 3:57 PM What’s Next MARCH & APRIL 2020 (Programmes are subject to change. Please check the website and refer to our emails for updated information.)

screening drinks poison. When she awakens, she sees than 50 paintings, prints and drawings in that Romeo is dead and stabs herself. True which this modern master of British art turned Romeo and Juliet, love indeed lasts forever. his unflinching eye firmly on himself. One of 3rd March, Godrej Dance Theatre the most celebrated painters of our time, Music: Sergei Prokofiev Freud is also one of very few 20th-century Choreography: Alexei Ratmansky artists who portrayed themselves with such Cast: Ekaterina Krysanova, Vladislav consistency. Spanning nearly seven decades, Lantratov, Igor Tsvirko, Dmitry his self-portraits give a fascinating insight Dorokhov, Vitaly Biktimirov & the into both his psyche and his development Corps de Ballet as a painter, from his earliest portrait painted in 1939 to the final one executed 64 years Tickets: `500/- later. When seen together, his portraits `250/- (only for students on production represent an engrossing study into the of valid ID cards) dynamic of ageing and the process of Box Office now open self-representation. This intensely compelling exhibition creates a unique opportunity for screening Exhibition On Screen to reveal the life’s work of a master in one show. Lucian Freud: A Self Portrait Directed by David Bickerstaff Exhibition Screening (Approx. 80 mins) Tickets: `400/- Godrej Dance Theatre Box Office: 9th February for Members Wednesday, 4th March – 6.30 pm & 12th February for Public Romeo and Juliet by Sergei Prokofiev An NCPA - Seventh Art Productions Ballet Screening (175 mins) (UK) Presentation indian music Godrej Dance Theatre Tuesday 3rd March – 6.30 pm For the first time in history, the Royal Living Traditions: Festival Academy of Arts in London, in collaboration of Odisha An NCPA-Pathé Live (Paris) with the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, (Approx. 120 mins each day) Presentation is bringing together Lucian Freud’s self- Experimental Theatre portraits. The exhibition will display more Friday, 6th & Saturday, 7th March – The ballet begins with feuding between 6.30 pm the Capulets and the Montagues. Wearing a Lucian Freud, 4th March, Godrej disguise, Romeo Montague crashes a party Dance Theatre An NCPA Presentation at the Capulet house, where he meets Juliet Supported by Godrej Industries Capulet. He instantly falls in love with her and the two secretly proclaim their eternal ‘Living Traditions’ is our ongoing series love for each other. Hoping to finally put an showcasing folk traditions of different ) end to the family feud, Friar Laurence secretly regions of India. This year, the focus is on juliet marries the couple after which, that night, Odisha, an Eastern state with prehistoric and Juliet drinks a potion. When her distraught roots and rich cultural heritage. Mainly

family finds her dead the next morning, they mountainous, the region is heavily forested romeo ( proceed to bury her. The news of Juliet’s with abundant natural resources, and varied death reaches Romeo, and he returns home flora and fauna. The ethnic diversity of the yusupov

desperately grieving because he has lost her. region is amply reflected in the variety of damir Believing that Juliet is really dead, he also dance forms, textiles, visual and sculptural

68 • February 2020 NCPA

Highlights.indd 68 17/01/20 4:47 PM Living Traditions, 6th March, Hindustani music (khayal and/or thumri). Experimental Theatre Preference will be given to those with at least a ‘B’ grade of the AIR. A limited number of students will be admitted to participate in the workshop. A limited number of students will also be enrolled as observers.

Registration starts on 1st February Registration Fees: `1,500/- ( Plus GST) for three days Observers: `300/- per day For enquiry: Ms. Pinky: 66223813/ [email protected]

screening The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess arts as well as numerous handicrafts. Over Guru in Residence by George Gershwin, DuBose Heyward, the two days, six well-known troupes will Masterclass on Bandish in Hindustani Dorothy Heyward & Ira Gershwin present two forms each of music, dance Music Opera Screening (195 mins) and folk theatre representing folk forms of Conducted by Ajoy Chakrabarty Sung in English with English Subtitles three regions of Odisha: Balangir, Puri and West Room 1 Godrej Dance Theatre Mayurbhanj. Presentation and narration will Wednesday, 11th to Friday, 13th March Saturday, 14th March – 5.00 pm be in Hindi/English by Rakesh Tiwari. – 10.30 am to 5.30 pm An NCPA – The Metropolitan Opera 6th March An NCPA Presentation (New York) Presentation Devotional Music Supported by HSBC by Dholmuhuri Kalaparishad Porgy and Bess is set in Catfish Row, a Mayurbhanj Chhau Dance Under this educational initiative, a senior guru dockside area of Charleston, about 1930. The by Dayasagar & group is invited to impart advanced training to a plot depicts the story of Porgy, a disabled, Lok Natya: Raaha by Anweshan select group of music practitioners. Ajoy black, street-beggar living in the slums of Chakrabarty, doyen of Patiala gharana, will Charleston and beautiful Bess, who wants to 7th March conduct a workshop on ‘Bandish’ in classical turn away from her former life of a prostitute Folk Kirtan by Bhakti Sandhya Anusthan and semi-classical music. An eminent vocalist and cocaine addict. Following a murder, Ghudka Dance by Basudev Sa & group who has had the privilege of training with Bess’s abusive partner Crown flees, leaving Lok Natya: Jhoti Chita Muruja by great masters like Gyan Prakash Ghosh and her amongst a disapproving community Rangashala Munawar Ali Khan, Chakrabarty has been a and her drug dealer Sporting Life. Porgy and guru to several students at the ITC-SRA and Bess develop an unlikely relationship and Daily Tickets: Shrutinandan, Kolkata. Bess finally finds acceptance on Catfish Row `180 & 135/- (Members) – until a hurricane and the return of Crown `200 & 150/- (Public) Applications are invited from vocalists of changes everything. Box Office: 9th February for Members & 12th February for Public The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, 14th March, Godrej Dance Theatre indian music

Ajoy Chakrabarty, 11th to 13th March, West Room 1

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Highlights.indd 69 17/01/20 4:57 PM Conductor: David Robertson An NCPA Presentation Production: James Robinson Cast: Angel Blue, Golda Schultz, The association INDK Symphonic Latonia Moore, Denyce Graves, Collaboration works to strengthen relations Frederick Ballentine, Eric Owens, between India and Denmark through culture. Alfred Walker & Donovan Singletary In March 2020, for the first time, orchestra musicians from both countries will work Tickets: `500/- together to present two concerts in Mumbai. `250/- (only for students on production of valid ID cards) Maria Badstue, conductor Box Office now open Mendelssohn: The Hebrides, overture Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 Sherlock Homi, 21st screening Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 March, Tata Theatre

Tickets: `500/- onwards Box Office: 9th February for Members Tata Theatre & 12th February for Public Saturday, 21st March – 5.00 pm & 7.30 pm indian music An NCPA Presentation Saritha Rahman, 20th March, Cyrano de Bergerac, Parsis are few in number. That statement is a 15th March, Experimental Theatre Godrej Dance Theatre myth. Parsis are everywhere. You just don’t realise it. One such Parsi is none other than the world’s most infamous detective – Sherlock Cyrano de Bergerac Homi. To the world, he is suave and dashing, By Edmond Rostand but he is actually a typical happy-go-lucky Theatre Screening Parsi man, who migrated from Bharucha Godrej Dance Theatre Baug in Bombay and now lives in London’s Sunday, 15th March – 2.00 pm & 221B Baker Street with his partner in crime Dr. 6.00 pm Kuchh Dil Ne Kaha: Jamshed Wadia. He uses his Parsi sense (the Celebrating the Genius of equivalent of a sixth sense, just crazier) to An NCPA-National Theatre Live Lata Mangeshkar solve crimes in a way only a Parsi can – with a (London) Presentation by Saritha Rahman & group cup of tea, two eggs every morning and using (Approx. 90 mins) a lot of swear words...or as we Parsis call it – In a new version by Martin Crimp, directed Experimental Theatre punctuation. by Jamie Lloyd, charismatic swordsman and Friday, 20th March – 6.30 pm brilliant poet, Cyrano de Bergerac is in love with Written & Directed by Meherzad Patel his beautiful cousin Roxanne, who is unaware An NCPA Presentation Cast: Danesh Irani, Danesh Khambata, of his feelings. His one curse in life, he feels, is Darius Shroff & others his large nose and although it may have been In this thematic event, we present select songs a forming influence in his razor-sharp wit, he immortalised by the legendary playback A Silly Point Production believes that Roxanne will reject him. When singer, Lata Mangeshkar (b. 1929). Saritha the handsome but unpoetic Christian falls for Rahman had the privilege of being born in a Tickets: Roxanne, he asks Cyrano to help him win her musicians’ family. Having been initiated into `1,500, 1,125, 900, 750, 600, 375 & heart. Cyrano de Bergerac can be delivered as an music at a young age, she went on to give 225/- (Members) allegory of inner and outer beauty. her first public performance at the age of `2,000, 1,500, 1,200, 1,000, 800, 500 & 10. Having completed a bachelor’s degree in 300/- (Public) Age: 15+ Carnatic music, she also trains in Hindustani (Inclusive of GST) music. Rahman has, to her credit, over 450 Box Office: 9th February for Members Tickets: `400/- public performances of film music and ghazals. & 12th February for Public Box Office: 9th February for Members & 12th February for Public Tickets: western classical music

`360 & 270/- (Members) ) western classical music `400 & 300/- (Public) Christoph von Weitzel, bergerac Box Office: 26th February for Members baritone de India-Denmark Symphonic & 29th February for Public Ulrich Pakusch, piano Collaboration (Approx. 120 mins) cyrano Musicians of the Symphony Orchestra theatre Experimental Theatre ( of India and Musicians from Denmark Tuesday, 24th March – 7.00 pm brenner Tata Theatre Sherlock Homi

Friday, 20th March – 7.00 pm Gujarati/English Play (100 mins) An NCPA Presentation marc

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Highlights.indd 70 17/01/20 4:49 PM Sleeps a song in things abounding: An evening emperor, along with the whole raft of plotters and other classical as well as modern poets. of German art and popular song and schemers who surrounded him. His fourth Juxtaposing poetry with song will be musical wife, Agrippina, plots his death, so that her son renditions by the duo, Sourendro (piano) Programme including music by Schubert, from a previous marriage, Nero, can secure the and Soumyojit (vocal music). The selection of Schumann, Mahler, Mendelssohn, Beethoven, throne and become emperor of Rome. songs, exploring various hues of love, will span Mozart, and much more. across many genres: ghazal, thumri, geet and Conductor: Harry Bicket film songs. Love is in the air. Come, soak in it. Tickets: Production: Sir David McVicar `600 & 400/- (Plus GST) Cast: Brenda Rae, Joyce DiDonato, Kate Tickets: Box Office: 26th February for Members Lindsey, Iestyn Davies, Duncan Rock & `1,200, 900, 600 & 375/- (Members) & 29th February for Public Matthew Rose `1,600, 1,200, 800 & 500/- (Public) (Inclusive of GST) screening Tickets: `500/- Box Office: 9th March for Members & `250/- (only for students on production 12th March for Public Agrippina, 28th of valid ID cards) March, Godrej Box Office now open western classical music Dance Theatre indian music Paranjoti Academy Chorus SOI Chamber Orchestra Jashn-e-Ishq: Celebrating Coomi Wadia, conductor amsterdam Love (Approx. 120 mins) , An Evening of Poetry and Music Tata Theatre with Sourendro – Soumyojit featuring Friday, 3rd April – 7.00 pm rijksmuseum Sharmila Tagore ( Approx. 90 mins) An NCPA Presentation Tata Theatre Saturday, 28th March – 6.30 pm Programme: Bach: Mass in B minor, BWV 232 In association with Sahachari Foundation Events Tickets: Agrippina `600, 500 & 300/- (Plus GST) by George Frideric Handel There is perhaps no facet of human life that is Box Office: 26th February for Members Opera Screening (135 mins) explored so exhaustively through the arts as the & 29th February for Public Sung in Italian with English Subtitles feeling of ‘love’. The theme has inspired many Godrej Dance Theatre poets, both in the East and the West, resulting international music Saturday, 28th March – 5.00 pm in some exquisite works of poetry in myriad languages, some of which are set to music Jazz Goes Retro! An NCPA – The Metropolitan Opera and have become haunting melodies. Spring (Approx. 120 mins) (New York) Presentation is a season of love and romance. Sharmila Tata Theatre Tagore, an iconic veteran actress known Sunday, 5th April – 7.00 pm The story of Agrippina is about a classic love feud for her brilliant work in Bengali and Hindi between rulers and rulers-to-be and all of it for cinema, will recite some evergreen love poems An NCPA Presentation one woman. The story is set in ancient Rome, penned by poets from Tagore, Shakespeare, and the list of characters includes Claudius, the Rosetti to Browning and Agha Shahid Ali The greatest hit songs ever - Jazzified!

Rajeev Raja, flute Rahul Wadhwani, piano Manfred Weinberger, trumpet-Austria and many other stellar musicians

The timeless songs of Michael Jackson, Madonna, Elton John, Sting, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Eric Clapton and many more, performed by a jazz big band including piano, guitar, bass, drums and a full-blown horn section.

Tickets: `800, 500 & 300/- Sourendro & Soumyojit (Plus GST) with Sharmila Tagore, 28th March, Tata Theatre Box Office: 9th March for Members & 12th March for Public

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Highlights.indd 71 17/01/20 4:51 PM western classical music Godrej Dance Theatre Wednesday, 22nd April – 6.30 pm Tickets: SOI Academy Orchestra `500 & 300/- Marat Bisengaliev, conductor An NCPA- Seventh Art Productions (UK) Box Office: 26th March for Members & (Approx. 120 mins) Presentation 29th March for Public Tata Theatre Saturday, 18th April – 6.00 pm The story of Christ’s death and resurrection screening has dominated western culture for the past An NCPA Presentation 2000 years. It is perhaps the most significant Swan Lake historical event of all time, as recounted by by Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky The SOI Academy Orchestra, comprising the Gospels but, equally, as depicted by the Ballet Screening (70 mins) students of the SOI Music Academy, presents greatest artists in history. From the triumphant Godrej Dance Theatre their annual concert led by music director to the savage, the ethereal to the tactile, some Tuesday, 28th April – 6.30 pm Marat Bisengaliev. Students of the of Western civilisation’s greatest artworks focus Academy will also be featured as soloists in the on this pivotal moment. This beautifully crafted An NCPA-Pathé Live (Paris) Presentation programme. film explores the Easter story as depicted in art, from the time of the early Christians to the Swan Lake is a timeless love story that mixes Admission passes will be available at the present day. Shot on location in Jerusalem, magic, tragedy and romance into four acts. Box Office from 26th March for Members the United States and throughout Europe, the It features Prince Siegfried and a lovely swan & 29th March for Public film explores the different ways artists have princess named Odette. Under the spell of depicted the Easter story through the ages. a sorcerer, Odette spends her days as a swan screening swimming on a lake of tears and her nights in Directed by Phil Grabsky her beautiful human form. The couple quickly Der Fliegende Holländer falls in love. As in most fairy tales, things are not (The Flying Dutchman) Tickets: `400/- that easy and the sorcerer has more tricks to by Richard Wagner Box Office: 26th March for Members & play. That brings Odile, his daughter, into the Opera Screening (139 mins) 29th March for Public picture. Confusion, forgiveness and a happy Sung in German with English Subtitles ending with Siegfried and Odette together Godrej Dance Theatre western classical music forever round off the ballet. Tuesday, 21st April – 6.00 pm Celebrating Michelangeli – Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky An NCPA – The Metropolitan Opera (New The Musical Genius Choreography: Yuri Grigorovich York) Presentation By Duo Farinaldi: Farah Ghadiali & Cast: The Bolshoi Principals, Soloists & Paolo Rinaldi with Roberta Bambace the Corps de Ballet When Wagner finally arrived in Paris, he began (90 mins) writing his new opera, Der Fliegende Holländer Experimental Theatre Tickets: `500/- (The Flying Dutchman) and completed it in Friday, 24th April – 7.00 pm `250/- (only for students on production 1843. This one-act opera (though sometimes of valid ID cards) split into three) tells the story of the Flying An NCPA Presentation Box Office now open Dutchman who is doomed to an eternity of wandering the seas. He is only allowed to leave The Italian classical pianist Arturo Benedetti international music the ship once every seven years to search for a Michelangeli (1920–1995) was considered woman whose perfect love will redeem him. It to be an exceptional virtuoso. Perfectionist, International Jazz Day takes place off the coast of Norway during the hypersensitive and extremely moody, it is (Approx. 120 mins) 18th century. said that he cancelled more concerts than he Tata Theatre actually gave, and yet his mastery over the Thursday, 30th April – 7.00 pm Conductor: Valery Gergiev instrument was so great that he was considered Production: François Girard one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. An NCPA Presentation Cast: Anja Kampe, Mihoko Fujimura, Known fondly as “Il maestro dei maestri” Sergey Skorokhodov, David Portillo, (master of masters), he was also a sought- In Mumbai, International Jazz Day has been Sir Bryn Terfel & Franz-Josef Selig after teacher with students such as Martha celebrated for the last eight years. This year, Argerich and Maurizio Pollini. His legacy in the 9th edition curated by the NCPA and Louiz Tickets: `500/- pedagogy is carried forward by his pupil, Isacco Banks, will feature a huge array of artistes `250/- (only for students on production Rinaldi, president of the Artis Magistri in Italy. perform in a span of three hours – from jazz of valid ID cards) Celebrating his centenary, a year-long series of standards to jazz fusion, and featuring some Box Office now open concerts in Italy, the UK and India performed by of the finest musicians and singers in the Duo Farinaldi – soprano Farah Ghadiali and country. screening Steinway artist Paolo Rinaldi (Isacco Rinaldi’s son) along with pianist Roberta Bambace Tickets: Easter in Art will showcase some of Michelangeli’s favourite `1,000, 800, 500 & 300/- (Plus GST) Exhibition Screening composers including Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Box Office: 9th March for Members & (Approx. 85 mins) Schumann, Brahms and Rachmaninoff. 12th March for Public

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