Fulcrum Point presents Exotic Musical Journey through India,
“Mirror of enlightenment,”
featuring the U.S. premiere of raga fields
Special Guest Performers: Kalapriya Dance, Indian percussionist Kalyan Pathak and sarod virtuoso Soumik Datta
Harris Theater, One Night Only: Saturday, November 1
CHICAGO (October 8, 2014) – Fulcrum Point New Music Project, Chicago’s leader in New Art Music led by Stephen Burns, presents a one-night-only concert bringing together the classical and contemporary music and dance of India, titled “Mirror of Enlightenment,” at the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Saturday, November 1 at 7:30 pm.
A highlight of the program is the U.S. Premiere of Raga Fields, Concerto for Sarod and Ensemble, by prominent Indian composer Param Vir, an international leader in contemporary music. An original Fulcrum Point commission, Raga Fields interlocks contemporary music with classical Indian tradition, forging a vibrant sound capable of projecting the power and energy of two different musical traditions. Modal, tonal and atonal harmonic fields merge with fleeting Raga-like allusions, all of them encased in rich western contemporary counterpoint and orchestration. The work is a mirror of the contemporary world where monolithic cultures have given way to the merging of many cultures, a melting pot of possibilities. Special guest musician Soumik Datta, known as a virtuoso on the sarod, joins the 25-member Fulcrum Point ensemble for this premiere.
Chicago company Kalapriya Dance, based in the classical Indian dance form Bharata Natyam and led by Pranita Jain, brings their World Premiere work Mara to the stage, depicting the life of Buddha through percussive footwork, geometric group patterns and stylized hand and facial gestures.
Renowned Indian percussionist and Tabla master Kalyan Pathak joins Burns on trumpet and Datta on sarod for the collaborative, improvisational work Rageshri. Pathak then performs his Sanvare ke Rachi, joined by his own ensemble The Jazz Mata Trio, which blends composed material and improvised dialogue. The program continues with Shirish Korde’s Lalit, a duet for flute and Tabla featuring Pathak and Fulcrum Point flutist Mary Stolper.
Tickets
Single tickets for “Mirror of Enlightenment” are $20 general admission and $10 for students, available through the Harris Theater Box Office at 312-334-7777 or online at www.harristheaterchicago.org.
About Fulcrum Point
Since its formation by trumpet virtuoso and conductor Stephen Burns in 1998 under the auspices of Performing Arts Chicago, the mission of Fulcrum Point New Music Project has been to champion new classical music and highlight contemporary composers who are inspired and influenced by popular culture, including literature, film, dance, folk, rock, jazz, blues, Latin and world music. Through multi-disciplinary concert performances and educational programs, Fulcrum Point seeks to encourage audiences to make cross-cultural connections between new music, art, technology and literature, gaining greater insight into today’s diverse world. For more information on Fulcrum Point and its programs visit www.fulcrumpoint.org.
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