The 30th edition of the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival was a roaring success as elites from both the Indian and international music scene graced the fest with their performances.
The festival is celebrated every year by the Subramaniam Foundation, in association with Vishwakarma University, Pune to honour Prof. V Lakshminarayana. In a first time ever for LGMF, the concerts were virtual and streamed online for all to witness.
Dr. L Subramaniam's daughter herself hosted the event with much poise and panache. The festival is much looked forward to by the students of the School of music at the Vishwakarma University, Pune. The event is a crucial part of the curriculum for these students, who train under legendary mentors like Dr. L Subramaniam and Mrs. Kavita Krishnamurthy. More details about this course can be found here: https://www.vupune.ac.in/academics/b-a-music
For those who missed the fest, don't worry, we'll run you through some of the high points of the festival.
The Best of Indian and Norwegian Music
Anup Jalota, the much beloved voice for millions of Indians, opened the show with his famous "Rang de Chunariya". He also stressed on the importance of the knowledge of classical music, in a conversation with Dr. L Subramaniam. The audience was truly mesmerised to discover some unknown facts about the legend, like his first public performance which was at the tender age of 7.
The weekend ended with a charming duet by the tuba virtuoso from Norway, Oystein Baadsvik and his wife, Ana, on the piano. He wowed the viewers with one of his own beautiful compositions, aptly chosen, which translates to "It's gonna be alright". An entertaining interview followed this performance, where Baadsvik spoke about his experience with the mosquitoes, backwaters and the calmness he experienced in Kerala, India.
Exclusive premieres and Never-Before-Seen Footages
The true high point of the festival was when Kavita Krishnamurthy's new song "Chahaton" premiered for the first time on the fest. Picturesquely shot in Bali, the melodious composition was as soothing to the eyes as it was to the ears. The much-awaited Flamenco dance by Ursula Moreno followed the premier. She shone and sparkled with such effortless grace. The enchanting music and her intense emotions elevated the experience for the audience.
LGMF viewers were treated to a rare musical collaboration between the 2 great violinists, Dr. L Subramaniam and Stephane Grapelli. The culmination of this duet was a truly magical composition and the never-before-seen video was streamed for the first time on the LGMF platform. The final segment featured a conversation between the 2 violinists in an informal setting.
Up-Close & Personal with Usha Uthup and Pankaj Udhas, An introduction to Malagasy Music
On Sunday, ghazal maestro Pankaj Udhas was headlining the festival as we saw him perform with his ensemble of musicians, followed by a very personal conversation about his first break and his 9 year struggle before he rose to fame in the music industry. This marked the end of a fabulous week 2 of LGMF.
Week 3 was opened by Queen of Pop, Usha Uthup who performed a mellow English number in her crystal clear voice. As usual, she was a delight to behold!
The LGMF audiences were fortunate enough to be introduced to the Malagasy singer, Rajery and the unique instrument from his homeland, called the valiha. He explained the instrument for the benefit of the audience, before performing. His cheerful disposition along with the sweet sound of the valiha, were accompanied by glimpses of the wildlife and scenic natural beauty of Madagascar.
Other highlights of the final weekend included a candid conversation between Dr. L Subramaniam and Usha Uthup and the enchanting tunes of Tchaikovsky, performed by the classical pianist, Svetlana Smolina.
Until Next Year...
The bar was truly raised this year, with superlative performances, never-before-seen footage, epic collaborations and of course, global artists par excellence. We can't wait for the LGMF 2022, where we hope to see these electric performances live on stage! Until then, we shall carry the musical melodies of these past weekends in our hearts.
