Witness 200 artistes performing to Italian composer Verdi’s works among other opera galas at the latest season of SOI
SOI
Starting today, Mumbai’s music enthusiasts can enjoy different sounds of the opera at the 18th edition of Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI), presented by NCPA. The season begins with a performance by the renowned violinist Marat Bisengaliev who will perform Bruch’s Violin Concerto No 1 — one of his most famous works — and excerpts from a new piece by Kazakh composer Yerkesh Shakeyev.
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For the first time in India, the audiences will be regaled to Latin text with performances of Verdi Requiem, celebrating an opera created by Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi, on February 15 and 17. “The Verdi Requiem is often considered Verdi’s best opera. We have close to 200 people on stage comprising SOI artistes and singers of the Bournemouth Symphony Chorus,” informs Khushroo N Suntook, Founder SOI. Joining them will be international soloists Lucrecia Garcia (soprano), Oksana Volkova (mezzo-soprano), Simon O’Neill (tenor), and Vuyani Mlinde (bass). The Russian conductor Yuri Simonov will lead the orchestra.
The young soprano Angel Blue will perform at the opera gala concert featuring works of Mozart, Puccini, Verdi, Bizet and Wagner among others. Zane Dalal, Associate Music Director, SOI, who will conduct an open-air concert this season, says, “I hope we reach a large swath of Mumbai with popular pieces from classics such as Sound of Music and My Fair Lady.”