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Members of the Philadelphia Boys, Madras Musical Association and Madras MBS together on stage | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Chennai, a city steeped in Indian musical tradition, recently played host to a global collaboration. The Museum Theatre, a sacred space for performances, witnessed the confluence of three different choral groups – the Philadelphia Boys, the Madras Musical Association and the Madras MBS. The result was a concert that transcended geographical and cultural boundaries. It was organised by Classical Movements, a concert tour company that has created meaningful musical experiences in 147 countries.
The evening began with the Philadelphia Boys’ Choir and Chorale (PBCC), a group of young artists who announced their arrival with a stunning performance of ‘America the Beautiful.’ Their voices, fresh and crystalline, carried the spirit of the American plains. The subsequent performance of Leonard Bernstein’s ‘Missa Brevis’ was proof of their versatility. The Kyrie, Gloria and Sanctus were sung with a spiritual intensity that belied their age, transforming the concert hall into a sacred space.
Madras Musical Association Choir | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The performance then embarked on a journey through Indian and Western classical music traditions. A joint performance of the Bengali poem ‘Anondolok’ written by Rabindranath Tagore with choral arrangement by MB Srinivasan was performed by the Philadelphia Boys and Madras MBS choir. Later, on the central stage, the chorus presented an impressive selection of Tamil and Kannada compositions. Their clean execution and emotional depth were evident in their renditions of Bharati’s ‘Mazhai’ and RN Jayagopal’s ‘Jile Jile’. The inclusion of Bharati’s masterpiece ‘Aachamaillai’ composed and conducted by D. Ramachandran added a lively touch to the performance.
Madras MBS Choir | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The climax of the evening came through the seasoned voices of the Madras Musical Association (MMA) singers. Their performance of Josef Rheinberger’s ‘Abendlied’ created a moment of intense spiritual connection. Their rendition of classical pieces was a symphony of emotions, each note bearing the weight of history. The final performance was a Disney medley that took us to the worlds of Aladdin, Pinocchio, Beauty and the Beast and Snow White, a playful interlude that brought smiles and tears of nostalgia to the faces of everyone, young and old. The inclusion of AR Rahman’s ‘Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera’ by PBCC was a pleasant surprise.
The joint performance of the three groups was an excellent example of musical synergy, with focus on the musical style of each group.
“When we visit other countries, we love to sing songs in their native languages. Tonight we sang songs in Hindi and Bengali. We have some things in common, but the differences in our cultures are significant. Even in terms of music, the harmonies are different and coming together to discover and create beautiful music is the bond we share,” said Jeffrey R. Smith, PBCC’s artistic director and conductor.
The three singers celebrate the beauty of Indian and Western musical traditions | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“Choral music is what brings us together,” said MMA music director Augustine Paul. Referring to the choir’s founder M B Srinivasan, S Ram, secretary of Madras MBS, said, “He initiated the concept of arranging Indian music for the choir.”
As the final notes of ‘When the Saints Go Marching In’ echoed through the hall, it was a reminder that in an often divided world, music is the universal language that unites us all.
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