Symphonic concert with l'OSM

Ravi Shankar, Symphony

Nicolai Rimski-Korsakov, Scheherazade (Symphonic Suite)

Orchestre symphonique de Mulhouse | Direction: Jacques Lacombe

Western composers' attraction for poetic or musical oriental universe is not uncommon, several concerts of contemporary music on Arsmondo India program testify it. In 1888, episodes from the tales One Thousand and One Nights inspired Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov for the four movements of his famous Symphonic Suite. It is much rarer for a great traditional Indian music composer and performer to be interested in Western musical styles. That is the case of Ravi Shankar who never stopped surprising and opening up to original artistic adventures during his life. As a traditional sitar player for decades, he made friends with the Beatles, John Coltrane and Philip Glass. For Symphony, in 2010, he was inspired by Indian melodic and rhythmic elements, European structures, and musical textures of the two traditions.