There are certain experiences in life that let you transcend the bounds of your environment: feeling the waves tickle your feet, going on a long, rambling walk with someone you love, digging into a decadent chocolate cake, watching a sunset colour the sky riotous. Listening to Bach and Beethoven in the flickering embrace of 10,000 candles was one such experience. It made you feel lighter, frothier—as though the heavens themselves were within reach.
Candlelight Concerts debuted at the Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts in Delhi on a sultry summer evening. The stairs leading to the auditorium were lit up, and as people made their way up, there was a hushed air of anticipation. "Looks like it will be a beautiful experience," someone murmured from behind.
Inside the auditorium, however, it was pitch-dark, until one's gaze was directed to the stage, brimming with candlelight. The pianist, Vashu Tangri, took centre stage, the dancing flames blurring his silhouette. The play of light made him look almost surreal, like a mythical storybook character.
Then he began playing and his music—from Mozart to Chopin—transported you into a dream sequence. The experience was meditative, a massage for the mind. An hour later, the music ended, and for a moment, there was silence.
Then came the standing ovation, the thunder after the lightning. The concerts are underway in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Faridabad, Chennai and Bengaluru, and offer a wide range of choices from classical music and.
