Date:02/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/02/stories/2006020201940200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

The East-West Encounter has begun in Bangalore

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Bangalore School of Music is holding the ninth East-West Encounter, a biennial multicultural event, in association with Alliance Francaise de Bangalore, the Embassy of France, the Consulate General of the Czech Republic, the Royal College of Music of Stockholm, the Delhi Music Society, EPTA India Associates and corporate co-sponsors.

The one-month festival began on January 25. Artistes from around the world will perform and bring programmes of diversity to Bangalore.

Schedule

On Saturday, a jazz concert featuring Swedish singer Maria Peterson with violinist Stefan Pontinen and a jazz performance with tablas will be held at Opus. A fusion ensemble will also be held at Opus on February 25 where Carnatic guitarist M.R. Jagadeesh will perform with jazz musicians.

The events to be held at Alliance Francaise include a performance by American pianist Roberta Swedien on February 8. Ms. Swedien's performance includes "To Russia with Love," the poetry of Pushkin, images of the Russian spirit and countryside and 16 preludes for piano solo.

A guitar fiesta featuring German artiste Roger Zimmerman will be held on February 10. Radoslav Kvapil, a pianist, and Roberto Sterba, a tenor opera star, will bring alive European classics on February 14.

On February 16, French orchestra Les Solistes conducted by Bernard Wacheux will perform. Cameleon, jazzman from France, will give a performance of jazz and gypsy music on February 17 while "An Evening of Prodigies" with pianists Neville Bharucha and Suraj Satish will be held on February 21.

On February 24, the Bangalore School of Music's chamber orchestra will perform orchestral harmonies conducted by composer Narayanaswamy V.