Western classical music maestro Zubin Mehta will perform with over 100 musicians of the Australian World Orchestra (AWO) in Chennai in October this year. This programme has been made possible in part thanks to funding support announced by the Australian Government.

The Australian Minister for the Arts George Brandis QC announced that the government will provide $2,50,000 (AUD) in funding to support the AWO’s tour to three Indian cities – Mumbai, Chennai and New Delhi, said a press release here from the Australian Consulate General, Chennai.

The AWO’s musicians have performed in leading world orchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonic and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Arriving in Mumbai, then coming to Chennai and going to Delhi. The final details are being worked out.

Mr. Mehta has previously conducted the AWO for concerts in Sydney and Melbourne and was so impressed with them that he decided to invite the orchestra to perform in India.

Australian Consul-General to South India Sean Kelly said: “I am delighted that we can help bring the Australian World Orchestra and Maestro Zubin Mehta to Chennai this year.”

As part of the tour, orchestra will also deliver an education program to young Indian musicians and perform Haydn’s Toy Symphony in a series of concerts for underprivileged children, with the involvement of a number of Australian and Indian cricketers.

Australian High Commissioner to India, Patrick Suckling, said the concert tour would be a rare opportunity for Indian audiences to experience the finest talents in Western classical music from India and Australia.

“This is a wonderful example of the growing cultural engagement between Australia and India, which is a critical foundation of the relationship between our two countries,” Mr. Suckling said.

The press release also said that cultural engagement has been a key priority for both the Australian and India Governments and during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia in November 2014, Mr. Modi and Prime Minister Tony Abbott witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Arts and Culture.

Mr. Modi also announced a Festival of Indian Culture in Australia in 2015/16 to showcase the dynamism and diversity of contemporary Indian culture. Further information on the AWO can be found on their website www.australianworldorchestra.com.au

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Prasanth Radhakrishnan / Chennai – February 09th, 2015