On April 12, a monthly series will be launched at the Studio theatre of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) in Bandra Kurla Complex. Called Piano Recital, it will feature solo piano played in western classical music. The venue, and the neighbouring room The Cube, have had numerous concerts in jazz and fusion, with the occasional western classical show, but a regular feature is something piano followers will welcome.
In Mumbai, the bulk of western classical concerts have been held at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), which has also formed the Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI). Besides attracting well-known conductors like Zubin Mehta, Martyn Brabbins, Charles Dutoit and Sir Mark Elder over the years, its two seasons – Spring and Autumn – draw packed houses. This is apart from many performances by smaller chamber orchestras and solo acts.
In south Mumbai, venues like Royal Opera House and Sophia Bhabha auditorium, off Warden Road, have had periodic shows. In north Mumbai, the Prithvi Theatre in Juhu hosts regular concerts with the SOI, though because of the venue size, these are smaller in scale. Now, a regular recital in the BKC area will add to the geographical mix.
Daniele Buccio |
The interesting thing about The Piano Recital is that it will feature a seasoned virtuoso and a rising star. The first show will begin with a solo recital by 11-year-old Ayaan Deshpande, after which Italian maestro Daniele Buccio will perform. “The event is being promoted by the organising committee of NMACC along with the decisive support of (Mumbai-based pianist) Dr Fareed Curmally,” says Buccio.
The Italian pianist’s performance will comprise six works – Johann Sebastian Bach’s Chromatic Fantasia & Fugue in D Minor, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Sonata op 78, three Mephisto Waltzes of Franz Liszt and Frederic Chopin’s Third Sonata op 58. Deshpande’s recital will showcase his musicality and compositional skill. After his first performance in November 2021 at the NCPA, he has performed in many cities including Vienna.
For his part, Verona-born Buccio isn’t new to Indian audiences. He says, “I have regularly visited India twice a year since October 2022. I have performed three times in New Delhi, twice in Pune and at the Sophia Bhabha auditorium in Mumbai as part of the 60th year celebration concert of the Bombay Chamber Orchestra.”
Daniele Buccio |
From January 2023, Buccio began collaborating with the Calcutta School Of Music. In a series spread over four concerts, he presented all 32 Beethoven sonatas. “The shows got a marvellous response from the audience, which had very high enthusiasm,” he recalls.
Music was part of Buccio’s early youth. He says, “I lived in a family where much attention was given to this art form, though my parents had no professional musical education. As a child, I enjoyed the range and timbre of the piano, and the fact that it represented a variety of styles belonging to every age of musical history.”
Buccio has been doing solo recitals since 1997. He feels the literature of the piano is very wide, and it also extends backwards to the classical repertoire prior to its actual birth. However, he also finds it fascinating to play with other instrumentalists. “I love playing music right from the early Baroque period to the present day, besides collaborating with today’s composers to create new pieces,” he says. His recorded works include Dettagli e ritagli, a collection of 69 pieces composed in the early 2000s by Prof Luigi Verdi.
Ayaan Deshpande |
While one looks forward to the April 12 show, Mumbai has had other piano performances this year. On April 4, Lebanese-Canadian pianist and composer Steve Barakatt was slotted at the Royal Opera House, in a show with visual projections to give an immersive experience. At the NCPA, 17-year-old pianist Neil Sajnani performed in February, and in March, there was a duet between Hungarian violinist Antal Zalai and Nigerian-Filipino pianist Adam Heron. NMACC’s monthly series will surely add value to the mix, and one looks forward to hearing lots of fresh new talent, besides the experienced maestros.
