By Rama Gaind
India’s two-time Oscar winner A.R. Rahman will perform at Parramatta Park, Sydney, on January 16, 2010. The concert will be free.
The undisputed king of contemporary Indian music, Rahman won the Academy Awards this year for his work as composer and songwriter on Slumdog Millionaire directed by Danny Boyle.
Rahman will reportedly entertain with an entourage of over 40 musicians and Bollywood dancers, presenting various rhythms and melodies of contemporary India.
In what has been described as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”, authorities will close Parramatta Park to cars on the day to allow the event to run smoothly. Patrons have been urged to use public transport. Although the event will start at 7.30pm, the gates will be opened at noon.
The organisers, Sydney Festival 2010, have labelled the outdoor concert as “night like no other”.
Sydney Festival is proud to celebrate this “inspiring and multi-dimensional artist – truly one of India’s international superstars”.
Prior to his double-win at the Academy Awards, Rahman was already an icon in the world of cinematic score and has redefined contemporary Indian music. On an international scale, CD sales of his film scores and soundtracks have exceeded 100 million (as well as more than 200 million cassettes) making him one of the world’s all-time top-selling recording artists.
In 2009, ‘Time’ magazine placed Rahman in the Time 100 list of ‘World’s Most Influential People’.
Sydney experience
The best time to experience Sydney is in January, when the city is in full celebratory mode. Sydney Festival is Australia’s most attended annual cultural event, presenting the biggest and best of the world’s performing and visual arts, all coming together in an avalanche of artistic activity.
Since it was first held in 1977, Sydney Festival takes over the city every January. The festival program features more than 50 events including theatre, dance, music, circus, visual arts and artist talks. Through its mass free events and ticketed program, the festival attracts an estimated one million people.
As part of the festival, another group from India – The Manganiyar Seduction – will perform at the York Theatre, Seymour Theatre Centre, from January 11-14, 2010.
One of the rave reviews received by the group includes: “Picks up momentum with every cycle of speed until euphoria sets in” – The Hindu
With a showman’s flair, director Roysten Abel has transformed a traditional Indian music concert into a dazzling theatre spectacle, placing 43 Rajasthani musicians in a ‘magic box’ structure.
The individual curtained compartments are framed by carnival lights, opening one by one to reveal each solo musician, with the build-up of instruments and voices unfolding into a lush spectacle of melody, rhythm and song.
Some memorable moments are in store for you, so start planning now!
