The Hindu : National : Paul Giger’s concert launches music fest

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Thursday, Nov 13, 2008
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Paul Giger’s concert launches music fest

Divya Kumar

— PHOTO: V. GANESAN

A MUSICAL EVENING: Swiss violinist Paul Giger performing at the launch of Friday Review November Fest in Chennai on Thursday.

Chennai: The Hindu Friday Review November Fest 2008 was launched here on Wednesday with a 35-minute concert by acclaimed Swiss violinist Paul Giger. Playing before an invited audience at Hotel Taj Connemara, the musician and composer conjured the haunting sounds of the Swiss Alps – the wind, the faeries and the demons – with ‘Zaeuerli,’ the ancient echoes of Gregorian choral music with ‘Alleluja and Tropus’ and finally, the melody of Mumbai with ‘Mumbai Goodnight.’

In his welcome address, N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu said, “If we were to have a signature tune, I have no idea what it will be like but we do have the name for it: Diversity.” Noting that the festival has showcased a multiplicity of genres, he said, “We have had concerts of western classical, ghazals, Carnatic contemporary, mixed Hindustani-Carnatic, all manner of jugalbandhis, orthodox as well as avante-garde, and, believe it or not, Korean crossover.”

The November Fest, now in its fourth edition, features seven concerts by Girija Devi (Hindustani vocal), Shujaat Husain Khan (Hindustani instrumental), Srinivas, Anuradha Sriram, Chinmayi and Naresh Iyer (Hindi film songs), Bombay Jayashri and T.M. Krishna (Carnatic vocal), the Thomas Siffling Trio from Germany (acoustic jazz and electronic groove), Prahlad Singh Tipaniya and Sriram Parasuram (Indian fusion), and Shubha Mudgal (fusion and Indi-pop).

Among the allied activities of the Fest this year are non-ticketed events such as a symposium, workshops, walk-in concerts and the screening of a film on santoor maestro Pandit Shivkumar Sharma.

“Allied activities are an integral part of our November Fest. We believe these non-ticketed events give the festival a more complete character – allow people to engage with music in a more relaxed manner,” said N. Ram.

Welcoming the audience, Dinaz Madhukar, General Manager, Taj Connemara, said, “This is the fourth consecutive year that we are hosting this event with The Hindu. Both Taj Connemara and The Hindu are classic yet contemporary – a perfect match.”

“Our first public event in Chennai cannot be on a better platform,” said Chandrika Grover of Prohelvetia, the Swiss Arts Council that supported Paul Giger’s concert for the November Fest. “We thank The Hindu for this opportunity.”

The guests, many of whom were music lovers, were treated to cocktails and an especially created Chettinad-theme dinner at the hotel.

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