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28 June 2010

FOCAL POINT : The Voices of Bahá in India

Choir and venues in Mumbai and New Delhi
Image source: Paul Ancheta

ONE HUNDRED twenty Bahá’í singers from twenty-five countries flew into India this month and sang in chorus on stage. The result: an experience that dazzled with the expressive majesty of the divine word, the ethnic sophistication of Ravi Shankar’s melody, and the effervescent power of the choral voice.

Collectively known as the The Voices of Bahá, the choir performed from 16-26 June in five cities with noted Indian singers Ashit and Hema Desai. Under American composer Tom Price’s leadership, the concert made history: it marked the choir’s debut in India and the first choral performance of Mr. Shankar’s compositions for the Bahá’í House of Worship (also known as the Lotus Temple) in New Delhi since they were last sung during the temple’s 1986 opening.

Not wanting to miss this history-making event, I attended the Mumbai show on 18 June and the New Delhi one last night (26 June). The venues were two of India’s finest destinations: the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) on the shores of the Arabian Sea in south Mumbai, and the Bahá’í House of Worship on the hills of Bahapur in south New Delhi. Extraordinary art, after all, deserves such extraordinary exhibit spaces.

At the NCPA, the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre turned full house with well-heeled theatre patrons and Bahá’ís from Mumbai and Pune. I wanted to see the audience reaction: Mumbai, for all its fame as India’s premier cosmopolitan hub, does not have a strong tradition for choral music. The crowd reaction delighted me. From the vigorous applause that greeted Mr. Price’s introductions to the reverential hush that heeded every song, it was clear that the audience loved The Voices of Bahá, and how. The show, though, was not without a hitch: microphone issues hindered the singers from projecting effectively into the cavernous hall. Thankfully, as the show progressed, the setbacks failed to overwhelm the effusive harmony of voice and instrument, words and music. And when the crescendos of “Allahumma” and “O Bahá’u’lláh” hit the rafters and the audience cheered blazingly, I knew that the evening created a miracle.

While the Mumbai show was spirited, the Delhi show was spiritual. Basking in the glow of the choir’s music were rural villagers and urban denizens, seated together in the temple’s solemn prayer hall.  I sat with Bahá’ís from Bahrain and Bengaluru, and saw a couple of Sikhs in their turbans. We were a diverse audience, and we were silent: this was, after all, a prayer hall. Even Mr. Price’s song introductions in Mumbai were replaced with recitations of sacred Bahá’í text.

The House of Worship was the perfect showcase for The Voices of Bahá, a logical, closing-night ending for a road tour that tightened the group’s harmonies, deepened their confidence, and sharpened their longing to come face-to-face (or voice-to-voice) with the temple of their Faith in Asia. As the evening passed, the marble walls resonated with full-bodied harmonic echoes and shimmered with warm yellow lights. The effect seemed too perfect for this world. I will always remember this as the one night in India that The Voices of Bahá turned into an evening of splendor.

12 INTERACTIONS:

Unknown said...

Hi Paul,

I bet it was wonderful. Why weren't you singing? You could have only added to the glorious-ness of the occasion. x

Paul Ancheta said...

Hello, Sharon! I asked to join, but when they wrote back last January asking for a phone audition, I panicked, thinking I couldn't be good for them! :)

Praveen said...

great writeup paul, it was indeed a marvelous evening and great to meet you in person!!

Paul Ancheta said...

Great to see you in person as well, Praveen. Glad to know I'm not the only one who cried during "O Baha'u'llah" :)

Yasmin Rasiwalla said...

Hi Paul,

Tho' unable to attend the event personally you brought it alive for us pictorally and thru your graphic description. Many txs.

Paul Ancheta said...

Hi, Yasmin. Thanks for your message. I hope you're doing well. From Kiyoko's mail today, I saw that Eliza seems to look very well. Please give her my regards and assurances of daily prayers.

Lizkauai said...

Thanks for this!!

Purplesocklady said...

Thank you for the lovely article!

I was a part of that choir, and undeservedly so, considering the caliber of the singers I was with. I do want you to know that there was not a dry eye in the choir during Emily Price's rendition of "Oh, Bahá’u’lláh" Her voice is rich and spiritual, and the realization of the bounty of being in that sacred place overwhelmed us all.

Valerie Smith said...

Wonderful article, especially the closer; thank you!

Joan said...

Yes, beautifully written sentiments about a once-in-a-lifetime experience that felt about as close to the spiritual kingdom as we can get, and still have these senses to feel it. And yes, in "Oh, Baha'u'llah" you would have seen the same thing in the choir - hard to get through that one without the tears. Thanks for bringing them on again as we reminisce through your words!

Paul Ancheta said...

Dear Liz, "PurpleSockLady", Valeria, and Joan:

Thanks for visiting my blog page, and for leaving your comments! I would assume, based on your feedback, that you sang with the choir. You have my additional thanks for sharing your musical spirit, and profound respect for your talent!

Warmly,
:: Paul A.

Elika said...

Sounds like a fantastic evening! Makes me wish I was there. I hope to join the choir next time they go on a singing adventure.

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