London, June 18: Western classically trained musicians from the famed City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) will provide the backing in a challenging collaboration with Sonu Niigaam who will sing some of Mohammed Rafi’s best-loved songs in three concerts, Rafi Resurrected, in Birmingham, Manchester and London.

The project, which has been two years in the making, has been funded to the tune of £250,000 by Saregama, whose head of operations in Europe, Amarpal Gaind, said yesterday: “People will be taking a trip down memory lane with Sonu Niigaam, who is known as the voice of Rafi.”

Niigaam will be supported by a 75-piece CBSO, which has been practising from the score sheets written by its former librarian, Tim Pottier, who took the idea of the east-west collaboration to Saregama and was promptly recruited to be the arts producer for the ambitious project.

The CBSO’s association with the Indian film industry began in 2004 when it gave a joint concert with A.R. Rahman. Two years ago, it gave a Rafi concert but the singers were hired locally, mostly in Birmingham.

Having listened to several hundred Rafi songs (from the 26,000 the singer is said to have recorded), Pottier has whittled down the list to about 20 that Niigaam will sing — though many Indians will be distressed because he has not included Chaudhvin Ka Chand.

“Sonu Niigaam, who is a very busy man, will arrive in Birmingham on July 13 and will then rehearse with the CBSO for the first concert,” said Pottier.

He added that the CBSO would strive to recreate Indian sitar and flute sounds. However, when he had listened to the underlying scores to Rafi’s music, he had been impressed with how classically western so much of it had sounded.

Three halls with possibly the best acoustics in Britain have been selected and laser technology included to enhance sound quality to near perfection. The opening concert in the Symphony Hall in Birmingham on July 15 will be followed by the second in the Manchester Apollo on July 17 and the “grand finale” at the London Coliseum on July 20.

Sony TV is recording the last concert with the aim of broadcasting it to India on July 31, which will be the 28th anniversary of Rafi’s death.

Asked whether two days were sufficient for rehearsals, Pottier, who has travelled to India and worked with musicians from the Hindi film industry, said: “Sonu Niigaam knows the songs backwards.”

One of the musicians from the CBSO, Charles Wall, who plays the double bass, expressed confidence that Rafi’s magic would not be lost in translation. “If I had looked at just the notation, I would not have known it was from Bollywood,” Wall said.

Saregama is also issuing a double CD to mark its remarkable collaboration with the CBSO.
Top

there was ecore for the songs : Mana re tu kaahe na dheer dhare and mast baharon ka mai ashik and the absence of few singers was never noticeable.

Now, we are happy that we have talents who can switch gears - effortlessly.

two young singers ashish and rajdeep made quite an impression and there was a small quiz to test the music knowledge of music lovers.

sharada was gracious, her voice still very fresh and pleasant and dignity magnified. she spoke of rafi saaheb; how lucky it was to work with legends and she has promised a musical show with the rafi foundation.

our prayers were answered; after continuous rains for a week in mumbai, at 5.00 p.m. the rains - stopped . even four singers falling sick did not alter the quality of the show , it was a great musical evening the guests opined at the exit gates.

thanks to all the singers, musicians and rafi lovers who made the saturday night rafi fever programme - a musical success.

binu nair. rafi foundation, mumbai… 9833 250 701

Thanks and best regards,

Danny HIra

and you say you are a rafi lover, u want to attend and enquires if it’s “free”…

how many things in life come free arunji ? i think that apart from “air” nothing is free and pls correct me if i am wrong.

binu nair, rafi foundation, mumbai…

since we are engaged in quality output and since various vip’s from the music scene are attending the rafi musicals, we have auditions and training for the event. the singers select themselves - or should i say the audience selects the singers based on their performances.

the musical event is held every second saturday of the month and rafi lovers are all welcome.

binu nair, mumbai, 9833 250 701….

Mohit Jaitly unquote

Great Mohit Jaitly, we salute you.

binu nair, mumbai

(Arun)