Curated by Sunit Tandon and Samaresh Chatterji

Adolphe Adam: Giselle
(108 min; 1983; dvd; English subtitles)

With Galina Mezentseva (Giselle); Konstantin Zaklinsky (Albrecht); Gennadi Selyutsky (Hilarion); Tatyana Terekhova (Myrtha)
The Kirov Ballet
Orchestra of the Leningrad Theatre of Opera and Ballet
Conductor: Viktor Fedotov

The Kirov Ballet offers its unmatched interpretation of one of the finest of Parisian Romantic ballets, in which undying love triumphs over betrayal and death…

Introduced by Samaresh Chatterji
 

Curated by Sunit Tandon and Samaresh Chatterji

A MASTER AT WORK

Carlos Kleiber Conducts Mozart and Brahms
(72 min; 1992; dvd; English)

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Carlos Kleiber

Carlos Kleiber was perhaps the most highly regarded conductor of the late 20th century but has left the musical world with a frustratingly small number of recordings. Hence this video recording of a concert given in 1991 in the famed Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna is all the more to be treasured, capturing his minimal but poetic gestures, his utter command of the score and his hypnotic hold over the orchestra. Featuring Mozart’s Symphony No. 36 in C major, K. 425 “Linz” and Brahms’ lyrical Symphony No. 2 in D major.

Introduced by Sunit Tandon
 

FILMS OF THE SPIRIT
Curated by Rajiv Mehrotra

Exemplar 
(55 min; 2021; English)
Produced by The Bahá’i World Centre, Haifa

Screening will be followed by a discussion with Dr. A.K. Merchant, National Trustee/Secretary, Lotus Temple and Bahá’i Community of India

Exemplar follows the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Head of the Bahá’i Faith from 1892-1921, later canonized as the last of three ‘central figures’ of the religion. A sense of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s unique function as a shelter, a shield, a stronghold for all humanity is captured in vignettes of some of the souls whose lives were transformed through an association with Him. The film reflects a few of the universal principles embodied, both in word and deed, by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá – principles that animate a global movement of individuals, communities and institutions.

(Collaboration: Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama)

 

IIC Diamond Jubilee Discussions on Science
 
Science of the Pandemic
Opening Remarks: Shri K.N. Shrivastava, Director IIC
 
Lead speakers: Prof. P. Balaram, biochemist and former Director, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru will speak on Unravelling the Science of the Pandemic; and Dr. Krishna Ella, Founder and Chairman, Bharat Biotech on From the Virus to the Vaccine
 
Followed by a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Renu Swarup, former Secretary to the Government of India, Dept. of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology
 
Panelists: Dr. Pramod Garg, Executive Director, Translational Health Science & Technology Institute, Faridabad who will speak on Understanding our Immune System; Dr. Sanjay Singh, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd. on New Technology Platforms; Dr. Sudhanshu Vrati, immunologist, microbiologist and Director, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad who will speak on The evolving mutations; and Dr. Madhu Dikshit, cardiovascular biologist, pharmacologist and former Director, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow who will speak on Natural product based treatment
 
With the onset of the Pandemic in early 2020, the world focused its attention on scientists and researchers for finding science based solutions to fight this war. A tiny RNA virus brought the world to a grinding halt and impacted the health, economy and livelihood of mankind. India’s Science and Technology based response has been phenomenal and has given the country an elated level of confidence to face future challenges. SARS-CoV-2 is not the last virus we are fighting a war against, with the evolving virus and its numerous mutations there will be a continued focus on science based solutions to address the challenges of human health. The discussion will focus on some of these key issues and also the learnings which the pandemic has given us for handling other health priorities and any future pandemics

SUMMER SONATA: A FESTIVAL OF FILMS ON OPERA, BALLET AND CONCERT FILMS
Curated by Sunit Tandon and Samaresh Chatterji

Hänsel und Gretel
(107 min; 1981; dvd; English subtitles)

With Brigitte Fassbaender (Hänsel); Edita Gruberova (Gretel); Hermann Prey (Peter, their Father); Helga Dernesch (Gertrud, their Mother); Sena Jurinac (The Witch); Norma Burrowes (Sandman); Elfriede Höbarth (Dew Fairy)
Vienna Boys’ Choir
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Sir Georg Solti

Engelbert Humperdinck’s beloved musical fairy tale is brought to life by Sir Georg Solti and an illustrious cast – all part of a shimmering production that continues to enchant audiences of all ages.

Introduced by Sunit Tandon

F for Fake (USA)
(90 min; 1977; English)
Director: Orson Welles
Written by Orson Welles, Oja Kodar

Orson Welles’s final completed film is a ground breaking blend of fact and fiction that dazzles audiences to this day. He began with footage shot by François Reichenbach for a documentary on professional art forger Elmyr de Hory, a Hungarian-born, Ibiza-based master of Picasso, Modigliani and Matisse replicas.

Welles soon discovered, however, that Hory’s would-be biographer, American ex-patriot Clifford Irving, was himself the forger responsible for the notorious fake Howard Hughes diaries. Welles incorporated new footage, with major contributions from his then-companion, Oja Kodar, into a dizzying, delightful “film essay.”

SUMMER SONATA: A FESTIVAL OF OPERA, BALLET AND CONCERT FILMS
Dedicated to the Memory of Dr. R.P. Jain

Curated by Sunit Tandon and Samaresh Chatterji

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker
(104 min; 1994; dvd)

Kirov Ballet at the Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Kirov Orchestra
Conductor: Victor Fedotov

With Larissa Lezhnina (Masha/The Princess), Victor Baranov (Nutcracker/The Prince); Piotr Russanov (Drosselmeyer) 

One of the most loved ballets of all time, with a ravishing score, performed by the company for which it was written. This version uses the adaptation of the Petipa choreography and libretto devised by Vasily I. Vainonen.

Introduced by Sunit Tandon

PHYSICAL PROGRAMME

PHYSICAL PROGRAMME

Hindustani Classical Recital

By Ustad Jainul Abedin from Kolkata, disciple of Ustad Latafat Hussain Khan, Pt. Vijay Kichlu and Pt. Sunil Bose

Accompanied by Bibhash Sanghai (tabla) and Dr. Vinay Mishra (harmonium)

(Collaboration: Sanskriti Foundation)

PHYSICAL PROGRAMME

Hindustani Flute Recital
By Sameer Rao from Bangalore, disciple of Guru Pandit Veerabhadriah Hiremath and Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia

Accompanied by Adarsh Shenoy on tabla

AT 19:00
Kathak Recital
By Rachana Yadava from Gurugram, disciple of Guru Aditi Mangaldas and Pt. Jaikishan Maharaj

Accompanists: Mahaveer Gangani (pakhawaj); Samiullah Khan (vocals & harmonium); Mohd. Ayyub (sarangi); Kiran Kumar (flute); and Yogesh Gangani (tabla)