Ravi Shankar: Sukanya

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The piece encapsulates Shankar’s lifelong devotion to bringing together the music of east and west…That the integration of styles and instruments feels so natural is testament to Shankar’s pioneering... — BBC Music Magazine, April 2020, 3 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 10th Jan 2020
Catalogue No: LPO0115
Label: LPO
Length: 88 minutes

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Shankar: Sukanya

Work length1:28:23

$16.00

$22.75

$28.00

Keel Watson (soloist), Njadbulo Madlala (soloist), Susanna Hurrell (soloist), Alok Kumar (soloist), Michel de Souze (soloist)
London Philharmonic Orchestra
David Murphy

I. Prelude. Aswini Twins Song to Love

Track length7:21

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II. Overture

Track length5:07

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III. Tarana

Track length4:35

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IV. The Forest

Track length3:16

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V. Ants!

Track length2:25

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VI. Discovery

Track length5:50

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VII. Marriage

Track length11:30

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VIII. Prelude

Track length2:27

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IX. Tilak Kalmod

Track length5:46

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X. Yaman Kalyan

Track length12:52

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XI. Arrival of the Aswini Twins

Track length6:39

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XII. The Test

Track length4:45

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XIII. The Lake

Track length4:27

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XIV. The Choice

Track length5:38

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XV. New Life

Track length5:45

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About

Sukanya is Ravi Shankar’s only opera. He began writing it at the age of 90 and it was left incomplete at the time of his death in 2012. It was completed and orchestrated by David Murphy, a longtime collaborator of Shankar’s, with the help of Shankar’s wife Sukanya and daughter Anoushka.

Inspired by Shankar’s own wife and based on a tale from the Mahābhārata, Sukanya seamlessly blends Western and Indian musical traditions to tell an epic and magical love story which transcends time and space.

Featuring the original cast of the opera, including Susanna Hurrell and Alok Kumar as Sukanya and Chyavana the elderly sage performing alongside masters of traditional Indian instruments and the BBC Singers. This blend of traditions was praised for its “soundworld of arresting beauty and originality” (What’s On Stage). This World Premiere recording is taken from a live performance during the premiere production of the opera. Classical Source praised the production and said it created “a blaze of colour and energy... ravishing musical moments and gorgeous spectacle... Sukanya is a triumphant celebration of shared humanity.” The Telegraph called the production “a delightful evening of pure escapism,” and The Guardian described it as “a ravishing spectacle.”

LPO concert performance of Sukanya on 15th January 2020 at London’s Royal Festival Hall.

Reviews

April 2020

The piece encapsulates Shankar’s lifelong devotion to bringing together the music of east and west…That the integration of styles and instruments feels so natural is testament to Shankar’s pioneering work – and the skill and enthusiasm of the singers and musicians under Murphy’s baton. However, the opera itself is not entirely unproblematic, not least in its awkward personal-parable mix.

Ravi Shankar: Sukanya

2 CDs

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