The lilting strains of the veena will reverberate in the Royal Albert Hall when young virtuoso Hari Sivanesan and noted singer Aruna Sairam deliver the first Carnatic music performance in the 116-year history of BBC Proms on July 27.

Considered the world's largest classical music festival, BBC Proms, founded in 1895, features top musicians performing over an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events held annually in London.

Sivanesan, born to Sri Lanka origin parents in London, is the latest graduate of BBC Radio 3’s World Routes Academy. He will share the evening with his mentor Aruna Sairam, widely regarded as the leading South Indian female vocalist of her generation.

The current BBC Proms season runs from 15 July to 10 September. BBC Proms remains true to its original aim – to present the widest possible range of music, performed to the higheststandards, to large audiences. BBC Radio 3’s World Routes Academy scheme is founded to support outstanding young artists working in world music. Sivanesan said, “It's time for Carnatic music – India's music of the South – to shine in the West, and I’m looking forward to diving into the roots of our music further.” Sivanesan is a student of Sivasakthi Sivanesan, one of the UK's foremost Carnatic music exponents.

The 100th Proms season took place in 1994 and the festival now includes over 70 main Prom concerts every year, widening the range of symphonic and operatic music presented.


Source: July 23, 2011, TOI