Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival premieres Navagraha Symphony in Delhi

The Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival (LGMF) will present the grand Indian premiere of Navagraha Symphony, a large-scale orchestral composition by Padma Vibhushan awardee Dr L Subramaniam, on January 16 at Bansera Park, Sarai Kale Khan, New Delhi. The performance marks the second phase of the festival’s 35th edition.

Inspired by the nine celestial planets, Navagraha Symphony is rooted in ancient Sanskrit shlokas and orchestrated for symphony orchestra and choir. The work features lead vocals by Padma Shri awardee Kavita Krishnamurti Subramaniam, along with Bindu and Mahati, and represents one of Dr Subramaniam’s most ambitious compositions.

The evening will feature the Astana Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra under Maestro Abzal Mukhitdin, the Kazakh Chamber Choir of the Aktobe Regional Philharmonic, and a ballet presentation of Shantipriya by the Gakku Ensemble, led by choreographer Gulmira Ordabayeva. This marks the first time in India that a symphony orchestra, choir and Kazakh ballet ensemble will perform together.

The programme will also include the Isabella Violin Concerto, composed by Dr L Subramaniam and Dr Ambi Subramaniam, previously recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios.

Also Read: Inheritances of Light, Geographies of Loss: An art exhibition

According to festival organisers, the event represents a significant cultural exchange, bringing Central Asian orchestral and dance traditions to Indian audiences while positioning Indian classical music within a global symphonic framework. The performance will conclude with the premiere of Dr Subramaniam’s orchestral composition of Vande Mataram, presented as part of the 150-year commemoration of the song.

The January tour will travel to Chandigarh, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru following the Delhi premiere.

When: January 16; 4 PM onwards

Where: Bansera Park, Sarai Kale Khan, New Delhi