Chicago Sinfonietta presents Sea of Light: Reflections on Diwali

The concert will start with a composition called Teen Murti written by Indian-American composer Reena Esmail whose works combine both the features of Indian and Western classical music.

Dark clouds become heaven’s flowers when kissed by light,” said Rabindranath Tagore, famous Bengali poet, writer and painter who in 1913 became the first non-European to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. The kiss of light can turn sorrow into joy, sadness into happiness, and evil into good. Diwali, the Indian festival of light that is celebrated every fall by Hindus all over the world, honors the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. Chicago Sinfonietta, one of the most diverse orchestras in the nation, is happy to present its own musical interpretation of this vibrant holiday. Its concert program called Sea of Light: Reflections on Diwali will take place at 8 p.m. on Saturday, November 10 at Wentz Concert Hall in Naperville and at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, November 12 at the Symphony Center in Chicago.

By presenting this beautiful concert program, Chicago Sinfonietta gives a great opportunity to those of us who are not familiar with Diwali to learn about this meaningful holiday, better understand it and actually celebrate it. Indian people from all over Chicagoland will also have an amazing opportunity to celebrate their favorite holiday in a unique way – through the magnificent sounds of symphony music. In this concert program, Chicago Sinfonietta will highlight a unique collaboration of Indian and Western classical works.

“Every country has its own unique and important traditions for celebrating its beliefs and customs,” said Mei-Ann Chen, music director of Chicago Sinfonietta. “All, in their own way, at some point celebrate light, goodness and knowledge – perhaps none more clearly than the Indian Festival of Diwali, The Hindu Festival of Lights. It is a time of new beginnings and strengthening relationships.”

Diwali is celebrated with grandeur and lasts five days. People get ready for it by cleaning, renovating and decorating their homes and offices. When the actual holiday comes, they wear their best clothes, light diyas (lamps and candles), offer prayers to the goddess of prosperity Lakshmi, and organize family feasts. The diyas “symbolize parts of the sun, describing it as the cosmic giver of light and energy to all life.” This festival is a time for rejoicing and renewal by getting rid of hate, anger and jealousy and sharing with each other the light of the human heart.

“As Chicago Sinfonietta continues to grow and celebrates 31 years of music making, Sea of Light: Reflections on Diwali highlights the mission of our organization - shining a light on the vibrant and exciting differences in our wonderful community and educating our communities about the light that can be found in diversity and creativity, making classical music accessible for everyone,” said Chen.

The concert will start with a composition called Teen Murti written by Indian-American composer Reena Esmail whose works combine both the features of Indian and Western classical music. This unique composer brings communities together through the creation of pieces that are loved and understood by people with different backgrounds. Her compositions are successfully performed throughout the US and abroad and have been programmed at Carnegie Hall, the Barbican Centre in London, Schloss Esterhazy in Hungary, and throughout India. Esmail holds degrees in composition from The Juilliard School and the Yale School of Music, and was a Fulbright grantee to India. “As an Indian American, it is so significant to me to see Chicago Sinfonietta honoring the festival of Diwali, and I am honored to be a part of it,” said Esmail. “My piece, Teen Murti, connects Indian and Western music through their classical traditions.”

This concert program will also feature a Grammy-nominated sitarist and composer Gaurav Mazumdar, one of the most versatile musicians of our time whose performances gather interest all over the world. He grew up in a musical family, learned to play the violin first, but later was inspired and taught by the legendary maestro Pt. Ravi Shankar to play the sitar, which is an Indian lute with a long neck and a varying number of strings. Mazumdar performs with various Indian and western musicians and is the only Indian to have performed at the Vatican. As part of its musical interpretation of Diwali, Chicago Sinfonietta is happy to present the Chicago premiere of Mazumdar’s composition called Celebration.

“This concert will mark my 25th anniversary as a global performer,” said Mazumdar. “I am delighted that I will be celebrating this commemoration with a performance focused around Diwali, as it is my favorite Indian festival. Everyone dresses in their best attire, switches off their electricity and uses oil candles for light. My piece, Celebration, reminds me of my fond memories celebrating the festival and I am so excited to bring that to Chicago audiences for the first time.”

Chicago Sinfonietta is also happy to present the music written by Grammy-winning composer and conductor Eric Whitacre, whose concert music is performed throughout the world by millions of amateur and professional musicians alike. Whitacre created ground-breaking Virtual Choirs that already have united singers from over one hundred twenty different countries. This extremely talented composer creates unforgettable, cosmic music that catches the attention of listeners from its first notes and never leaves their hearts. Chicago Sinfonietta will perform the orchestra version of his choral composition in one movement called Lux Aurumque (Light and Gold). Close your eyes and listen to it, and you will fly into space, close to the light of the Sun.

Of course, the concert program wouldn’t be full without an old classical favorite. This time, Chicago Sinfonietta chose Claude Debussy’s epic masterpiece, La Mer (The Sea). Being an impressionist composer, Debussy created a musical “painting” of the underwater realm that remains one of the most admired and frequently performed orchestral works around the world. Using various musical techniques, instruments and dynamics, the composer portrayed the sea and the light that reflects upon it throughout a day’s passing. Such a gorgeous conclusion of the celebration of Diwali!

“Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark,” said Tagore. Faith is light, and light reaches our hearts even during difficult times. With the help of classical music, Chicago Sinfonietta makes this light shine even brighter.

For tickets and information, please call 312-284-1554 or go to http://www.chicagosinfonietta.org/1819season/diwali/. Tickets range from $10 to $62. Plus, celebrate this vibrant holiday before the show and during intermission by sampling the flavors, dancing, enjoying the art of India, creating a beautiful rangoli, and capturing memories with FOTIO.

Natalia Dagenhart

Photo 1: Courtesy of Hannah Arista Photography

Photo 2: Courtesy of Gaurav Mazumdar