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Cinematic concert "King of Ghosts" rescores classic Satyajit Ray movie with mesmerising live music (with photos)
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     British sarod maestro Soumik Datta will collaborate with esteemed Austrian composer and conductor Johannes Berauer and award-winning Irish bodhrán player Cormac Byrne in the cinematic concert "King of Ghosts" to be staged this Saturday (November 19) at Hong Kong City Hall. The concert updates Indian film legend Satyajit Ray's "Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne", screening in an edited version, with original live music.
 
      Dubbed "a unique artist in the vanguard of new British music", Datta weaves Indian sarod, orchestral and percussive sounds into a sonorous new score. The creative trio also combine contemporary Western music techniques with Indian classical and folk music to breathe new life into Ray's iconic film.

     The production, commissioned by the Edinburgh Mela Festival in 2014, has been well received and was given five stars by the Scotsman. In the upcoming performance, the trio will collaborate with the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong to innovatively convey the film's profound message: that music and arts have the ability to overcome social barriers, evil deeds, and war.
 
     "Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne", a vintage fantasy film written and directed by Honorary Oscar recipient Satyajit Ray, was lauded as India's most innovative movie when first released in 1969. Lead characters 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, the singing and drumming duo use the power of music to defeat wizards and win the hearts of two princesses.
 
     "King of Ghosts" is one of the programmes of the New Vision Arts Festival. It will be staged at 8pm on November 19 at the Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall. The film "Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne" will be screened with Chinese and English surtitles. Tickets priced at $120, $180, $280 and $360 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For credit card telephone bookings, please call 2111 5999.
 
      Fringe activities comprise a talk on November 17 and a pre-performance talk and a meet-the-artist session on November 19. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2370 1044 or visit www.newvisionfestival.gov.hk.
 
      Organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the New Vision Arts Festival is running from October 21 to November 20 to feature an array of pioneering shows by local and overseas performing groups. Showcasing innovative interdisciplinary collaborations and electrifying new perspectives on the arts, the festival offers new experiences for audiences.
 
Ends/Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Issued at HKT 17:20
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The cinematic concert "King of Ghosts" updates Indian film legend Satyajit Ray's "Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne", screening in an edited version, with original live music. British sarod maestro Soumik Datta weaves Indian sarod, orchestral and percussive sounds into a sonorous new score.
The cinematic concert "King of Ghosts" updates Indian film legend Satyajit Ray's "Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne", screening in an edited version, with original live music. Those performing in the concert include British sarod maestro Soumik Datta (left) and award-winning Irish bodhrán player Cormac Byrne (right).
The cinematic concert "King of Ghosts" updates Indian film legend Satyajit Ray's "Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne", screening in an edited version, with original live music. Those performing in the concert include British sarod maestro Soumik Datta (front right) and esteemed Austrian composer and conductor Johannes Berauer (front left).
The cinematic concert "King of Ghosts" updates Indian film legend Satyajit Ray's "Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne", screening in an edited version, with original live music to convey the film's profound message: that music and arts have the ability to overcome social barriers, evil deeds, and war.