The National Centre for the Performing Arts and Citi go back a long way in their appreciation of culture. Having grown stronger over the years, this association has newly added a welcome dimension to its broad spectrum of initiatives – with a series of select Indian and Western classical music concerts, with stellar performances by music’s greats!

A series of select concerts from the much-loved music properties, it will showcase performances from Citi-NCPA Aadi Anant Festival, NCPA-Citi Promising Artistes Series, and concerts by NCPA’s Symphony Orchestra of India, of which Citi is a proud patron. Curated specially for the music enthusiast, this vibrant blend of Indian classical and Western classical music features Indian music virtuosos like Zakir Hussain and Hariprasad Chaurasia as also internationally renowned violinist and founding Music Director of the SOI – Marat Bisengaliev; Associate Music Director – Zane Dalal and Italian piano virtuoso – Roberto Prosseda. Citi supports the musical development of students in Indian music at the NCPA, which also provides young artistes a platform to showcase their talent. The series includes two concerts by four such young artistes that have been specially recorded at the NCPA for digital dissemination.

“Through the power of great music performed by maestri in their fields, the NCPA is proud to bring to a worldwide audience, immortal performances, carefully captured live, and in earlier cases, restored through the digital platform – with constant support from Citi, which we gratefully acknowledge. We’ve shared a wonderful relation with Citi over the years and trust it will continue because Citi’s tradition for supporting the areas where it functions, especially the socio-economic as well as the artistic activities, is internationally known,” says Khushroo N. Suntook, Chairman, NCPA.

Ashu Khullar, Chief Executive Officer, Citi India and Regional Head for South Asia, says, “Over a decade ago, the NCPA and Citi came together and planted the seeds to two wonderful initiatives – the Western Music Program and the Guru-Shishya Program. Over this period, our partnership has formed deep roots, nurturing both programs that are flourishing and bearing fruit. The NCPA has been quick in adapting its work to the digital medium to connect and engage with its audience. With the NCPA-Citi Online Edition series, we salute our artistic legacy and heartily welcome the innovative endeavours in the Arts, in the hope that together we can nurture creative excellence and enrich our heritage to the benefit of generations to follow.”

As Maharashtra navigates through the probable second Coid19 wave, the digital medium continues offering a means of sustained engagement with the arts. NCPA@home, the organisation’s digital series that has regularly broadcast concerts, performances and talks to art-loving audiences across India and the world, presents the NCPA-Citi Online Edition from 28^th March to 2^nd April, 2021, at 8:00pm (IST), and will be available online for seven days for audiences to watch at their convenience.