New Beginnings for NCPA

Anna Karenina by Eifman Baller of St Petersburg

The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai, in its 56th year now, ended 2025 on a high note with a packed calendar for Dec. The city witnessed Anna Karenina by Eiman Ballet of St. Petersburg unravel the passion and psychological turmoil of Leo Tolstoy’s masterpiece in three sold-out performances of its India premiere. The ballet, with its grand production, proved to be something the audience had never experienced in India.

“It is our endeavour, to invoke the words of Mahatma Gandhi, that the culture of all lands be blown about this centre as freely as possible. This fine ballet has earned the praise of critics the world over. Bringing performances of such calibre to our audiences is deeply fulfilling,” says Mr. Khushroo N. Suntook, Chairman, NCPA.

Zakir Hussain (Photo credit: Dayanita Singh)

The NCPA also hosted a two-day tribute to tabla maestro Zakir Hussain on his first death anniversary. To listeners, Hussain was a phenomenal tabla player who put India and its music on the world map. To the NCPA, the connection with the ustad has been deeper. This bond can be traced back to the founding days of the NCPA, when Hussain would accompany his father, the great tabla maestro Allarakha on stage. In 2015, he became a member of the council at the NCPA. “We will miss the presence that graced our stage every winter in performances of not only Indian music, but also often with our orchestra. Zakir Hussain was a virtuoso musician with a hugely varied repertoire, and a dear friend of the NCPA, a bond we will always cherish,” says Mr Suntook.

The tribute on 14 and 15 Dec featured over 50 musicians from India and around the world—his family, friends and students. They came together to honour his memory through music recitals, concerts, talks, presentations, documentary film screenings by Sumantra Ghosal, and a photo exhibition by Dayanita Singh. Zakir Hussain—Learning to Learn, is a deeply personal exhibition by Singh and will be on display till 3 Feb. The exhibition spans over four decades of Singh photographing the legend and comprises two museum structures, ten wall panels, and twelve boxes with nearly 300 images.

As part of our robust cultural exchange, a delegation from the NCPA—Farrahnaz Irani (General Manager – Chairman’s Office & International Music), Bianca Mendonca, General Manager – Symphony Orchestra of India and Western Classical Music, Nikhil Sardana (Consultant – NCPA)—represented the organisation at the Association of Asia Pacific Performing Arts Centres’ (AAPPAC) Annual Conference, held at the Daejeon Arts Center in South Korea, in Oct 2025.

Looking ahead in 2026

Kaushiki Chakraborty and Shantanu Moitra

The new year keeps up the momentum of 2025 and begins with exciting programmes lined up for the first quarter. In its 15th year now, the Citi NCPA Aadi Anant festival that celebrates the guru–shishya tradition and the dynamism within tradition, featured renowned percussionist Trilok Gurtu and noted vocalist Sid Sriram in the opening concert. The second show belonged to an eminent family of percussionists—V. Selvaganesh, son of the legendary ghatam maestro T.H. ‘Vikku’ Vinayakram, and his other family members. The final concerts for Aadi Anant in January include a production conceptualised by composer Shantanu Moitra and vocalist Kaushiki Chakraborty, where the duo rediscover themselves through music, and a Hindustani classical recital by Dr Ashwini Bhide Deshpande and her disciples at the Madras Music Academy, Chennai.

The Symphony Orchestra of India

The year 2026 also marks 20 years since the formation of the Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI), India’s first and only professional orchestra, which is based at the NCPA. The SOI Spring 2026 Season will begin this Feb with two concerts led by British maestro Martyn Brabbins, the newly appointed Chief Conductor of the SOI. World-renowned mezzo-soprano Dame Sarah Connolly will be joining the SOI for Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Songs of a Wayfarer). Acclaimed Italian conductor Carlo Rizzi will lead the last two concerts of the season. Under his baton, the SOI will play Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 and a majestic and emotionally charged Symphony No. 2 by Sibelius. Internationally acclaimed Italian tenor Davide Giusti will perform a selection of beloved Italian songs by Tosti and Cardillo. The season also inaugurates the SOI’s Beethoven Symphony Cycle, beginning with the bold and youthful Symphony No. 1 and concluding with the iconic No. 5, a powerful and revolutionary composition.

Spectrum (feature Surupa Sen and Rama Vaidyanathan)

Feb is a treat for dance lovers in the city. Spectrum, the NCPA’s annual festival of dances from around the world, will see reputed artistes take the stage in performances across three days. The audience can expect Bharatanatyam by Rama Vaidyanathan & troupe, Odissi by Surupa Sen & Nrityagram ensemble and Ratikant Mohapatra & Srjan, and Kathak by Shama Bhate’s Nadroop. Day three will also see the Swiss contemporary dance production BRICKS perform at the NCPA.

Nrtiyagurukul, an important addition to the NCPA’s various programmes dedicated to arts education, is designed to revive and sustain the classical and traditional dance forms through the guru–shishya mentorship model. This year, in an attempt to bridge the gap between training and professional performance for young dancers, the programme will give these dancers an opportunity to present their work at the NCPA.

After three successful years of making the audience groove to the blues, the NCPA Soulful Blues Festival will be back with a two-day line-up in Mar. Shakura S’Aida, a Canadian blues vocalist, songwriter and actress, will perform on day one, while Grammy-nominated American soul blues singer and songwriter Sugaray Rayford will take the stage on day two.

Little Brother written by Eoin McAndrew and directed by Rachel D’Souza

The NCPA and London’s Soho Theatre have had a longstanding association, as part of which a writing workshop and a staged reading will be held in Mumbai this Jan. The workshop aimed at experienced and aspiring writers will be conducted by Max Elton, Director, Dramaturg and Writer; Associate Director (Literary), Soho Theatre and Pooja Sivaraman, the theatre’s Creative Associate. The staged reading of the award-winning play Little Brother, written by Eoin McAndrew and directed by Rachel D’souza, is a dark, comic yet deeply moving play about love, guilt and the impossible task of saving someone you love from themselves.

After a well-received edition last year, the NCPA’s theatre department will also be back with Vasant, the Gujarati Theatre festival in Mar.

The grand beginning to 2026 sets the tone for the rest of the year at the NCPA, which promises to be an enriching one for art lovers.