Beijing hears Bollywood tunes. SCO Headquarters hosts 8th Keynote performance

On May 14, 2018 the Headquarters of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was the venue of the 8th and final solo piano recital that brought together performers from SCO countries as part of the Nine Magical Keynotes series of musical events.

SCO Secretary-General Rashid Alimov gave a warm welcome to those present at the long-awaited recital given by the Republic of India. "I first visited this wonderful country 25 years ago. A week ago I went there once again. I was impressed by India's rapid and comprehensive development. Its diverse culture, history and traditions include a great many mysteries and legends. India's yoga inspires us to follow the path of self-knowledge as well as spiritual development. The Indian film industry is making a monumental contribution to global cinema. Bollywood's music and songs often accompany me and many others as we go about our lives," Alimov said.

Young musician and impresario Nikhil Sardana captivated the audience with long-familiar melodies taking them on an unusual musical trip. His performance included classics such as Beethoven's Fur Elise, jazz pieces in the style of Scott Joplin's ragtime, Douglas Lilburn's contemporary music, excerpts from musicals such as "Phantom of the Opera," and Coldplay covers and his own variations on Bollywood film themes.

Indian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the PRC Gautam Bambawale thanked Rashid Alimov for his initiative to bring together so many talented musicians from all eight SCO member countries to perform a series of recitals called Nine Musical Keynotes. He called the evening "a truly historic event, because an Indian musician for the first time was performing at the SCO Headquarters in Beijing. As a country that recently gained SCO membership, India is taking an active part in its mechanisms including in the cultural and humanitarian spheres. Building on our country's rich and diverse heritage we are prepared to deepen century-old and human ties between the members of the SCO Family."

"Music is an art that transcends language and culture. Seven talented pianists from SCO countries have already performed here to captivate audiences with their musical gifts. Today, the eighth keynote will be performed by Nikhil Sardana, a gifted Indian pianist who hails from the Northern Indian city of Dehradun," the Ambassador pointed out.

The event was attended by Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, top officials from the diplomatic missions of Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Mongolia, Cambodia, the European Union, and others, as well as by Chinese and international journalists.

Parallel to this occasion, the Embassy of India to China held a photo exhibition dedicated to the country's rich culture and architecture.

SCO Secretary-General Rashid Alimov had a meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to China Gautam Bambawale in the lead-up to the performance.