The National Centre for the Performing Art (NCPA) in Mumbai has invited Opera Bergen to produce and conduct Lloyd Webber Gala Concert and Tosca for its Ninth Concert Season. Opera Bergen produces the performance, and contributes with musicians, concertmaster, répétiteur, and their own opera choir. NCPA hosts the performance. Anne Randine Øverby from Opera Bergen will be the conductor. She has established Norway’s second opera company (after the National Opera in Oslo), and has produced and conducted more than 80 operas.
- I was born in India and lived here until I was 18. Bringing opera here is like a dream come true – a personal voyage of reconnecting and rediscovering, she says.
Kushroo Suntook, Chairman NCPA, conductor Anne Randine Øverby and Zane Dalal, recident conductor Symphony Orchestra of India. Photo: Opera Bergen
NCPA has been committed to promote and preserve India’s rich and vibrant traditions in music, dance and theatre, as well as catalyzing new and innovative work in the field of performing art. It is recognized to be among Asia’s foremost venues. Resently Zubin Mehta with the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, together with Placido Domingo, Daniel Barenboim and Pinchas Zukerman visited NCPA in Mumbai.
The Indo-Norwegian cooperation has been in the pipeline for two years due to the complexity and financial logistics of opera. Eventually Lloyd Webber Gala Concert will be performed 23.-24th September, while Puccinis opera Tosca will be performed 28th and 30th September in Jamshed Bhabha Theatre with seats for 1100 people.
With this cooperation Opera Bergen wishes that both institutions mutually benefit from sharing the experiences they hold on opera production. Opera Bergen aims at delivering the high quality performance that is expected by the Mumbai audience.
- There will be a lot of colour and spectacle to delight the eye and suit the gradeur of India, said Øverby to Opera Now.