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In pictures: French diplomat lights up Victoria Memorial with festive Baroque music

The second event in the series of Western Classical Music Concerts was conducted by Didier Talpain, the consul general of France in Kolkata

Vedant Karia Published 12.12.24, 01:20 PM
The third edition of the Western Classical Music Concerts at Victoria Memorial Hall, in partnership with Alliance Française du Bengale, was inaugurated last month with the stunning backdrop of the pearl white monument. The second concert in this series decided to take things indoors, with a full-blown orchestra lighting up the magnificent Durbar Hall, for the concert themed around a ‘Festive Baroque Christmas’
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The third edition of the Western Classical Music Concerts at Victoria Memorial Hall, in partnership with Alliance Française du Bengale, was inaugurated last month with the stunning backdrop of the pearl white monument. The second concert in this series decided to take things indoors, with a full-blown orchestra lighting up the magnificent Durbar Hall, for the concert themed around a ‘Festive Baroque Christmas’

Photos: Soumyajit Dey
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Titled ‘The Trumpet Shall Sound!’, the concert held on December 9 was conducted by none other than Didier Talpain, the consul general of France in Kolkata. “Today’s concert is a tribute to the Baroque era, which produced some of the best art, not just in France, but all of Europe,” he said
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Titled ‘The Trumpet Shall Sound!’, the concert held on December 9 was conducted by none other than Didier Talpain, the consul general of France in Kolkata. “Today’s concert is a tribute to the Baroque era, which produced some of the best art, not just in France, but all of Europe,” he said

The evening was made more memorable by the presence of (left) soprano Cheryl Bains and (right) trumpet player Jean-Baptiste Arnold, both of whom are acclaimed international artistes
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The evening was made more memorable by the presence of (left) soprano Cheryl Bains and (right) trumpet player Jean-Baptiste Arnold, both of whom are acclaimed international artistes

Kolkata Sinfonietta Orchestra & Choir, comprising 28 performers created an unmatched soundscape that made the occasion much more grand. Sharmisthaa Barrow (in sari), who has represented India at musical festivals around the world, led from the front as the choirmaster
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Kolkata Sinfonietta Orchestra & Choir, comprising 28 performers created an unmatched soundscape that made the occasion much more grand. Sharmisthaa Barrow (in sari), who has represented India at musical festivals around the world, led from the front as the choirmaster

The evening featured compositions by legends like Vivaldi and Bach, before concluding with two versions of George Friderich Handel’s epic, ‘Hallelujah’
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The evening featured compositions by legends like Vivaldi and Bach, before concluding with two versions of George Friderich Handel’s epic, ‘Hallelujah’

US consul general in Kolkata, Kathy Giles-Diaz was all smiles after the event. “This was a particularly festive start to the holiday season, and I am grateful to Alliance Française for organising this,” she said
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US consul general in Kolkata, Kathy Giles-Diaz was all smiles after the event. “This was a particularly festive start to the holiday season, and I am grateful to Alliance Française for organising this,” she said

Thierry Mathou, the French ambassador to India, came down all the way from Delhi, especially for the event. “It was a very touching evening, and I am very proud of what the Consul General and his team did today, by bringing western classical music to Kolkata like never before,” he beamed
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Thierry Mathou, the French ambassador to India, came down all the way from Delhi, especially for the event. “It was a very touching evening, and I am very proud of what the Consul General and his team did today, by bringing western classical music to Kolkata like never before,” he beamed

“This series of Western Classical Music Concerts has shown us the transformative power of music, which can bring people from diverse backgrounds together,” signed off Alliance Française du Bengale’s executive director Nicolas Facino
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“This series of Western Classical Music Concerts has shown us the transformative power of music, which can bring people from diverse backgrounds together,” signed off Alliance Française du Bengale’s executive director Nicolas Facino

RELATED TOPICS

Music Concerts Live Music Victoria Memorial Hall Didier Talpain Western Classical Music
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