Concerts & Programme

By Maria Badstue, Artistic Director and co-founder

“Western classical music is still somewhat of a niche in India’s rich music culture, and I find it important to present the Indian audiences to the core repertoire of Western classical music, as well as new music that is relevant to our time. The National Centre of the Performing Arts presents high-level concerts with Indian classical music in one concerthall alongside high level Western Classical Music in another hall next door. This is truly a unique and very special setting and experience not found elsewhere in the world!  With the INDK Symphonic Collaboration we are proud of being part of collaborating in these wonderful creative setting and enrichend enviroment

In our first season – the 2023/2024 season, we presented two productions together and we made a deliberate choice to programme Beethoven in both of our concerts. Beethoven’s compositions are timeless, and it brings an immense joy to share his music, as I firmly believe that every person on the globe should have the chance to experience his music.

In the 2023 concert, we presented Beethoven´s 3rd piano concerto with Danish soloist Christina Bjørkøe.

It was also a profound joy to spotlight one of my favorite composers, Jean Sibelius. My long-standing mentorship and friendship with Jorma Panula, the highly a esteemed Finnish conducting nestor, has greatly deepened my understanding and admiration for Sibelius’s compositions. Conducting the music by Sibelius in India holds a deep personal significance for me. I have conducted these works not only in concert halls, but also in the memorable and serene settings of Jorma’s summer cottage in the woods outside of Helsinki! This experience has added a unique and personal connection to the music. Furthermore, the opportunity to conduct Biber’s Battalia written in 1673  with the SOI Chamber has been a source of great excitement. We also premiered a new piano concerto written in 2023 by Indian-American John Matthews. It added beautiful dimension to the concert experience that there were 350 years between the two pieces!

The 2024 concert marked a significant milestone as it was the first time a Danish State Funded ensemble toured to India. The collaboration between the SOI and Danish Chamber Players resulted in a remarkable concert, featuring masterpieces by Gustav Mahler, Aron Copland – and of course Beethoven´s bright and shining symphony no. 4. The event was historic and unforgettable, showcasing the cultural exchange between the two nations. And it was really special to bring musicians from two corners of the world together to do something as extraordinary as a Beethoven Symphony!

Looking ahead to 2025, the Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI) is set to present another groundbreaking concert featuring the works of two of Scandinavia’s most renowned composers Carl Nielsen and Jean Sibelius. The concert will also include a rendition of Rachmaninov’s 2nd piano concerto with Danish-Indian pianist Søren Rastogi. What makes this event even more special is the collaboration with 20 talented students from the Royal Danish Academy of Music and Danish National Academy of Music. This special partnership will undoubtedly bring a fresh perspective to the performance, fostering a collaborative spirit and elevating the overall experience for both the musicians and the audience”.