Santoor player Abhay Sopori says Zubin Mehta’s concert in Kashmir today marks a new beginning and highlights the youth’s evolving taste for music. He spoke to Karan Bhardwaj
The much-discussed musical concert Ehsaas-e-Kashmir by Zubin Mehta in the Valley will open with a special composition written by Kashmiri santoor player Abhay Sopori. The young musician finds it an “honour” to be part of the musical do. “It’s a seven-minute opening composition. What more I can ask for than the fact that world’s number one symphony orchestra will be playing it,” says Sopori over phone. He himself is not playing but 15 musicians of his folk ensemble will take part in the show. This will be followed by compositions of ludwig van Beethoven, Joseph Haydn and Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsk.
The event also marks a history. “For the first time, Kashmiri music will be played with symphony orchestra,” he asserts. Ask about the reaction he got from Mehta after sending the composition, and Sopori says, “I called him initially to check out what he would like to play. But he asked me to go ahead with my understanding. Surprisingly, he liked it and didn’t make even a single change.”
Sopori is also the youngest musician to receive Sangeet Natak Akademi’s first Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar in 2006. He is also the recipient of the highest civilian award of Jammu and Kashmir, the J&K State Award in 2011 and Kashmir Kirti Samman in 2012. The idea of the concert originated when Zubin Mehta expressed his desire to perform in Srinagar last year. “Since then the ambassador has been planning this concert,” he tells us. Sopori clarifies that there is no political agenda.
“There’s a political turn which has been given to this concert. But in meeting with German ambassador and during my conversations with Zubin Mehta, I told them clearly that I wouldn’t have been part of this event if it would have been a political event. Everybody associated would agree that it is an apolitical act,” he says.
He believes it is his responsibility to promote the Kashmiri music. “This event is going to be a milestone in the history of Kashmiri music. The music of J&K comes to a new height with this function. The fact that Zubin Mehta is conducting our composition proves that we have fabulous talent. I think Kashmir will get a great boost,” he says adding that he is quite upset with people who are creating hue and cry. “Had it been kept simply to music, it would have been better. The entire world is perhaps looking forward to this function,” he remarks.
Sopori thinks Kashmir needs apt patronage to promote music. “Musicians should feel secure about their future. This concert will open doors to many international musicians. I have high hopes,” he ends.