This October, Bollywood & Beyond does just that by taking the audience on a trip from Mumbai to Paris to Taipei right before Diwali, the Festival of Lights.
The night kicks off with Symphony Masala, a celebration of 70 years of iconic Bollywood songs which were shaped by influences as wide-ranging as swing, disco, and Hollywood musicals. The result is a rich masala, or spice blend, that resonates deeply in daily Indian life, sung at weddings, echoed in marketplaces, and cherished communities around the globe. With Anuradha “Juju” Palakurthi on vocals and Roger Kalia on the podium, you’ll hear music from films such as Don, Namak Halal, and Dil Se shimmer with the power of a full orchestra.
After intermission, the program turns into a world tour. We begin with The Angel from Formosa by Tyzen Hsiao, a composer often known as the “Rachmaninoff of Taiwan” for his lush harmonies and lyrical melodies is a tender tribute to Taiwan.
Reena Esmail’s Teen Murti blends Indian ragas — melodic frameworks that shape mood and character — with Western strings. Maurice Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite spins fairy tales like Sleeping Beauty and Tom Thumb into enchanting soundscapes.
The finale is An-Lun Huang’s Saibei Dance, written in 1975 during the Cultural Revolution (1966-76), a turbulent chapter in China’s history. Rather than dwell on hardship, Huang drew inspiration from folk rhythms of the northern plateau near Inner Mongolia, creating music full of bounding energy and celebration. As Artistic Director Mei-Ann Chen notes, it reminds us that even in difficult times, we can always find joy.
Landing just before Diwali, the Festival of Lights, this concert shines in its own way: familiar stories and far-off traditions glowing side by side, reminding us that joy is always within reach.
