In tune with Rahman

Dr Marla Stukenberg,Director,Goethe-Institut /Max Mueller Bhavan (Mumbai) and initiator of the project,points out that this tour marks the centenary year of both Studio Babelsberg — the oldest large-scale film studio in the world located in Potsdam-Babelsberg,Germany—and the Indian cinema,which was born in 1912. “This unique event is a special contribution to the Year of Germany in India — a celebration of 60 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries. The German Film Orchestra Babelsberg is the first Western classical orchestra performing the music of AR Rahman in his home country,” she says.

Founded in 1993,the German Film Orchestra Babelsberg derives its name from the legendary Studio Babelsberg. As one of the only remaining film orchestras in Western Europe and the only German professional film orchestra,it has a very large repertoire of live synchronised soundtracks of silent films. Today,they also do symphonic concerts,opera productions and jazz and pop programs,apart from recordings.

Understandably then,the Indian music maestro considers it a great opportunity for the Indian audiences to see how many musicians come together to create these scores. “I’m sure this will be a new experience for music lovers in India. Hopefully,it will also motivate younger artistes to become orchestral musicians,” says Rahman.

However,the scores for all the songs have been rewritten. This implies that the orchestra will play out tunes that are not the same as the original. Vijay Iyer,a member from Rahman’s team,explains that a medley of songs will be interwoven with the film’s background score to create the orchestral impact. “Rahman himself has put together the compositions for this tour but he won’t be performing. However,he will attend some of the concerts,” explains Iyer.

The orchestra will be conducted by Matt Dunkley,a world renowned orchestrator and a long-time Rahman collaborator. He has also been the orchestrator for all of Rahman’s symphonic orchestral scores,including the Hollywood projects such as Elizabeth: The Golden Age,Couples Retreat and 127 Hours. Dunkley has also worked with other Hollywood musical greats such as Hans Zimmer,James Newton Howard and Clint Mansell.

This being his first performance in India,Dunkley says he is looking forward to it. “The tour will be a journey in more ways than one and not just for me,but for the other members of the orchestra too. It will be fascinating to see the reaction of an Indian audience to the glorious sound of a full symphony orchestra and classical choir even as we perform some of Rahman’s beautiful orchestral film music,” he says.