大象传媒

Radio 3 presents the first broadcast of Indian music legend Ravi Shankar's only opera, Sukanya, which premiered posthumously in May.

Myth, music and dance meet in Shankar's extravagant work, based on a story from the legendary Sanskrit texts of the Mahabharata, with a score which combines traditional Indian instruments with a Western orchestra and singers.

After a terrible mistake leaves the ancient sage Chyavana blinded, the beautiful princess Sukanya finds herself marrying for the sake of her kingdom. As a pair of swaggering, meddling gods watch this unlikely union blossom, will love grow in the strangest of circumstances?

This semi-staged concert performance is directed by Suba Das, Associate Director of the Curve Theatre Leicester, with dance choreographed by the Aakash Odedra Company, production by The Royal Opera and music performed by the 大象传媒 Singers and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Susanna Hurrell (soprano) Sukanya
Alok Kumar (tenor), Chyavana
Keel Watson (bass-baritone), King Shaariyati
Michel de Souza (baritone), Aswini Twin
Njabulo Madlala (baritone), Aswini Twin
Eleanor Minney (alto), Friend
Parimal Sadaphal (sitar)
Ashwani Shankar (shehnai)
Pandit Rajkumar Misra (tabla)
M Balachander (mridangam, konnakol)
Pirashanna Thevarajah (ghatam, morsing, konnakol)
London Philharmonic Orchestra
大象传媒 Singers
David Murphy, conductor

Presented by Andrew McGregor
Recorded at the Royal Festival Hall, 19 May 2017.