Salon De Virtuosi in Collaboration

With The Consulate General of India, New York

Taj Mahal

Our annual East Meets West concert at the Indian Consulate has been a long and beloved tradition dating from the very earliest days of the Salon, dedicated to uniting the classical traditinal musical cultures of India and the West. One of our earliest East Meets West concerts was held in 1991, featuring the world-renowned sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan and the St. Lawrence String Quartet.

We are delighted to be able to continue this long tradition by presenting our East Meets West concert again this year, albeit in virtual form.


The concert features a thrilling program for solo cello specially recorded by cellist Alexander Hersh for the Salon, as well a previously recorded performance of a contemporary work by the Italian composer Giovanni Sollima. This talented young artist has already performed with the Houston Symphony and the Boston Pops and has distinguished himself as one of the leading cellists of his generation, most recently receiving top prizes at the 2019 Astral National Auditions and numerous other competitions. Read more about Alex HERE.

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We are also delighted to present an exciting performance recorded live for the Salon from India featuring the rising young talents Deepsankar Bhattacharjee, sitar, and Unmesh Banjerjee, tabla, performing a beautiful Indian evening Raga. Both Deepsankar and Unmesh come from illustrious musical families in India and have received numerous awards and accolades.

Read more about Deepsankar HERE and Unmesh HERE.


The concert ends with a grand finale collaboration between Alex, Deepsankar and Unmesh performing a new piece composed by the Salon's friend Samir Chatterjee, President of Chhandayan Music Center, especially for this concert, for which we are deeply grateful.

Before we begin the musical program, we would like to share a few words of greeting below.


Consul General Sandeep Chakravorty, Erika White and Lora Tchekoratova Introduce the Program

THE PROGRAM

Alexander Hersh, cello

Recording for Salon de Virtuosi on June 8, 2020,

at Guarneri Hall in Chicago.


Carlo Alfredo Piatti (1822-1901) - Caprice for Solo Cello, Op. 25 No. 7 in C Major


Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) - Suite for Solo Cello No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009:


1. Prelude

2.  Sarabande

3. Bourée I and II


Pablo Casals (1876-1973) — “Song of the Birds” for Solo Cello

Giovanni Solima (b. 1962) - Lamentation for Solo Cello

Deepsankar Bhattacharjee, sitar, and Unmesh Banerjee, tabla


Sitar recital of Raaga Chhayanat, an evening melody of the Kalyan Thaat (parent scale), with tabla accompaniment.

It unfolds in five movements:


     1.     Aalap - Introduction to the scale.

Solo on the sitar, with tanpura drone in the background


     2.     Jod - Extension of the aalap with pulse.

Solo on the sitar, with tanpura drone in the background


     3.     Ektaal Gat - A medium-fast tempo composition in a rhythmic cycle of 12 beats, with sitar and tabla


     4.     Tintaal Gat - A medium-fast tempo composition in a rhythmic cycle of 16 beats, with sitar and tabla


     5.     Jhala - A rhythmic crescendo culmination,

with sitar and tabla


East Meets West Grand Finale


ANYATHA, composed by Samir Chatterjee

Lora Tchekoratova Interviews Alexander Hersh

Samir Chatterjee interviews Deepsankar Bhattacharjee

and Unmesh Banerjee

To enhance your experience of Indian Culture, we invite you on a "virtual trip" to India. You can visit the Taj Mahal and take a virtual tour of other the wonders of India,

learn more about traditional Indian music,

watch the classical dances of India,

and learn about the history of yoga.


Enjoy this simple but delicious Indian butter chicken recipe or simply learn how to make Indian Naan Bread

SAVE THE DATE!

2020 GALA AWARDS CONCERT ON OCTOBER 14, 2020

DETAILS TO BE ANOUNCED