Alchemy and Anoushka !

What I dreamt was not hyped ! I am following Anoushka Shankar for more than two years now. Every other day I listen to her Sitar irrespective of what is the mood; to the extent that even my flat mates can now identify her tunes :). It was my dream to attend a live concert of her to which it is very difficult to get an entry.

South bank center organizes annual Alchemy Festival which is celebration of cultures from India, South Asia and UK. It show cases fine blend of these cultures starting from folk, food, music, painting, literature to fashion for ten full days. Not just the shows, it conducts lots of workshops teaching Sanskrit to Bollywood dance.

When I came to know about this festival two months ago and Anoushka Shankar is playing in in this Festival, all tickets were sold out! I couldn't do much apart from troubling ticket office multiple times and refreshing ticket availability page on ticket booking website hoping cancelled tickets will appear on it. I did this daily at least twice for almost two months and just a day before the show, the moment I refreshed the page I saw four seats available. I managed to book one for me… cherry on ice-cream - third row from front ! I was literally jumping with joy for rest of the day.

When I started on Saturday afternoon for the show it was drizzling in London. Rain always reminds me of my home and I enjoy rain. It always fills me with fresh mood. I wouldn't have asked for any better start than drizzle for the day. 

When I reached Queen Elizabeth Hall there were many events going on as part of alchemy festival. There was an interesting play going on in Sanskrit called 'Witness Stone', which was a very nice execution of pure folk from ancient India. All artists were so professional and natural. After that I was roaming around Royal Festival Hall which was packed with people drawing Rangolis to dancing for Panjabi tune.

I was surprised to see more than fifty percent of the people were native British. I saw an old English lady who was teaching Indian traditional embroidery work to kids. I spoke to her about her links to Indian culture and art. She was talking about twenty plus years she spent in Mysore and its richness in art and culture with glow in her eyes. I did not know half the things she was talking about art of Mysore! I had read about the respect English people have towards art, culture and history and it is nothing to do with the British bureaucracy. I witnessed it for the first time. We should visit these kind of festivals one in a while at least to realize 'How much less creative we are', 'How much less informative we are about your own art' and 'What we are NOT worth off' ! 

I was there primarily for the show of an internationally celebrated artist but realized that there is an equally talented folk and art which are not celebrated.

I entered the auditorium half an hour before show started and was waiting for the show to begin. Show was based on Anoushka Shankar's latest album 'Traveller' which explores link between Indian classical and Spanish Flamenco music. I don’t understand much of classical music but always liked fusion; which is more rhythmic, exited version of Indian classical which retains the soul of Indian music at the same time removing boring part of it ! 'Traveller', 'Rise', 'Breathing Under Water' are the albums from Anushaka which are class examples of what I like.

Show started with opening of Rajasthani folk band setting up rhythmic and vibrant sound with colorful Rajasthani traditional dancers adding their twist to it. When Anoushka entered the dais with light brick color Selwar with her big smile, I was stunned by the grace she carried with her! Probably I am biased :). She started with a simple composition setting mood to upcoming excitement. When she started playing 'Inside Me', 'Kanya' along with the breathtaking voice of Sandra Carrasco… I was already lost. Sitar and Guitar were talking to each other in such a harmony when they played 'Buleria con Ricardo'… I was holding my breath for the song to get over. When she started flashing her Sitar with my favorite 'Traveller' with Sanjeev Shankar's Shehnai melody in the background, entire auditorium was vibrating. It is lot different from listening to it from album at home. There was loads of improvisation and vibration created was very high. When Sitar started competing with mad Mrudangam from Prasanna Devaraja and dancing Tabla from Tanmay Bose 'Dancing in Madness' shook the auditorium… I was actually going mad ! Suddenly she shifted to beautiful love song 'Si No Puedo Verla' which brought heart beat to normal with its melody. She concluded the concert with 'Folk' her father's composition where Rajasthani band joined her with their rhythm. Rajasthani Gipsy, Hindustani classical and Spanish Flamenco together sounded so unique and vibrant. That was a master piece! I went blank by looking at the accuracy of each musician and the way they connect to soul of the audience !

When entire auditorium stood up and bowed and clapped for more than five minutes … I was like, 'Why did it get over?'  It was absolute bliss of two hours. I was walking out as if I am walking in dream. Of course, "What I dreamt was not hyped" !

Cheers!

Kiran