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Keys and strings
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Violinist Ladislav Brozman and pianist Riccardo Carlotto are fans of all things Indian
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Photo: V. Sreenivasa murthy
In synch Ladislav Brozman and Riccardo Carlotto
They are both true-blue westerners but violinist Ladislav Brozman and pianist Riccardo Carlotto tell us they are Indians at heart. Years ago, they made India their home. They are now firmly rooted in Pondicherry where they teach and perform, while gi
ving recitals around the world.
Brozman took to the violin at age seven in his country of birth, former Czechoslavakia. He studied under renowned violinists like Josef Kromer, Andre Jacot, M. Benat, and Andrej Lutschg in his hometown and subsequently in Switzerland and USA.
He acquired rich experience as a teacher and performer in various music schools, and as concertmaster in the ESG Orchestra and Zurich’s Symphony Orchestra.
Brozman “fell in love with India when I first visited it 30 years ago on my honeymoon. And my fascination with India’s beautiful culture, great cuisine with amazing regional variations, and rich heritage of art has been growing since.”
Doesn’t that list include Indian music? “Well, it does. Actually, I was first introduced to Indian music through my friend, hamsaveena player Varun Pal. India has a wonderful variety of ethnic instruments each with a great tradition, whether stringed ones like sitar, veena, sarod, santoor, sarangi, or percussion ones like tabla and mridangam. However, it is disappointing that many of the rarer, older instruments are disappearing and I wish something would be done about that.”
For, the Italian Carlotto, the Indian association has been via Sri Aurobindo International School, Pondicherry, where he commenced studies of the piano and recorder. (Next time though he wishes the association will begin with the beginning — he hopes to be born in India next birth!) He later left for Spain for advanced training under J. Vilaprinyo and also sang for Rita Ferrer’s choir.
Returning to Auroville, he began performing both as solo artiste and collaborator. He founded and directed a children’s choir and composed for concerts and also the theatre, before leaving for a course at the famed Conservatory of Oberlin College, USA, having won a scholarship.
Carlotto loves Indian culture and his love of Indian music began early, he reveals: “I was taken to concerts of Indian greats even as a child and would often fall asleep even before the concerts ended! Later, as a teenager and adult I would sit through three-and four-hour performances, savouring every minute. You know I even did Naadopasana! I learnt the basics — ragas and thaals. But later, I gave it up as the pull of the piano was overwhelming. But my admiration and respect for Indian music endures.”
ARUNA CHANDARAJU
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