Here, the piano dances to the mridangam

As part of its ten-day india tour, The London Philharmonic Orchestra is all set to strike a jugalbandi with the best of east and west

When the notes from the keyboard of the European piano romance the rhythms of the Indian mridangam, the result of the labour is pure ecstatic melody. The London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) is embarking on a unique ten-day tour of India, and promise a fierce, fun fusion. We take note.u00a0u00a0


LPO concerts in progress

Humming birds
The London Philharmonic Orchestra's Renga Ensemble, a group of musicians who collaborate with their counterparts the world over, are uniting with the Karnataka College of Percussion to present to the Indian audience Jazz and western classical influences mixed with Indian folk tunes. Soloists will interpret and improvise on ancient Indian folk melodies.u00a0 "The orchestra will include 15 musicians, including vocalist Ramamani, and percussionist TAS Mani, alongside the LPO's musicians. The performance will include songs with fusion of Carnatic music and Jazz. We will be using a combination of instruments, which includes trampoline, trumpet, flute, piano, violin, mridangam, electric bass and Carnatic percussion instruments," explains Scott Stroman, music director, Renga. "India has been oblivious as far as this kind of musical fusion is concerned, and yet, we know it will appreciate these two hours of soul stirring," he smiles confidently.u00a0
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Married to music
The Indian performers to look forward to are the husband wife duo of TS Mani and Ramamani.u00a0 "I will be lending the vocals to the Carnatic performance. We have made a conscious attempt to bring in innovation, and this is exactly what the entire performance will be based on," Ramamani details.
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For musical good
The Orchestra is keen to foster new relationships to help the promotion of western classical music in India to as wide an audience as possible, and hopes to support the development of an infrastructure enabling future growth in the genre. The musicians will also offer workshops to local school children in each city to introduce the students to some of the ideas and influences behind western classical music.

London Philharmonic Orchestra
When: Tomorrow, April 7
Time: 7 pm onwards
Where: Kamani Auditorium, Copernicus Marg
Gates open at 6.30 pm

More about The London Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Thomas Beecham founded it in 1932, as a counterpart to the great Philharmonic Orchestras of Berlin and Vienna. Today, it is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom and based at the Royal Festival Hall, London. The Orchestra celebrated its 75th anniversary season in 2007/08 under the leadership of its new Principal Conductor, Vladimir Jurowski. It regularly undertakes major international tours, in addition to its resident seasons at the Royal Festival Hall and Glyndebourne Festival LPO has also contributed to soundtracks for Hollywood blockbusters like Lawrence of Arabia, Philadelphia, The Mission, The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars.u00a0u00a0