Not everything was gloomy and dark, for many productive things have happened during the lockdown. Among some of the best things perhaps included the production of some exclusive music and songs by creative geniuses around the globe. Melodious pieces that have the power to elevate negativities and tragedy from everywhere.
Multi-award-winning British Indian pianist Rekesh Chauhan is all set to release his
lockdown album ‘Live at Symphony Hall’ next week, shot and recorded at the Symphony Hall B: Music.
Nick Reed, Chief Executive for B:Music, Symphony Hall, said, “Though our iconic concert halls were closed due to the pandemic, they did not fall silent. We were delighted to welcome a range of artists, including the incredibly talented Rekesh Chauhan, into the world-renowned Symphony Hall to make music, and I’m thrilled that music fans will now have the opportunity to hear it with the release of this album. Music is made to be shared.
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“I believe music will play a powerful role in reuniting communities after the isolation and hardship of the past year, and I hope that our halls will be a beacon for that reconnection.”
The album beautifully captures a range of emotions from the artist’s view, reflecting on Britain emerging out of the Covid pandemic, which, looking back, becomes all the more relevant and essential with the Omicron threat looming large on us.
Rekesh Chauhan’s ‘Live at Symphony Hall’ is also about looking forward to celebrating an important year for Britain, with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and 2022 Commonwealth Games in sight.
Rekesh, an award-winning British pianist and composer, has presented concerts spanning the Royal Albert Hall to arenas over 60,000 people amongst his international tours. His collaborations range from Nobel Peace Prize performers to Mercury Prize Award winners. He is an iTunes World Charts Top 3 artist and a TEDx speaker. Rekesh appears as a guest artist for the University of Oxford on music research productions. In 2020, Chauhan was commended by the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson for raising awareness of mental health through arts.
Talking about his cultural roots and diversity along with this latest album release, the British-Indian musician says: “Through combining different cultural styles, I have found myself studying the history of the music I play and how the evolution of culture has had a vital role in the music.”
The album reflects Chauhan’s identity with glittering embellishments of his Indian heritage portrayed uniquely on the piano. The nuances of the musical pieces focus on the ancient raga system of India, dating back to the 9th century.
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Sudarshan Chana has very ably accompanied on the tabla in all the tracks in the album except for track six, and the music tracks have been mixed and mastered by Derek Roberts.
Recorded in lockdown, in the heart of Birmingham – Chauhan’s hometown, the album offers a taste of the diversity the city provides. The iconic venue is an apt choice capturing the ambience of a diverse city and a global stage to celebrate the 2022 Commonwealth Games – recorded in a town, which Chauhan says “has given me so much”.
*Info: Rekesh Chauhan