Chennai to witness the Navagraha Symphony

While the symphony is considered the beating heart of western classical music, on January 23, violin maestro Dr L Subramaniam will be giving it a distinctly Indian touch. As part of the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival, which marks its 35th year, he will present the Indian premiere of the Navagraha Symphony, a symphony inspired by Indian cosmology, at Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Concert Hall, bringing together a full symphony orchestra, choir, dancers and soloists in a large-scale production. “The concept of nine planets is very much part of Indian culture,” says Dr Subramaniam and adds, “Conceived around the idea of kundalis and planetary influence, the 45-minute work will bring together Sanskrit shlokas , orchestra and choir, offering Chennai audiences a rare, immersive experience.” For vocalist and festival director Kavita Krishnamurti, Chennai has always held a special place. “We’re always looking forward to doing something in Chennai because its audience, though very traditional, have a very open mind towards music and different cultures,” she says. “This time, we have a symphony orchestra, traditional Indian percussionists, classical musicians like my husband and my son Ambi, my daughter Bindu and granddaughter, who are English songwriters, and I represent Bollywood,” Kavita concludes.Written By: Aashna Reddy