Aakash Odedra Company in association with the Manchester Camerata present Songs of the Bulbul with full live orchestral accompaniment and Qawwali singers as part of Lowry’s 25th Anniversary programme
Songs of the Bulbul is a transcendent solo for the virtuoso performer Aakash Odedra created in collaboration with revered Delhi-based Kathak choreographer Rani Khanam. It had its world premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival last year where it received a swathe of 4 and 5-star reviews and was named Edinburgh International Festival’s Best Show by The List.
Songs of the Bulbul has been developed with London-based, genre-defying composer Rushil Ranjan. Renowned for his distinctive ability to seamlessly bring together Indian classical and Western classical traditions, his original score is written for orchestra, Qawwali singers and other Indian classical musicians.
Songs of the Bulbul comes to Lowry on Tuesday 6 May as part of its English premiere and UK tour.
In a one-off for Lowry’s 25th Anniversary, this unique event will be presented with the score played live by 40 musicians from the pioneering Manchester Camerata with breathtaking singing from the musical greats Abi Sampa and Sarthak Kalyani.
Aakash Odedra says “Like a caged bird waits for the door of its cage to be opened, so that its spirit can fly free, I too await eagerly for the 6th of May when the Lowry's stage curtain will go up to reveal a fantasy world of live Orchestra and dance. Dancing to the live music of Rushil Ranjan is any dancer’s dream. To dance to Abi Sampa's vocals live is my personal dream come true.
“It’s the first time I will dance a full-length solo accompanied by an army of musicians: Manchester's very own Manchester Camerata, who were generous enough to become commissioning partners for this very special passion project Songs of the Bulbul.
“I feel like I will be floating on a flying magic carpet of music.”
Eckhard Thiemann, Associate Dance Programmer at Lowry says: "Aakash Odedra is part of Lowry’s dance history. From his first performance of ‘Rising' in our Studio Theatre in 2014, regular appearances in our Quays theatre and now in the large-scale Lyric theatre, this globally renowned Kathak dancer has inspired and moved our audiences for over a decade. His technical virtuosity mesmerises and his collaborations with world-class artists like Abi Sampa and Rushil Ranjan open our minds to new worlds, Sufi-inspired spirituality and deep emotions. We could not have wished for a better gift for our anniversary celebrations than this collaboration between world-class dance, singing and orchestral power.”
Songs of the Bulbul lays bare Odedra’s personal and spiritual dance landscape on stage. Rani Khanam’s exquisite storytelling choreography features expressive hand gestures and flowing lines through space. Khanam is renowned for her intimate knowledge of Islamic and Sufi texts and she has worked widely with Sufi musicians, singers and dancers from across the Islamic world.
Together, Odedra, Ranjan and Khanam tell an ancient Sufi myth about the bulbul, a Persian nightingale, a symbol of the beauty of the natural world and the pursuit of religious enlightenment, which, when captured, sings a glorious tune. The song reaches an inexpressibly beautiful pitch in the moments before it perishes from despair.
Aakash Odedra’s Songs of the Bulbul is part of Lowry’s 25th Anniversary programme, which has been curated to encapsulate what Lowry is all about – creativity, opportunity and making the arts accessible to all. From celebrating the iconic artwork of LS Lowry to showcasing the life-changing work we do with young people, our birthday celebrations feature an inspiring line-up of shows, art, and events. And with so many family friendly free activities and affordable pricing as well, we’re hoping that as many people as possible will be able to join us. thelowry.com/lowry25