The Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival will present its 33rd edition in New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mysuru and Mumbai. The concert in Mysuru is presented in association with Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Ashram at Nada Mantapa in the Ashram premises on Nanjangud Road here tomorrow (Jan. 11) at 6.30 pm.

The special guests for the evening will be the Symphonic Orchestra of Northern Kazakhstan, named after Akan Sery from Petropavlovsk, which will be conducted by Maestro Abzal Mukhitdin and Astana City Erkegali Rakhmadiyev State Academic Philharmonic Chamber Choir led by Gulmira Kuttybadamova from Kazakhstan.

There will be close to 100 musicians performing with Dr. L. Subramaniam, Kavita Krishnamurti Subramaniam and Ambi Subramaniam with Vid. V.V. Ramana Murthy (mridanga) and Pt. Tanmoy Bose (tabla).

The programme features the following performances:

• Solo traditional Kazakhstan instrument Dombra by Akshat Galeyev.

• Kazakh Folk songs – Kara Torgay, Tau Ishinde, Kamazhai by the Astana City Erkegali Rakhmadiyev State Academic Philharmonic Chamber Choir led by Gulmira Kuttybadamova.

Astral Symphony is a symphonic choral composition in one movement. It was commissioned as part of the Composer’s Award given by Norsk Rikskringkasting (NRK) P2, a famous Norwegian radio channel to Dr. Subramaniam. The main soloists will be Bindu Subramaniam (vocal) with featured soloists Ambi Subramaniam (violin) and Akshat Galeyev (dombra).

Datta Symphony is a devotional tribute to Sri Ganapathy Swamiji on his 75th birthday. This is a composition in three movements written for a full symphony orchestra, solo voice and choir with soprano, alto, tenor and bass. Kavita Krishnamurti is the featured soloist.

Paris concerto was commissioned and premiered by the Orchestra Chambre De Paris performed at the Philharmonie de Paris in 2016. Dr. Subramaniam and Ambi Subramaniam will be performing this concerto with the orchestra and the Indian ensemble whereas the other two compositions — Bharat Symphony and Astral Symphony — will include the choir.

Flight of the Humble Bee is a short, energetic composition written as an encore piece by Dr. Subramaniam. This piece was originally written for Violin, Flute and Orchestra and premiered at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. This composition was later transcribed for two Violins  and orchestra.

ARTISTES’ PROFILE

Dr. L. Subramaniam

Indian violinist Dr. L. Subramaniam has been recognised as the foremost Indian composer in the realm of orchestral composition. Armed with a Master’s Degree in  Western Classical composition, distinctions in Western violin studies, understanding of Western technique, and his base in Indian Classical music, he set about to create a new style of orchestral writing and indeed a new genre.

Since his first Western classical composition in 1983, Subramaniam has written symphonic works, concertos, double concertos, works for orchestras and choirs, compositions for full orchestras with non-western soloists, compositions for orchestras with chamber groups and even compositions written for orchestras and soloists where the  solo instruments can be replaced. He has written close to twenty compositions for full orchestras, a rare feat in today’s time. Till date, he has collaborated with over fifty different orchestras.

Kavita Krishnamurti Subramaniam

Undoubtedly one of the favourites of the critics and the masses, Kavita Krishnamurti Subramaniam’s singing career reads like a fairy tale. Her exquisite and mellifluous voice, wide range and versatility to sing different styles and types of songs has put her in a unique place amongst singers and she has been quoted as a “melody queen” by leading critics and connoisseurs alike.

Although primarily a playback singer, Kavita has not allowed herself to be limited. She has sung with orchestras as a soloist, she has collaborated with Western artistes from the Jazz, Popular and Classical fields.

She has received several awards and honours, including the coveted Padma Shri from the then President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam in 2005.

She has enthralled audiences from around the world with her stage performances, recordings and playback singing for the past fifty years, singing more than 25,000 songs in almost all the Indian languages.

Symphony Orchestra of Northern Kazakhstan

The Symphony Orchestra of Northern Kazakhstan was created in January 2004. The Artistic Director Evgeniy Ivanovich Safronov holds the honorary sign “Kazakhstan madenitinin kairatkeri.”

They have performed more than a hundred programmes. The orchestra consists of 35-40 musicians with higher and secondary specialised education. The repertoire includes classical and pop works by world classics and modern authors, folk songs, jazz compositions.

Abzal Mukhitdin

“Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan” Abzal Mukhitdin, holder of the Order of Kurmet, serves as the Artistic Advisor and Deputy Principal Conductor of the Astana Opera House and Artistic Director of Symphony Orchestra of the Astana State Philharmonic named after Erkegali Rakhmadiyev. His conducting repertoire includes more than 250 works of symphonic and chamber music and more than 40 opera and ballet productions.

As a music director and conductor, he has implemented more than 20 productions. Abzal Mukhitdin is the author of the orchestral version of the State Hymn of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The Chamber Choir

The Astana City Erkegali Rakhmadiyev State Academic Philharmonic Chamber Choir was founded in 2004. This choir consisting of young talented singers has earned a great reputation, thanks to the creative energy and striving for excellence of the Artistic Director, “Honored Worker of Kazakhstan” Gulmira Kuttybadamova.

The Chamber Choir is one of the leading choirs in Kazakhstan.  Many well-known local and foreign performers collaborate with the choir. The choir’s   repertoire is very diverse, consisting of works of local and foreign music, from folk songs and miniatures to music cycles and major vocal and symphonic genres – oratorios, cantatas.

Gulmira Kuttybadamova

Gulmira Kuttybadamova is a Professor, the Artistic Director of the Astana State Philharmonic, Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Chamber Choir of the State Philharmonic, Chair of the Republican Public Association of “Kazakhstani Choral Conductors,” invited conductor of the International Youth choir ‘TURCSOY’, member of the World Choir Council, member of the jury of national and international competitions.

Gulmira is a Laureate of the State Scholarship (2009, 2010) and was bestowed with the titles of “Excellence in Education” of the Republic of Kazakhstan and “Honored Worker Republic of Kazakhstan.”

Ambi Subramaniam and Bindu Subramaniam

Hailed as “India’s Itzhak Pearlmann” by Ozy Magazine, Ambi Subramaniam has been trained by his father and guru Dr. L. Subramaniam since he was three years old, and gave his first performance at the age of seven. He has received the Ritz Icon of the Year Award, the Rotary Youth Award, two GiMAs (Global Indian Music Award for Best Fusion Album and Best Karnatak Instrumental Album) and Big Indian Music Award (for Best Karnatak Album). He received a ‘Golden Violin’ from Sri Jayendra Saraswati when he was 18.

Along with his sister Bindu Subramaniam, he runs SaPa – the Subramaniam Academy of Performing Arts — which trains young children to grow into performing musicians. He also runs the SaPa in Schools programme, which helps children develop 21st century skills  using music as a gateway. So far, the programme impacts over 30,000 children a year.

Ambi plays as part of contemporary world music band SubraMania, which he formed with Bindu. He has performed extensively with his family and collaborated with Larry Coryell, Ernie Watts, Corky Siegel and Shankar Mahadevan. Ambi was a featured soloist at the Violins for Peace concert series which featured Mark O’ Connor, Loyko and others.

He also plays as part of the Thayir Sadam Project, a Karnatak fusion collective he formed with Bindu Subramaniam, Mahesh Raghvan and percussionist Akshay Anantapadmanabhan.

Vid. V.V. Ramana Murthy

Vid. V.V. Ramana Murthy is the son and disciple of the eminent mridanga player and guru, Vankayala Narasimham. Born into an illustrious musical family, he currently works as a ‘top grade’ mridanga staff artiste at All India Radio, Visakhapatnam. He has performed  with several well-known Karnatak musicians and has travelled widely in India and abroad.

Pt. Tanmoy Bose

Tanmoy Bose has performed extensively with some of the greatest musicians of Indian Classical Music including Ustad Munawar Ali Khan, Pandit V.G. Jog, Dr. L. Subramaniam, Ustad Imrat Khan and Ustad Amjad Ali Khan.

He has been an ardent researcher and composer. His long tours abroad had given him opportunities to interact and play with musicians, composers and choreographers. In 2002, his world music project Taal Tantra showcased familiar sounds through unfamiliar mediums using cross cultural rhythm.