With SOI's Spring Season underway, here's why you should attend the performances

If the closest to Mozart you ever got was to listen to the Titan ad jingle the upcoming season of the Symphony Orchestra of India SOI might be one to start with Having opened their Spring Season 2026 the calendar is already moving at full speedDame Sarah Connolly and Martyn Brabbins Pics CourtesySymphony OrchestraofIndiaThe finale will conclude in April with the annual concert of the SOI Music Academy ldquoThis year the performers include 15 talented children from across the country who auditioned for the concerts and will perform at Goa Pune and Chennai The concerts are aimed to spread the love and awareness of Western Classical musicrdquo reveals Bianca Mendonca general manager SOIFROM February 17 to April 16AT NCPA Nariman PointLOG ON TO soimumbaicomFor beginners Bet on BeethovenThis concert will feature the rare combination of Carlo Rizzi conducting tenor Davide Giusti in compositions by Francesco Tosti Salvatore Cardillo and Richard Wagner ldquoTostirsquos compositions beloved Italian songs are not performed often They were created during the time of salon concerts in palaces Giustirsquos tenor voice suits these worksrdquo Mendonca says But it is the second half of Beethovenrsquos Symphony No 5 that makes this one perfect for beginners A powerful revolutionary work its famous lsquofournotersquo motif has been used from Disneyrsquos Fantasia to Bugs Bunny ldquoEven if you do not know Beethoven you know those opening notesrdquo Mendonca reminds usON February 21 7 pmFor classical ears Seasons galoreDan Zhu violin Pic CourtesydanzhumusicWhile the Spring season concludes in February the SOI Chamber Orchestra will welcome violinist Dan Zhu in March ldquoThe Eight Seasons concert combines Antonio Vivaldirsquos Four Seasons with Astor Piazzollarsquos Four Seasons de Buenos AiresAntonio Vivaldi Pics CourtesyWikimedia CommonsZhu will intersperse Vivaldirsquos works with Piazzollarsquos compositionsrdquo Mendonca reveals The violinist will also team up with pianist JeanFreacutedeacuteric Neuberger for a combination of sonatas by Bach Busoni and Schubertrsquos Fantasie in C MajorON March 26 7pm Zhu March 24 7 pm Zhu NeubergerFor nuanced listeners Dvorakrsquos melodiesDavide Giusti Pic Courtesydavidegiusti_tenorWarm melodious and folkinspired Antonin Dvorakrsquos compositions are more nuanced than you think ldquoThey are beautiful works but not familiar to the layman listenerrdquo Mendonca admits Rizzi will follow Dvorakrsquos Symphony No 8 with Finnish composer Jean Sibeliusrsquos Symphony No 2 his lsquoSymphony of IndependencersquoCarlo Rizzi Pics CourtesyCarlo RizziON February 17 7pm