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The Documentary Podcast

A Bombay Symphony

The Documentary Podcast

BBC

Documentary, Society & Culture

4.32.7K Ratings

🗓️ 15 October 2014

⏱️ 28 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

India is falling in love with Western classical music. In his home-city Mumbai, Zareer Masani encounters the country's first national ensemble, the Symphony Orchestra of India. He visits Furtado's, the city's oldest music shop, which sells hundreds of pianos a year, and discovers that thousands of children learn a Western instrument. Yet, Zareer finds that this is not the total success it seems.

Transcript

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0:00.0

This is a BBC podcast. You can get all our podcasts and our terms of use at BBCWorldService.com

0:08.3

A Bombay Symphony, First Movement, Allegro.

0:25.3

The National Centre for the Performing Arts is the Bombay equivalent of London's Southbank Centre.

0:32.3

The NCPA is India's biggest and most prestigious cultural institution, founded almost half a century ago,

0:39.3

and a successful example of public-private partnership.

0:43.3

Its five separate theatres were funded by the House of Tata, India's largest and most philanthropic business empire,

0:51.3

and built on government land at the far end of the city's Art Deco Marine Drive.

1:02.3

The NCPA has a busy calendar of events ranging from Indian and Western music and drama to experimental films and contemporary art exhibitions.

1:12.3

It plays host to leading international orchestras, including the London Symphony and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

1:20.3

And it's the home of the Symphony Orchestra of India, the first attempt at a professional national orchestra.

1:32.3

In this programme, I'll be asking if there's a genuine new appetite here for Western classical music,

1:39.3

and whether that's generating new controversies among Indian artists and audiences.

1:56.3

What did you think of the concerts?

1:58.3

I think this particular conductor brought up the best in the national anthem.

2:02.3

I've never heard it played so beautifully.

2:06.3

I think they're doing a very great job here.

2:09.3

We are not that classical here, so a little more popular work is needed.

2:15.3

Last time they had something which a lot of people did walk out of, Shastakovic.

2:21.3

Would you like to see a few more Indian players in the orchestra?

2:24.3

Definitely, most definitely.

2:26.3

We would like something on the basis of what Venezuela is doing.

2:33.3

I hear a very interesting sound on that...

...

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