The Spirit of India 2

Spirit of India musicans, Christchurch 2008, Ajr

What a glorious way to finish an altogether spectacular day! Last night’s 28th Spirit of India performance at Christchurch Art Centre’s Great Hall was something to tickle every nerve ending – the lilting sounds of exquisite flutes made almost human by Dr Natesan Ramani, performing with his son and grandson – all three brilliant flautists – accompanied by the astounding drumming talents of Raja Rao on his colourful Mridangam (double-headed drum) and fleet-fingered Trichy Murali on the Ghattam (clay pitcher drum). This a taste of South India, with young North Indian singer, Manjiri Kelkar doing astonishing things with the human voice, accompanied by tabla and harmonium players. I’m no musician but it seemed to me, a breathtaking interweaving of complex, subtle sounds and melodies that I would sit through all over again. www.nataraj.org.au

Best Buy - More Indian Enticements

Left: "The Boy and the Tabla"Barry Cleavin, 2008; Right: "Ta ki ta ki ta ta ka" Chaim Cleavin 2008

Get ready for the best ‘fine art’ buy on the market folks! Further to yesterday’s post about the Spirit of India Concert Tour, I have heard of further exciting enticements –a chance for Dunedin and Christchurch audiences to acquire one of only 20 limited edition folios of four signed and numbered A4 digital images by leading New Zealand artists, Barry Cleavin, Denise Copland, Philip Trusttum and Chaim Cleavin, with frontispiece (5 images in all) for $100. Yes, you did read that right! Just $100. The collection – entitled “A Visual Offering” - has been conceived, created and printed at The Boojum Press, Christchurch 2008 in support of the 28th Spirit of Indian Concert Tour of New Zealand by Natesan Ramani and Manjiri Kelkar. All proceeds from the image sales will be donated to the Nataraj Cultural Centre, Melbourne in appreciation of executive committee president, Mohindar Dhillon’s commitment to these touring concert performances. It’s going to be a case of first in first served I’m afraid, so Christchurch concert-goers will have to hope that the Dunedinites leave us some of the goodies. Dunedin March 18, Otago Museum; Christchurch, March 20, the Arts Centre. Get to the door early I say! http://www.nataraj.com.au/

The Spirit of India

A little piece of India fell into my letterbox today and my heart skipped an extra beat. When I opened the brochure about the forthcoming visit of India’s most celebrated flautist, Natesan Ramani and singer Manjiri Kelkar courtesy of the Nataraj Cultural Centre, which organises these Spirit of India concerts, I was immediately transported back to the colour, the passion, the exuberance and the explosive intensity of India itself – that wonderful world where ghazals, ragas, tablas and sitars send pleasurable shivers down the spine. Spirit of India 2008 is bringing this unique double-bill – voice and instrument, north and south Indian classical music – to Dunedin (Otago Museum) and Christchurch (Arts Centre) on March 18th and 20th respectively. I can’t describe classical Indian music – certainly not technically – but the words ‘bold, tragic, sensual, erotic, spiritual, rich, emotive’ all spring to mind. But a description will always fall short; experience is the thing and these performances will be a rare treat. http://www.nataraj.org.au/