January 29, 2024
2 mins read

A Musical Tapestry from Beethoven to Sufi, Jazz to Multiverse

For Russian-born American vocalist and trumpeter Ilya Serov, the segue into jazz from his formal education in classical music at St. Petersburg Conservatory was a natural move because music needs no labels. For his first time in India, he brings contemporary takes on jazz classics and some original compositions too…reports Asian Lite News

The last time I heard Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony and exchanged notes with my fellow concertgoer after the encore, I remember being intrigued by how the thunderstorm in the fourth movement had evoked utterly disparate emotions in us, sitting inches away from each other. For her, the timpani, trombones and strings had harmonised to yield catharsis for a stormy phase of life. To my ears, it brought the promise of rain on a very sultry June evening. That’s music. It moves people differently. But move, it does.

The “Pastoral”, Mendelssohn’s “Italian”, Saint-Saëns’s “Organ Symphony” and Brahms’s Symphony No. 2 will all be played during the SOI Spring 2024 Season. Some of these belong to what’s called programme music while Brahms’s composition falls under absolute music. The former denotes music intended to evoke images, the latter, not so much. Do such categories, however, make any difference to the experience of a listener? Musicologist Suddhaseel Sen discusses this in the cover story of the February issue.

Sufi music, on the other hand, is meant to bridge the gap between mortals and the divine. The poetry, ghazals or Sufiana kalam of bards, minstrels and mystics is associated with an all-surrendering quality so pure, it breaks down the barriers that hold one back. The three-day festival of Sama’a holds that promise for those willing to surrender to the music.

For Russian-born American vocalist and trumpeter Ilya Serov, the segue into jazz from his formal education in classical music at St. Petersburg Conservatory was a natural move because music needs no labels. For his first time in India, he brings contemporary takes on jazz classics and some original compositions too.

Reimaging traditional movement to explore possibilities in the realm of dance encapsulates the spirit of Spectrum, the NCPA’s festival of dances from around India and the world. From a celebration of Lata Mangeshkar’s unforgettable melodies to aspects of human existence told in contemporary language, the line-up lives up to the title of the festival.

“We have all the time we’ve always had,” says Marriane to Roland in Nick Payne’s play, Constellations. The NCPA production, which returns to the Experimental Theatre with a new cast, brings the idea of the multiverse to the stage. Quantum mechanics is integral to the script but only to grapple with the enigma of human existence. In an ensemble of parallel universes, time acquires a new meaning. What if we indeed had all the time we’ve always had? 

ALSO READ-Beethoven and influence of Indian metaphysics

Previous Story

HPSL Takes the Reins as Title Sponsor for Iconic Indian Derby

Next Story

Delhi to host World Sustainable Development Summit

Latest from Lite Blogs

Priyanka Chopra’s Action Thriller

The film’s technical team includes Steven Price as the music composer, Ben Davis behind the lens as cinematographer, and Tom Harrison-Read serving as the editor—indicating a polished and impactful cinematic experience After

Recipe: Cranberry Coconut Laddoo

A recipe deeply rooted in Indian culinary traditions, it’s always a refreshing take to infuse classic recipes with contemporary twists. One such delightful innovation is the Cranberry Coconut Laddoo—a harmonious blend of

Long Naps Raise Risk

Researchers believe that irregular and long naps could disrupt natural sleep cycles and might indicate underlying health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, and depression Sleeping more than 30 minutes in the

An evening with Mr Cupid

A musical saga Mr Cupid is Cruel sets a new trend of short films in Oman, reports Vinod Raghavan A brainstorming session at the launch of Video Haiku series 4 was held

Bollywood Fuels British Creative Sector

Housefull 5, the fifth instalment of the hit Bollywood comedy franchise, recently launched its trailer on 27 May 2025 to overwhelming response The UK’s visual effects industry continues to gain global acclaim—this
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Ed Sheeran hints at a new album release

English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has got his fans excited for

Redefining the extraordinary in ordinary lives

For someone trained in classical music, that base has been