Fayaz Bukhari
Shalimar Garden, Srinagar, Sept 7: The conductor of the Bavarian State Orchestra Zubin Mehta said this evening that it was his life time wish to perform in Kashmir before he mesmerised the audience by most popular and best known western classical music compositions in the Mughal era 17th century terraced Shalimar Garden in Srinagar on the bank of Dal lake in the backdrop of Zabarwan hills, under the shade of majestic Chinars.
Setting the tone, the 77 year Music maestro in his brief address to the audience before his performance said: “I am very happy. I was waiting for this moment all my life. And everyone will agree with me that this is where it should be.”
The famed conductor promised that he will perform next time in a Stadium in Kashmir and invite every Kashmiri to his concert. “I promise, next time I will do it in a Stadium in Kashmir. All Kashmiris, not selected few will be invited. We only want to do good. Music must go out from here to all our friends everywhere, all critics, to all Kashmiris. God bless them all.”
The German Ambassador, Michal Steiner, who hosted the concert, said that the distance between Munich and Srinagar is 7756 kilometres and music reduces it to zero. “German and European cultural heritage bow to Kashmir, to its history, to its beauty and to its difficult reality and journey”, he said.
While acknowledging the support of the State Government and the Chief Minister, Steiner said, “I thank you all, but most of all I thank you all Kashmiris”.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on the occasion while pointing to critics of the concert, said: “If I am asked to do it all over again, I will do it again.”
Omar started his brief address by quoting the famous couplet by Amir Khusrau “that if there is heaven on earth, it is here, it is here”. He said Shalimar Bagh once again comes alive with the sound of music.
Former Chief Minister and Union Minister, Farooq Abdullah while asked about the concert said: “It was very good. I liked it.”
Mehta and his Bavarian State Orchestra played its full cast of works of Ludwig Van Beethoven, Franz Joseph Haydn and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in front of an invited audience of 2,000 guests.
The concert, “Ehsaas-e-Kashmir” (Feel of Kashmir), kicked off with the maestro leading the orchestra in concert with Abhay Sopori’s troupe with traditional Kashmiri instruments. The blend of European and Kashmir music mesmerised the audience and it attracted lot of applause from the audience.
Among the audience were Governor NN Vohra, Union Minister Farooq Abdullah, a number of celebrities and envoys of several countries.
The high-profile event was telecast live by public broadcaster Doordarshan for the first time in Hi-Definition format, which was watched by millions across India and 50 European countries.
Mehta played Symphony No. 5, a composition of the famous German composer Beethoven, a crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in western art music in the early 19th century.
The other well-known compositions that were played this evening were Concerto for Trumpet by Haydn, the late 18th century Austrian composer regarded by many as “Father of the Symphony”, and the Violin Concerto by Russian composer Tchaikovsky, one of the most celebrated musicians of the 19th century.
Mehta, who had worked with several international orchestras including the New York Philharmonic and Israel Philharmonic, wove a magic spell and kept his audience in thrall unmindful of the controversy generated by separatists and others objecting to the concert.
Abhay’s troupe performed with 15 Kashmiri musical instruments like santoor, rabaab, tumbak, sarangi and matka at the beginning and end of Zubin Mehta’s concert.
The concert was held under tight security. The audience had to pass through 3 metal detectors and had to face frisking twice before they were let inside. The road from Dalgate to Shalimar and Kashmir University to Shalimar was sealed and guests were asked to park vehicles in Kashmir University and at Foreshore Nishat and were ferried to the concert from there in buses and taxis.
The road on either side leading to Shalimar was guarded by Police and CRPF who were also guarding the Dal lake in speed boats to prevent any movement in Dal lake.
The security forces had also erected the barricades in entire city to prevent movement of the people and for the security of the guests.
Meanwhile, life in Kashmir remained paralysed today in response to a strike called by Hurriyat (G) Conference chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani against Zubin Mehta’s concert.
Shops and business establishments, educational institutions, banks and courts remained closed and traffic was off the roads in Srinagar and other major towns of the Valley in response to the strike call.
Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in strength to maintain law and order and scuttle any attempt by separatists to stage demonstrations on the occasion of the concert.
All sensitive areas particularly those which witnessed clashes like Maisuma, Rajouri Kadal, Nowhatta, Rambagh, Natipora and Batmaloo were virtually sealed by security forces.
All the entry points to Srinagar were sealed to prevent any protests or militants from targeting the concert. Barricades were erected at several places in Srinagar city and movement of the people was restricted to prevent any protests and for the safety of the guests who were in Srinagar to attend the concert.
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