Classical Movements Sends Yale Schola Cantorum, Juilliard415 on Debut Tour to India

5 CONCERTS in NEW DELHI, MUMBAI, CHENNAI
from MARCH 12–19, 2017

Historically-Informed Performances of Bach, Telemann and Rameau on Period Instruments, Conducted by Early Music Experts David Hill and Robert Mealy

Indian Premiere of Reena Esmail’s
This Love Between Us: Prayers for Unity

Classical Movements is proud to announce that from March 12–19, 2017, two esteemed early music ensembles, Yale Schola Cantorum and Juilliard415, will be performing on their debut Indian tour. Under the expert baton of David Hill, Yale and Juilliard will combine forces to perform J.S. Bach’s first major liturgical composition on a Latin text, the Magnificat in D Major, as well as a brand new commission from Indian-American composer Reena Esmail, This Love Between Us: Prayers for Unity, featuring Rabindra Goswami on sitar and Ramchandra Pandit on tabla.

A graduate of both Yale and Juilliard — having studied with two composers commissioned by Classical Movements’ Eric Daniel Helms New Music Program, Christopher Rouse and Christopher Theofanidis, respectively — Esmail’s beguiling, East-meets-West work explores seven religions (Buddhism, Sikh, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Jainism, Islam) through seven scriptures (Danda Vagga, Guru Granth Sahib, the Bible, Pahlavi Rivayat, Isha Upanishad and the poet Kabir, Acharanga Sutra, Rumi’s poetry) in eight different languages: Sanskrit, Punjabi, Malayalam, ancient Persian, Hindi, Prakrit, Arabic and English.

“This Love Between Us… draws from each religious tradition’s teachings on unity,” says Esmail. “I’ve consulted 22 people to get to this point in the text and music, and it’s the most ambitious text I’ve ever compiled, between the subject and the languages. There are religious scholars, poetic scholars, speakers of each of these languages who have coached me in diction and pronunciation. It has been an incredible experience.”

In Chennai (née Madras), under concertmaster Robert Mealy, Juilliard415 will perform Bach’s Suite №3 in D Major, Georg Philipp Telemann’s Concerto for Flute, Violin and Cello in A Major with flautist Mili Chang, violinist Alana Youssefian and cellist Keiran Campbell and Gods, Storms and Demons: Dances from the Operas of Jean-Philippe Rameau, an evocative instrumental suite culled from one of the most elegant composers of 18th-century France.

Also in Chennai, Yale Schola Cantorum will take part in Sunday services at historic St. Mary’s Church, both the oldest Anglican church east of the Suez Canal and oldest British building in India. Of special interest to Yale alumni and friends, Elihu Yale married Catherine Hynmers at St. Mary’s in 1680, the first marriage ever recorded there.

SCHEDULE:

NEW DELHI | Bahá’í House of Worship

Date: SUN, MARCH 12

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Tickets: FREE (Reservations via Eventbrite)

Host: Capital City Minstrels

MUMBAI | National Centre for the Performing Arts, Tata Theatre

Date: THURS, MARCH 16

Time: 7 p.m.

Cost: Rs. 500 & 300

CHENNAI | Government Museum Theatre (Juilliard415 Only)

Date: SAT, MARCH 18

Time: 7 p.m.

Tickets: FREE (Reservations via Eventbrite)

Host: Madras Youth Choir

CHENNAI | Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Concert Hall

Date: SUN, MARCH 19

Time: 7 p.m.

Cost: Rs. 750 & 499

Host: Madras Musical Association

CHENNAI | St. Mary’s Church (Yale Schola Cantorum Only)

Date: SUN, MARCH 19

Service: 9 a.m.

Seating: First-come, first-serve