The Indian classical maestros will be part of the triple concerto premiere in London, Birmingham and Edinburgh
Symphony Orchestra of India with Zakir Hussain (tabla), Niladri Kumar (sitar), Rakesh Chaurasia (bansuri) and Alpesh Chauhan (conductor) (from left to right). Photo: Courtesy of NCPA Mumbai
This November, the Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI) will return to the U.K. for its second tour in the region, starting November 29th in Coventry and closing on December 8th in London. The eight-concert run — an extension of the SOI’s Autumn 2023 Season — will also include three performances with Indian classical maestros such as tabla artist Zakir Hussain, bansuri veteran Rakesh Chaurasia and sitarist Niladri Kumar.
The SOI, along with Hussain, Chaurasia and Kumar, have previously performed a specially commissioned triple concerto (composed by Hussain) at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai in September. This U.K. tour will call on the Indian classical trio once again to join the orchestra in three cities — London on November 30th, Birmingham on December 1st and Edinburgh on December 3rd. The triple concerto has so far had a grand reception in India when it was performed in September, leading to two sold-out shows.
Now in their 17th year, SOI’s music director Marat Bisengaliev also joins the tour on two dates in the U.K., while the orchestra will feature conductors Alpesh Chauhan and Richard Farnes and pianist Pavel Kolesnikov. Earlier in September, SOI welcomed Chauhan, Farnes and Kolesnikov along with cellist Steven Isserlis for his India debut.
SOI’s co-founder and chairman of NCPA, Khushroo N. Suntook says in a statement, “The Autumn 2023 Season was a great success assisted by the excitement around the NCPA’s commissioning of a Triple Concerto for the tabla, sitar and bansuri played by the three great maestros— Zakir Hussain, also the composer, Niladri Kumar and Rakesh Chaurasia. We can safely say that it was one of the most successful seasons of the SOI in living memory. The same artistes are now preparing to go to the U.K. The tour promises to be a remarkable musical celebration and we look forward to presenting it to the audiences in the U.K.”
The Symphony Orchestra of India U.K. Tour 2023
November 29th: Coventry, Warwick Arts Centre, featuring Richard Farnes and Pavel Kolesnikov.
November 30th: London, Cadogan Hall, featuring Alpesh Chauhan and the Hussain trio.
December 1st: Birmingham, Symphony Hall, featuring Alpesh Chauhan and the Hussain trio.
December 2nd: Bradford, St. George’s Hall, featuring Richard Farnes and Marat Bisengaliev.
December 3rd: Edinburgh, Usher Hall, featuring Alpesh Chauhan and the Hussain trio.
December 5th: Croydon, Fairfield Halls, featuring Richard Farnes and Marat Bisengaliev.
December 7th: Cambridge, Corn Exchange, featuring Richard Farnes and Pavel Kolesnikov.
December 8th: London, Cadogan Hall, featuring Richard Farnes and Pavel Kolesnikov.
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