31 March,2011 09:54 AM IST | | Surekha S
The Shillong Chamber Choir is all set for its first public performance in Mumbai, where they will perform songs selected by the people through social networking websites Facebook and Twitter
They had performed during US President Barack Obama's visit to India, and The Shillong Chamber Choir are going to perform again in Mumbai for a "personalised" concert.
From a list of songs they put out on social networking sites Facebook and Twitter, people can pick their best numbers and those tracks will be performed by the choir at the concert. Not just that, people can also choose who they want to dedicate the songs to and the choir will do it for them.
The Shillong Chamber Choir also breaks from tradition by not just performing Western classics. Surprisingly, their performance includes Opera, Rock, Jazz and even Bollywood numbers. "When people hear of a choir, they assume that the music will be stale or boring.
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I wanted to change that notion. A choir is just a group of singers and people who come to the concert will realise that the singers of a choir can be very versatile," says Neil Nongkynrih, the founder director of the choir, which came into existence in 2002. According to Neil, he used Shillong in the name on purpose as the city is one of the most musical places in India and he wants people to recognise it.
The idea of a personalised concert came from Indigo Live, the music production company that is bringing Shillong Chamber Choir to Mumbai for the concert.
Shom Jagtiani, COO and director of Indigo Live, believes that a concert should be fun and interactive. "We wanted to present music that will appeal to the masses.Plus, Neil makes sure there is a bit of extempore performance. All in all, it turns out to be a fun-filled experience for the audience," he says.
For their performance in Chennai, they even included a few Tamil songs in the playlist. "The reason we want people to choose the songs is that we wanted to play music that will connect with them," says Damon M Lyndem, the production manager of the choir.
Popular songs that are chosen are rewritten and rearranged by the choir to give it a distinct flavour. "We revamp the song, while still maintaining the identity of the song," says Neil. So, apart from Bohemian Rhapsody and All I Ask Of You, you will also get to hear a medley of Kal Ho Na Ho and My Heart Will Go On at the concert.
On April 7, 8 to 10 pm
At Shanmukhananda Hall, Sion (E). Priced between Rs 300 and Rs 2,000, tickets will be available at Rhythm House, and Cafe Coffee Day outlets at Shivaji Park, Sion and Matunga from April 1
