PUBLICATIONS
MYTHOPOETIC
Women Artists from Australia and India
The work of 15 women artists from Australia and India brought together by emerging artist/curator Marnie Dean. These works survey the way in which artists are re-picturing, re-contextualising and re-imagining the feminine.
Presented by the Queensland College of Art Griffith University
100 YEARS OF INDIA FILM
2013 marked the celebration of 100 years of Indian cinema. In 1913, India produced its first feature film. Now, some 800 films are produced every year. Indian director Karan Johar describes the success of Indian cinema as, “A mixture of music, love, family values, comedy, fantasy…[and an] adventurous choice of film location.”
PROGRAM NOTES
The Ensemble
WHERE: Conservatorium Theatre, Queensland Conservatorium, South Bank Brisbane
WHEN: 7.30pm, Thursday 16th May 2013
North meets South. Common Vedic roots stretching back millennia. Distinct traditions, shared heritage. Side by side on stage today. Rarely do we witness a single concert featuring seasoned artists from the North and South Indian traditions. This double bill brings two of the great ensembles from India appearing exclusively for Encounters: khyal star Shubha Mudgal and her ensemble preceded by dhrupad scholar and performer Ritwik Sanyal, and Carnatic percussion legend Guru Kaaraikkudi Mani with Sruthi Laya. Prepare for a night of soaring melodies and exhilarating rhythms, for the meeting of time-honoured traditions with spontaneous improvisation, for a range of expression from profound meditation to exuberant joy.
DIVING THE SACRED
WHERE: Ian Hanger Recital Hall,Queensland Conservatorium, South Bank Brisbane
WHEN: 1.05pm, Tuesday 14 May 2013
The word mehfil derives from the Urdu language. A traditional mehfil is a gathering of refined entertainment of poetry
or music, particularly Hindustani classical music, performed for a small audience in an intimate setting. Historically,
mehfils were presented in the homes or palaces of Moghul royalty, noblemen, or landowners (zamindars), who
acted as patrons for these artists. Today, they are generally given in the homes of avid music lovers.
Welcome to our very own mehfils, our lunchtime feasts of music and dance.
The RIG VEDA
WHERE: Ian Hanger Recital Hall, Queensland Conservatorium, South Bank Brisbane
WHEN: 6pm, Tuesday 14 May 2013
The ancient texts of the Rig-Veda date from 1200-900 BC and are considered among the oldest religious writings in the world. Hymns of praise and thanksgiving, Rig-Veda literally translates “to praise, verse, and knowledge”. They were written by the Aryans during the Harappan Civilization and are the cornerstone of Hindu thought and belief to this day. In the Veda collection there are over 1000 hymns written in Sanskrit. Of the Vedas, the Sama-Veda is often referred to as one of the wellsprings of Indian music, but the Rig-Veda centres on the Gods, including praises, blessings, sacrifices, and curses. Because they are poetic in format, they can be chanted quite readily, and have been handed down in this manner for many centuries.
The Voice
WHERE: Conservatorium Theatre, South Bank Brisbane
WHEN: 7.30pm, Tuesday 14 May 2013
Melody. The voice of the gods. The soul, the spirit, love, the cosmos.
Our four sopranos are goddesses of song. Patricia Rozario accompanies Maurice Delage, a disciple of Ravel, on his Indian excursions, and also sings recent music especially written for her. Shubha Mudgal entrances with her interpretations of Hindustani ragas, while Heather Lee pores over the songbooks of Rabindranath Tagore, the poetphilosopher whose spirit underlies our festival week. Tagore inspired the soaring vocalizes of Australian composer Raymond Hanson. Ross Edwards explores the inner spirit in a new version of his exquisite mantras, performed in semi-darkness. Rapturous music before a night of blissful sleep.
The DAM(N)Project
WHERE: Ian Hanger Recital Hall, Queensland Conservatorium, South Bank, Brisbane
WHEN: 6pm, Wednesday 15 May 2013
Conceived and developed by Queensland based composer Leah Barclay, Sydney-based producer Jehan Kanga and Shakthi Sivanathan, the director of Curious Works (Sydney).
The DAM(N) Project is a large-scale interdisciplinary arts project that connects Australian and Indian communities around the common concern of global water security.
The project presents the lives of remote communities in the Narmada Valley of North India, displaced by large-scale dam development securing hydropower for Indian cities. This holistic project integrates innovative technology, diverse community perspectives and true stories of resilience to create an immersive performance combining projections, choreography and sound. The projections feature dancers Meghna Nambiar, Ronita Mookerji and Sylvester Mardi from Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts, India’s leading contemporary dance company.
INDIA BY NIGHT
WHERE: Ian Hanger Recital Hall, Queensland Conservatorium, South Bank, Brisbane
WHEN: 1.05pm, Wednesday 15 May 2013
MEHFIL Lunchtime series
The word mehfil derives from the Urdu language. A traditional mehfil is a gathering of refined entertainment of poetry or music, particularly Hindustani classical music, performed for a small audience in an intimate setting. Historically, mehfils were presented in the homes or palaces of Moghul royalty, noblemen, or landowners (zamindars), who acted as patrons for these artists. Today, they are generally given in the homes of avid music lovers.
Welcome to our very own mehfils, our lunchtime feasts of music and dance.
The Drone
WHERE: Conservatorium Theatre, South Bank, Brisbane
WHEN: 7.30pm, Wednesday 15 May 2013
The Drone, the bedrock of Indian and Western music, beginning with the Australian didgeridoo, the oldest instrument known to man, segueing into the Indian drone instrument the tampura and an early evening raga on sitar. This introduces a celebration of string playing, with that prince of cellists, Rohan de Saram, presiding over a veritable palace of cellists. An Indian first half showcases music especially written for Rohan, balanced by an Australian second half. The raw energy of Richard Vella is calmed by the erotic meditations of Peter Schaefer. Our massed cellos create the sumptuous carpet-drone over which our musical cultures meet, while Ross Edwards cools the spirit in preparation for a gentle night ahead.