Zubin Mehta to conduct orchestra in Kashmir
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E-mail Xinhua, August 23, 2013
Zubin Mehta, the international icon of classical music is scheduled to stage a concert in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said Thursday.
The Indian-born musical maestro of Western classical music will perform at Shalimar Bagh -- the famous garden built by Mughal emperor on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"On Sept. 7, the German Embassy New Delhi will host an unprecedented event in Srinagar: The Kashmir Concert," said Michael Steiner, the German Ambassador to India.
The 77-year old Mehta had longed to perform in Kashmir. At the age of 25, he was the youngest conductor directing the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and has been associated with the ensemble for the past 50 years.
The Kashmir Concert is being organised by the German Embassy in New Delhi with support from the local and federal Indian government.
"This concert is for the people of Kashmir," Steiner said during an interaction with the Kashmiri civil society members, travel and traders community in Srinagar Thursday evening. "This is a wonderful cultural tribute to Kashmir and its warm-hearted and hospitable people."
German Embassy officials say 1,500 guests from Kashmir and beyond will listen to the timeless music of Beethoven, Haydn and Tchaikovsky to be played by Mehta and the Bavarian State Orchestra (Bayerische Staatsorchester) from Munich.
"Music is a universal language," said Steiner. "Music connects. With the magic power of music, crossing geographical, political and cultural borders, we want to reach the hearts of the Kashmiris with a message of hope and encouragement."
The German Ambassador addressed a press conference in New Delhi, the India capital during the day to announce the Kashmir Concert schedule.
Mehta according to reports has visited the region in 1970s.
Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan is claimed by both in full. Since their Independence from British, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.
For the past 13 days skirmishes are going on between the armies of two countries along line-of-control (LoC), a de facto border that divides Kashmir into Indian and Pakistani controlled parts. The confrontation on LoC has heightened tension between New Delhi and Islamabad, who were trying hard to restart the dialogue process to normalise ties.
Indian-controlled Kashmir has been reeling under conflict and violence since 1989. A guerrilla war is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in the region. The instability across the region in 1990s forced foreign countries to issue travel advisory prohibiting its nationals from visiting the place. However, in July 2011, Germany revised its adverse travel advisory on the region and became the first European Union member to do so in the past more than two decades of insurgency going on in the region.
The performance of Mehta in Srinagar is seen by Music lovers and tourism players as a goodwill gesture that will boost Kashmir' s image in the outside world."Kashmir as a destination will be promoted outside with this concert and likewise the music and art of this place will certainly attract the attention of the people," said Asif Hussain, an artist.
Kashmir has a rich centuries-old, musical tradition. The Kashmiri classical music has influence of Sufism, which its proponents say has "essence of spirituality."However, few residents are familiar with Western classical music.
Mehta's orchestra would include 100 artists.
The logo of the event will be designed by noted Kashmiri artist Masood Hussain and model-turned- Bollywood actress Gul Panag would anchor the concert.
The instruments of the artists of the orchestra would be ferried in a special plane. The costs of the concert are covered by sponsors mainly from the business world in India and Germany, as well as "Incredible India" and the German Foreign Office.
Incredible India is a brand that promotes Indian tourist destinations across the world.
The event would be telecast live by TV channels across India and Europe.
The slogan of the event is 'Ehsaas-e-Kashmir' signifying that the event encapsulates the feelings for Kashmir.
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