British Cellist Steven Isserils Set for Debut Performance with the Symphony Orchestra of India

London’s seasoned cellist Steven Isserils makes his way to India for the first time on September 20th, performing with the Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI) at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Mumbai.

With conductor Alpesh Chauhan leading the SOI under his baton, Isserils will present Schumann’s cello concerto and Stravinsky’s “Petrushka” (1947 version) at the NCPA, who are currently hosting their SOI Autumn 2023 Season that kicked off on September 10th and runs on until September 24th.

A seasoned cellist who has performed and collaborated with major orchestras around the world, including the Berlin Philharmonic and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the India visit comes at a busy time for Isserils. He speaks with Rolling Stone India over an email interview about making his way to the country and what’s next.

What is it like making your way down to India for the first time? What have you heard about the kind of reception that classical music receives here?

I am very happy to be coming to India – at last! I just wish it wasn’t for such a ridiculously short trip; hopefully another time I can come for longer. Most of what I know about India comes from novels, particularly those of Rohinton Mistry; but I really have no idea of what to expect when I arrive. I know that there is an active (Western) classical concert life there, partly through reading scenes in those novels, but also from my friends Ralph and Harvey de Souza, who organized many festivals in India. I was never free to come to them, however, so I’m glad to be able to make up for that now.

What is it going to be like getting acquainted with the Symphony Orchestra of India? What’s in store for the concert?

Again, I have little idea what to expect; but I hear many good things about the orchestra, and also about the conductor, who is very successful in Britain and elsewhere. I hope that I will be able to spend some of the little time I have there with the players; and hopefully I will get recommendations of fine restaurants – I love Indian food!

Where do you head to following your visit to India? What’s coming up through 2023?

I go home for a whole day! Then I go to Italy for a day, then Denmark for three days, then Spain – and so on. It’s very busy until mid-December (after which I take almost a month off). I suppose that the biggest projects for the rest of this year are a series of recitals with Connie Shih, with a program commemorating the 50th anniversary of the death of Pablo Casals (my favorite cellist); a trip to China including several concerts at a chamber music festival with Martha Argerich and other friends; and a recording of the music of Luigi Boccherini, a composer whose music I adore.

Get more event details about Steven Isserils’ performance at the NCPA here.