From Roja to Brahms: how the South Asian Symphony Orchestra regaled Chennai

The South Asian Symphony Orchestra mesmerised the audience into a silence through their Peace Notes performance

As a war of musical prowess was waged on stage by the South Asian Symphony Orchestra (SASO), the audience was left in peaceful silence in their seats at Sri Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Hall this past weekend. 

That the orchestra is no stranger to the stage was made apparent by their sheer stage presence, having performed in Mumbai and Bengaluru in years past. This makes its performance in Chennai a long-awaited one, for both the musicians and their fans.

Before the orchestra could let loose itsbombastic highs and melancholic lows, all present in the concert hall had taken a solemn stance as SASO began to play the National Anthem. As the last note of the anthem faded away, the audience was left eager and grateful to those who made this night possible, The South Asian Symphony Foundation (SASF).

Former Foreign Secretary of India Nirupama Rao, took to the podium as one of the co-founders of SASF, to speak of the group’s namesake and its diversity. These, she showcased by asking those on stage from India and abroad to take a bow, before inviting the chief guest, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, to speak and light the lamp to begin the night of music. Sitharaman described herself as having felt unable to sing along the National Anthem as the music played on stage, simply since she believed her voice could not add to the richness of sound that the orchestra had displayed. She further added that the importance of such music is in the enjoyment it brings to everyone.

With time for words having ended, the musicians took to the stage in their formal attire and began the night with an homage to the Indian past and a message of unity, through the song ‘Maithreem Bhajatha’.

The song had been sung by Bharat Ratna recipient MS Subbulakshmi and Radha Viswanathan at the United Nations, on October 23, 1966 on the occasion of UN day. As Nandini Chari sang in a crystal clear tone, accompanied by the sitar, bansuri and tabla, the song’s message of friendship between all nations seemed like a reality for a moment.

With the invocation ending, the orchestra awaited the swish of the conductor’s wand to begin their siren-like sound. Alvin Arumugam, the music director of SASO and the Nimrod Orchestra, began conducting with poise and sophistication.