India on Saturday created history by fielding its first professional symphony orchestra in the Fifth Festival of World's Symphony Orchestras here, and winning the applause of Muscovites, one of the most demanding audiences in the world.
The Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI), performed Beethoven's 9th symphony in the finale of the 10-day festival in the historical House of Columns, once the club of Russian Imperial gentry.
The SOI was formed by the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in 2006.
“Bringing a symphony orchestra to Moscow is like taking coal to New Castle,” NCPA chairman Khushroo Suntook told PTI.
The Fifth World Symphony Orchestra Festival was organised as part of Day of Russia celebrations, that falls on June 12.
National Symphony Orchestra of China, Presidential Symphony Orchestra of Turkey, Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Russia and Seoul Philharmonic gave the company to the SOI at the concert, conducted by Russia's Alexander Anissimov.
Renowned Kazakh musician and conductor Marat Bisengaliev played a great role in making the SOI a reality, Mr. Suntook said. “It was a free evening in London; I just bought the ticket to a performance of the Kazakh orchestra. I was so impressed by the performance that invited Marat to India. It was in 2003.”
When asked whether he could help India in creating its professional symphony orchestra, Mr. Marat agreed to help and invited good musicians and teachers from Russia, Japan, Korea and Kazakhstan.
