Monsoon Melodies: A musical evening at US Consulate General Kolkata

The program was an effort to foster greater people to people connections and better understanding between the United States and India, through the universal language of music.

American soprano Meeryung Hall (wife of US Consul General Craig L Hall) collaborated with European pianist Panos Karan and flutists Ana Chifu and Zach Tarpagos to introduce Kolkata’s western music lovers to the tradition of setting American poetry to music.

The music to which the poems were set were composed by Ned Rorem, one of the most recognized composers of America.

The first song was from Robert Hillyer’s poem, Early in the Morning. The second song was based on a poem by Walt Whitman, Youth, Day, Old Age and Night. The third song was from I Am Rose by Gertrude Stein. And the fourth song was from Memory by Theodore Roethke.

The audience was also treated to various musical compositions from the South American repertoire, a traditional Brazilian flute rendering, a solo piece on piano adapted from Greece and many more.

Pianist Panos Karan said: "By connecting American and overseas musicians with their Kolkata counterparts and bringing international talents to music aficionados here, the US Consulate Kolkata hopes to help strengthen mutual understanding by working in partnership with all communities in Kolkata’s consular district.”

He added: "We are initiating a process of building an orchestra group in Kolkata, named Kolkata Youth Orchestra, which is expected to unveil its performance in November. Members will be drawn from all walks of life, especially those impoverished and deprived of better things in life.”

“It is only music, that belongs to everyone, and can change lives and guide the unfortunate from darkness to light,” he said.

(Reporting by Aninnya Sarkar)