Local Indian musical ensemble mesmerise audience

KUALA LUMPUR: Some 27 Malaysian Indian classical musicians from five different music schools in the Klang Valley achieved a record-breaking feat by creating the biggest musical ensemble to perform for more than three hours on a single stage.

All the musicians who have risen to the top of their respective fields over the years performed through a concert named "Nityataa - An Evening Of Traditional Music" held at Shantanand Auditorium, Temple of Fine Arts here on Dec 18 (Saturday).

Sivabalan S.Shanmuga Sundram, founder and artistic director of Thrive Talent Tank, the organiser of the event, said all the musicians received formal musical training by undergoing arangetrams (graduation) and have gone on to represent the Malaysian performing arts scene through various initiatives.

"Normally, we have seen record-breaking feat with musicians performing within the same music school but this time we wanted to prove different by uniting 27 Malaysian Indian classical musicians from different music schools and thus becoming the largest musical ensemble to perform in a single stage.

"The performance included original Malaysian compositions and original arrangements of well-known poetic pieces which is handed down over hundreds of years," he told Bernama when met after the concert.He said all the tickets were sold out for the concert, adding that the concert saw an occupancy rate of some 65 per cent from the 600-odd seat capacity at the auditorium due to the major floods in Klang Valley at the time of the show.

The concert featuring a multi camera production was segmented into separate 15 minute showcases each showcasing one North and nine South Indian music traditions.

"Nityataa", which means "Continuance" in Sanskrit, is supported by Yayasan Hasanah for its ArtsFAS 2021 edition and CENDANA as part of its Performing Arts Presentation Funding.

Among the artists who performed at the concert were Darmen Krisnan playing the South Indian percussion of mridangam, Sriram Sheshadri (violin), Selvendrrah Krishnan (Tabla) and Sugam sisters comprising Sujietra, Sumitra and Subatra Jayaseelan on the vocal.

-- BERNAMA