Serenade

27/02/2025

🎻 A Visionary in Classical Music 🎻

Few musicians have shaped the classical music landscape as profoundly as Marat Bisengaliev. An internationally acclaimed violinist and conductor, he has graced the world’s greatest stages, recorded award-winning albums, and championed composers both known and undiscovered.

Beyond his solo career, Bisengaliev has played a pivotal role in shaping orchestral music in both India and Kazakhstan. As the founding Music Director of the Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI), he has nurtured a globally recognized ensemble and established the SOI Music Academy, fostering a new generation of Western classical musicians in India.

Recently appointed as Goodwill Ambassador of Kazakhstan, he continues to bridge cultures through music. Last October, he introduced the groundbreaking quad sound technique at Astana Opera, creating an immersive sonic experience alongside some of Kazakhstan’s finest musicians.

In this exclusive interview, Bisengaliev reflects on his artistic journey—from training at the Tchaikovsky Conservatoire to leading India’s only professional orchestra. He shares insights into SOI’s evolution, the role of music education in India, and his vision for the future.

📖 Read the full conversation at serenademagazine.com

📸: Astana Opera

14/02/2025

🎶 Rakesh Chaurasia: Carrying Forward a Legacy, Creating a New Sound 🎶

A torchbearer of the Chaurasia legacy, Rakesh Chaurasia is redefining Indian classical music while staying deeply rooted in tradition. As the nephew and disciple of Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, he has mastered the bansuri, balancing strength with serenity to create soul-stirring melodies.

In this exclusive interview, he reflects on:
🌿 The challenges and rewards of playing the bamboo flute
🏆 Winning two Grammy Awards for ‘As We Speak’ and its impact on his journey
🌏 How international collaborations with Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and Ustad Zakir Hussain shaped his musical approach
🎼 Balancing tradition and innovation in an ever-evolving musical landscape
📡 The evolution of the Guru-Shishya parampara in the digital age

With performances at some of the world’s biggest festivals and a passion for pushing musical boundaries, Rakesh continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

📖 Read the full interview on serenademagazine.com!

12/02/2025

🎶✨ Blending Ragas with Jazz: An Interview with Charu Suri ✨🎶

Pianist and composer Charu Suri is breaking musical boundaries with her unique fusion of Indian ragas and jazz, creating a sound that’s both timeless and refreshingly new. 🌍🎹

In this interview, she talks about her journey from being a piano prodigy in India to performing at Carnegie Hall, the inspiration behind her acclaimed albums ‘The Book of Ragas’ and ‘Ragas & Waltzes’, and how she seamlessly blends global influences—from Sufi traditions to New Orleans swing—into her compositions.

💬 “I’ve always wanted to create something that resonates emotionally across cultures. Jazz, like Indian classical music, is all about improvisation and storytelling.”

📖 Read the full interview now on serenademagazine.com!

🎷 Don’t miss Charu Suri LIVE at the Royal Opera House, Mumbai on February 14th! Experience an enchanting evening of New Orleans jazz and timeless love songs, featuring Sharmi Surianarain (vocals), Shashank Das (bass), and Arjun Chakraborty (drums).

📅 When? Friday, February 14, 2025 | 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
📍 Where? Royal Opera House, Mumbai
🎟️ Tickets: www.insider.in (Rs. 499 onward)

01/01/2025

🔍 Interview with Rahul Mehrotra: Redefining Architecture and Urban Planning

Rahul Mehrotra, architect, urban planner, and professor at Harvard University, is shaping the future of cities with a nuanced understanding of context and the dynamic forces influencing urban environments.

In this in-depth interview, he shares insights into:
✅ His philosophy of the "context of the context" in architecture
✅ Lessons from Mumbai’s kinetic urban fabric
✅ Groundbreaking projects like Hathi Gaon, blending social responsibility and design
✅ How architects can address climate change with proactive, innovative solutions

👉 Click below to read the full interview and learn how Mehrotra’s approach bridges the gap between culture, environment, and design.

🔗 https://serenademagazine.art/rahul-mehrotra-designing-the-contextual-embracing-the-kinetic-and-shaping-the-future/

RMA Architects

Rahul Mehrotra discusses the importance of context in architecture, emphasizing the need to address both local and global forces shaping urban environments. He also advocates for adaptable, temporary urban solutions and a dynamic approach to governance.

16/12/2024

🌟 Farewell to a Maestro 🌟

The world of music has lost a true legend. Tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain, an unparalleled genius whose rhythms transcended borders, passed away on December 16, 2024, in San Francisco due to complications from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. He was 73.

Over a six-decade career, Zakir Hussain redefined the role of the tabla, bringing Indian classical music to global stages and creating groundbreaking collaborations, including ‘Shakti’ and ‘Planet Drum’. Earlier this year, he was honoured with three Grammy Awards, bringing his total to four—a testament to his enduring impact on music worldwide.

Zakir Hussain’s legacy lives on through his music, his teachings, and the countless lives he touched. Rest in rhythm, maestro.

📸: Paul Joseph

12/12/2024

🎼 “Shaping the Future of Symphonic and Operatic Music” 🎭

From the podium to the rehearsal room, Martyn Brabbins has been a transformative force in the world of classical music. In our latest interview, the celebrated conductor reflects on:
✨ His journey from grassroots beginnings to international acclaim
✨ Balancing tradition and innovation in symphonic and operatic works
✨ Mentoring young conductors and his vision for the future of music

🎶 “Conducting isn’t about beating time; it’s about carrying the sound and physically embodying the music. The subtleties of gesture—the breath and flow—can profoundly influence how musicians respond.” – Martyn Brabbins

Dive into his philosophy, his inspirations, and the artistry behind his craft.

📰 Read the full interview now on Serenade Magazine!

📸 Photo copyright © / S Perry

🔗 https://serenademagazine.com/martyn-brabbins-shaping-the-future-of-symphonic-and-operatic-music/

📍

22/11/2024

“Trinity Laban, formerly Trinity College of Music, has had a relationship with India since the 1890s. Now separate from its partner exam board Trinity College London and situated in a World Heritage Site in Greenwich, London, Trinity Laban is a world-leading conservatoire with over 800 music students from 60+ countries. Our commitment to India continues: since 2013, we’ve been working with two parallel missions: to support the western music learning ecosystem, and to support the very best young Indian musicians into further music study in higher education. We are very grateful for the ongoing support of our principal partners, Furtados Music in Mumbai and Musee Musical in Chennai, and our excellent relationships with a number of music schools around the country, all of whom support and drive this work with us.”

Led by Tim Palmer, Trinity Laban’s International Academies empower young Indian musicians through masterclasses, mentorship, and teacher development, creating pathways to global music careers and bridging Western conservatoire training with India’s vibrant music scene.

05/11/2024

Autumn Classics by The MMA will be presented this Friday, November 8, 2024 at the Museum Theatre, Egmore at 7 pm. Do remember to book your tickets
at Book My Show, https://in.bookmyshow.com/events/autumn-classics/ET00416280?webview=true,
the MMA Choristers, PMA School of Music, Etude School of Music & Musee Musicals

25/10/2024

“The sale of Frieze could signal new opportunities for further global expansion under a different owner, potentially impacting the structure and reach of contemporary art events worldwide. Frieze's strong reputation, innovative programming, and cross-cultural impact would make it a compelling acquisition for buyers interested in the global art market.”

Endeavor is exploring the potential sale of Frieze, a global leader in contemporary art fairs, alongside the Miami and Madrid Open tennis tournaments, as part of a strategic review aimed at streamlining its event portfolio amid company restructuring.

07/10/2024

Each year we invite emerging composers to take part in our composer mentoring programme – Writing for Music Education. This year we ran the programme for the first time in Southeast Asia. 🎵

Find out more about some of the composers involved in our latest blog post: https://ow.ly/mx2o50TAVbc ✅