From inviting international conductors and soloists to choosing a suitable programme and bringing together over 80 musicians onstage for five or more concerts, there is much that goes into curating a season of the Symphony Orchestra of India. Meet the people who make it happen!
When rapturous applause fills the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre at the end of a triumphant concert by the Symphony Orchestra of India, several silent nods of relief, exhilaration and gratification are exchanged across the hall. For the audience, the experience lasts for two hours but for those involved in bringing an orchestral season—a fortnight to a month of concerts and recitals with guest conductors and soloists specially invited to perform with the SOI—to fruition, work begins at least two years before the first notes are sounded.
Image credits: On Stage Magazine : (From left; standing) Dr. Cavas Bilimoria, Albert Almeida, Bianca Mendonca, Vera Tata Choksey, Onay Zhumabayeva, Dr. Jehangir Sorabjee; (from left, seated) Farrahnaz Irani, Nadir Godrej, Khushroo N. Suntook, Nandita Anjaria, Hoshang Nanavati, Shirin Bharucha at a recent Western Classical Music Advisory Committee meeting
Western classical music has long shed its roots in Europe and the Americas. It is now a global phenomenon with orchestras the world over having become melting pots of musicians of various nationalities, regularly led by guest conductors. Star soloists, who bring their virtuosity and specialised knowledge of instrumental or vocal repertoire to the stage, are another highlight of a season. The SOI, since it was founded by NCPA Chairman Mr. Khushroo N. Suntook and violin virtuoso Marat Bisengaliev in 2006, has embodied this international character of classical music, performing with world-class artistes brought to music-loving audiences of India, during spring and autumn seasons every year.
“The curation of our exclusive seasons requires a deep understanding of the processes which does not depend only on finances, since artistes of the highest calibre only come when the conditions are conducive to display their talent. The planning has to start as early as two years with knowledgeable colleagues who are fortunately available at the NCPA. Programming operas, as we have done in the past, requires a different type of organisation since singers and stars required for this genre could have vastly different expectations,” says Mr. Suntook, who is closely involved in determining the guest musicians, singers and programme for every season.
Image Credits: On Stage Magazine: (From left) Chief Conductor, SOI, Martyn Brabbins, NCPA Council Member Brinda Khatau and Artistic Director, SOI, Marat Bisengaliev
Among the people deeply engaged in planning the season are Bisengaliev, who has guided the journey of the orchestra and the vision for it from day one, and Brabbins, who will assume the role of Chief Conductor in January 2026. Edward Smith, Consultant to the SOI and former Chief Executive of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra; Gian Ganzarolli, Consultant to the SOI for opera, who has worked as Producer and Impresario with Teatro alla Scala, Teatro La Fenice, Royal Albert Hall and Wigmore Hall among other venues; and Richard Nowell, sound engineer and technical and acoustical advisor to the NCPA and other prestigious performing arts organisations in the UK, are valued partners of the NCPA. Smith and Ganzarolli, along with the senior team at the NCPA, recommend conductors and soloists for symphonic and operatic music while Nowell’s expertise lies in creating the right acoustical environment for the orchestra.
“Our senior consultants, with whom we have had years of association, are among the best in the world. Their soundness in their area of operation is based on several years of practical knowledge and it is worth listening to these great voices of experience,” says Mr. Suntook, who has helped bring these minds to Mumbai through his wide connections in the world of the performing arts.
The NCPA’s Western Classical Music Advisory Committee members, Mr. Suntook, Shirin K. Bharucha, Brinda Khatau, Nandita Anjaria, Elinor Mirza, Adi Jehangir, Hoshang Nanavati, Dr. Jehangir Sorabjee, Vera Tata Choksey, Nadir Godrej, Jehangir Batiwala & Binaifer Malegam and Dr. Cavas Bilimoria, and Bianca Mendonca (General Manager of the SOI and Western Classical Music at the NCPA), Farrahnaz Irani (General Manager – Chairman’s Office and International Music) and Onay Zhumabayeva (Orchestra Manager) meet every quarter to share recommendations, discuss developments in the world of music and plan forthcoming seasons.
Image Credits: On Stage Magazine: A meeting of the Western Classical Music Advisory Committee in progress
“The vital support received from our committee, consisting of distinguished members of the community with knowledge of the genre and who regularly tour internationally, cannot be denied. Mr. Jehangir Batiwala and Mrs. Binaifer Malegam recommend and help us contact international artistes, provide valuable inputs and manage classical music concerts in Pune. A team to sustain quality musicmaking season after season is essential and due credit must be given to the SOI’s fine manager Bianca Mendonca and the indefatigable orchestra manager Onay Zhumabayeva,” notes Mr. Suntook. In his capacity as consultant to the SOI, Nikhil Sardana is a keen and result-oriented promoter of the orchestra around the country.
The choice of guest musicians and the programme for the season are determined in tandem. The idea is to plan a season in a manner in which the orchestra is properly represented, explains Mr. Suntook. Sometimes, the choice of artiste precedes that of the work to be performed and at other times, the programme is finalised first and artistes chosen accordingly. “The selection is also about ensuring that the orchestra has enough time to rehearse and absorb the work. Some of the greatest works in the repertoire are extremely difficult, so they must be attempted only when the musicians are ready,” he elaborates.
Image Credits: On Stage Magazine: (From left) Orchestra Manager Onay Zhumabayeva, Consultants to the SOI Jehangir Batiwala, Binaifer Malegam, cellist Bryan Cheng, General Manager of the SOI and Western Classical Music at the NCPA, Bianca Mendonca, pianist Sylvie Cheng, Artistic Director of the SOI, Marat Bisengaliev
Logistics play a huge role in making each season happen. From visas and travel to accommodation and rehearsal schedules, everything must be meticulously planned. The team also liaises with embassies, agents, airlines, and hotels. A detailed rehearsal schedule is created, with the orchestra often rehearsing for several hours a day in the lead-up to a concert. “The SOI rehearses at a very high level of discipline, and that comes from Marat’s insistence on preparation and professionalism. It is hard work but ultimately rewarding when the music comes alive on stage,” says Bianca Mendonca.
Sound design and acoustics are another essential element. Richard Nowell, who has advised the NCPA for over a decade, ensures the orchestra sounds its best in the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre. From stage layout to microphone placement, his technical expertise contributes significantly to the audience’s listening experience.
Ultimately, the success of each SOI season is the result of months—and often years—of collaboration between artistic visionaries, technical experts, managers, and musicians. It is a collective effort where every detail matters, culminating in concerts that leave audiences spellbound.
This article appeared in the August issue of NCPA’s On Stage magazine; editorial led by Snigdha Hasan, Editor-in-Chief, with contributions from NCPA Chairman Khushroo N. Suntook and team
