What does one look for in a choral concert? Superb harmony? A repertoire that hooks the audience? Splendid chemistry among the singers? Showmanship?
Well, the Shillong Chamber Choir scored a perfect 10 on the first three counts and 10 points more for putting up a rocking show. In the city to perform at The Hindu Friday Review November Fest 2014, the 15-member group, led by composer-conductor Neil Nongkynrih, kept the audience at The Music Academy fully entertained with its brand of music that was sometimes Baroque, sometimes rock 'n’ roll and mostly Bollywood.
That Neil is a music buff, who has a deep knowledge of genres, came through in the way he could mash up songs unconventionally.
That was an evening where Handel met ‘Aashiqui’, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy met George Gershwin and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ met ‘Kolaveri’! Indeed, the choir, which has found recognition across the country and abroad in the past decade, performing for Presidents, at prestigious venues and winning awards along the way, took the listeners on a happy journey.
Opening with classical choral pieces, the choir then ‘hit it’ with ‘Barcelona’ (for which Freddie Mercury collaborated with opera singer Montserrat Caballé) where lead singer William Basaiawmoit shone. William, in fact, has this rare ability of sounding exactly like the singer he apes. Whether it was revoking the operatic vocals of Mercury or the silken twang of Mohammed Rafi or the smooth style of Sonu Nigam, William got it just right.
Like a pro. In fact, that same statement holds good for the choir.
Each and every member sang from his/her heart. Listening to them sing ‘Chinna Chinna Asai’ with near perfect diction was proof enough.
The credit for the sound of this choir goes to Neil, whose versatility and eclectic musical tastes lent a new edge to the way he could mesh songs. It was especially evident in what he had christened ‘Train Song’. The chugging of the train, the call of the chaiwallahs, the commotion at stations… every mood of a rail journey was there for one to experience.
Similarly, the Khasi anthem which Neil had written was a rhythmic, peppy take on the music from the Seven Sisters. In the conductor’s words, what the Chennai audience was served that evening was ‘home-cooked food’ with a dash of foreign flavours.
And yes, the repertoire included the medley which the SCC had performed for President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama (a medley titled ‘Yeh Dosti’ with snatches of ‘Ajeeb Dastan Hai Yeh’), the bols-strung-together ‘Dha dhin’ (with Ustad Zakir Hussain) and their version of Vande Mataram (composed for ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’).
Listening to the choir, one realised that India’s (truly) Got (amazing) Talent!
