I call up Shubhendra Rao and start off with a request to mail me the pictures of the concert. Just as the sitar player begins to clarify that no cameras, no videographers and no cell phones were allowed while the concert was on, I recall what Shubhendra had told me that silence reigns in these concerts and anything that disturbs it in the smallest way possible is not welcome here. Classical musician couple Shubhendra Rao and Saskia Rao-de Haas have embarked on a new journey.
Enriching experience
Established musicians, the duo has floated ‘silence concerts’, in which the only sound that reverberates is music. “There are no introductions, ceremonies, gimmicks, talks, speeches or applause. The setting is serene, beautiful and set up to experience beauty within through the pure experience of music. Through controlling external influences that can distract listener and performer the concert experience is enriched,” says Shubhendra.
Under the aegis of their silence concert movement, the artists recently gave their first performance at Global Arts Village in Chattarpur for a set of 50 people.
“You won’t believe the energy that was there. Even after five-ten minutes of the concert people were in trance. Before entering the space, the guests were advised not to clap during and after the concert. Their mobile phones were literally checked. Once everyone had come in, doors were closed. One guy had come in five minutes after the concert had started but wasn’t allowed in. And he was late due to the rain but even then…It’s like sanctifying the whole place.” So, even after the concert was over, people were hesitant to talk so they were just whispering.
Control, he informs, wasn’t restricted to the audience but even extended to themselves while performing.
“You can still play beautifully if you play in a controlled manner through volume modulation without having to play to the gallery,” feels the sitarist, a senior disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar. Saskia and Shubhendra are of the view that some concerts end up becoming a show and this initiative is aimed at reclaiming and reintroducing the element of sanctity into it. Not every concert can have the same meditative silence pervading it and nor they need to for music has different functions to fulfil.
“Just yesterday we played a corporate show and you can’t expect the same to happen there. But our point is that along with such concerts, let this also co-exist. “And not only the audience, as musicians we also need to do such things. It requires us to go within yourself. The idea was the result of this churning within us. There are times when we have to perform in settings that we ourselves don’t feel happy about.”
With first concert over, the duo is now working towards the second one, which could be at any spiritual centre in the city. To be performed in small intimate spaces initially, they plan to take it to mainstream venues and bigger crowds.
“Certainly not 50,000 people but yes the corporate crowd could do with something like this.” For their future concerts, they intend roping in other musicians as well.
