Music

Satyajit Ray’s classic movie retold through original live music
Goopy and Bagha are not the most talented of musicians but their passion for what they do attracts the attention of the King of Ghosts, who grants them supernatural powers to literally transfix audiences. During their wondrous adventure in search of listeners, the singing-drumming duo uses the power of music to defeat wizards and win the hearts of two princesses. Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne, a vintage fantasy film written and directed by Honorary Oscar for Lifetime Achievement recipient Satyajit Ray, was lauded as “India’s most innovative movie” when first released in 1969. In this cinematic concert production, composer Soumik Datta, dubbed “British sarod maestro” and “a unique artist in the vanguard of new British music”, weaves Indian sarod, orchestral and percussive sounds into a sonorous new score. The enchanting melodies and rich aural textures capture the essence and also breathe new life into Ray’s iconic film, projected on a giant screen simultaneously with the live music performance.

King of Ghosts, commissioned by Edinburgh Mela Festival, saw Datta team up with renowned Austrian conductor Johannes Berauer, award-winning Irish bodhrán player Cormac Byrne, and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra for its world première. The well-received production was subsequently performed with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the annual Southbank Centre’s Alchemy Festival to critical acclaim. For this performance, the creative trio collaborates with the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong to innovatively convey the film’s profound message: that music and the arts have the efficacy to overcome social barriers, evil deeds, and war.