NCPA Mumbai & AAPPAC: A Rewarding Association

By Aishwarya Bodke

For 55 years, the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Mumbai has not only been a keeper of the arts but has also defined and embraced responsibilities as a national hub of artistic excellence. Endeavours in arts education, innovative stagecraft and outreach have been integral to its work. The NCPA, with its international outlook, has fostered ties with cultural organisations from different parts of the world. This has led to many a fruitful collaboration over the years, among them being its cherished association with AAPPAC.

Mr Khushroo N. Suntook, Chairman, NCPA, with the team at Espalanade in Singapore, the headquarters of AAPPAC during his visit in 2008

The NCPA became a member of the AAPPAC in 2008, an association forged under the stewardship of Chairman Mr Khushroo N. Suntook. “The alliance with AAPPAC can open all sorts of doors for the performing arts centres of Asia, by exchange of vital information involving technology, specialised techniques of management of arts centres, and can prove a vehicle for exchange of artistes and integration of various forms of arts which otherwise were isolated within specific countries,” said Mr Suntook upon his return from a visit to AAPPAC Secretariat at Esplanade – Theatres on Bay, Singapore, in Oct 2008. Over the years, the NCPA has participated in conferences organised by the AAPPAC to engage in a dialogue with its cultural counterparts across the Asia Pacific region. It is only fitting that this association has now resulted in the NCPA being invited to play host to the conference scheduled to take place in 2027. “It would be an honour to host the AAPPAC 2027 Conference at the NCPA where some of the most distinguished personalities from cultural institutions of the Asia Pacific region will converge to discuss the present scenario and way forward for the performing arts. Since its inception, the AAPPAC has made an immense contribution to the arts and we are certain that this conference will enable stimulating conversations and significant outcomes. The NCPA has been the destination of choice in South Asia for several events of international stature including the maiden edition of Operalia in India held in 2024 as well as a number of India debuts of renowned conductors, soloists and jazz stars. The AAPPAC Conference would be a momentous milestone in this journey.”

Simon Tedeschi and Emily Taylor in Meeting Mozart

Another welcome outcome of this alliance emerged from the AAPPAC conference held in Brisbane in 2023. At the three-day conference at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, a conversation between Bianca Mendonca, General Manager of the Symphony Orchestra of India and Western Classical Music at the NCPA and Andrew Threlfall, Director of CDP Theatre Producers, sowed the seeds of a delightful collaboration which will materialise in Mumbai this July. Commissioned by the Sydney Opera House, Meeting Mozart will introduce young minds to Mozart’s music, ranging from variations of beloved rhymes to grand orchestral pieces. Noted pianist Simon Tedeschi will don the persona of the composer in this interactive production that seeks to instil an appreciation of classical music in children. Meeting Mozart will collaborate with the musicians of the SOI to create this special performance. “Over the past year, we’ve been exploring ways to bring this Indo-Australian partnership to life. Meeting Mozart is a wonderful example of how we can introduce quality, engaging performances to young audiences. The Symphony Orchestra of India has long played a vital role in music education through its young audience concert series, and this new collaboration builds on that foundation—offering a family-friendly experience that combines learning with the joy of live performance in a fun and accessible way,” says Mendonca.

Conductors Andrew Litton and Martyn Brabbins will lead the SOI in the Autumn 2025 season

The valuable relationships built by the NCPA and its management, along with its resolve to deliver the best, have made continued cultural exchange and several international debuts possible. The SOI Autumn 2025 Season will see acclaimed soloists and conductors take the stage in India for the first time. Andrew Litton, Music Director of the New York City Ballet and Conductor Laureate of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, will open the season leading the orchestra in two concerts this August. The audience will be treated to works of Mahler, Stravinsky, Shostakovich and Elgar, among others. Also highly anticipated is Martyn Brabbins’s return to the podium at the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre after his recent appointment as Chief Conductor of the SOI (starting Jan 2026). Another highlight this season is the India debut of pianist Konstantin Scherbakov, fondly described as the ‘Rachmaninov of today.’

While describing the line-up as a remarkable one, Mr. Suntook, co-founder, SOI, draws attention to the steadily growing Indian contingent within the orchestra, thus reflecting the increasing appetite for Western classical music in the country.

T.M. Krishna performing at the Tata Theatre at the NCPA

For connoisseurs of Indian music, the monsoon months in Mumbai are a melodious reminder of NCPA-HSBC Bandish, a three-day festival of works by legendary composers across classical, light and popular genres of music. A highlight of this edition are the compositions of the youngest of the Carnatic music trinity, Muthuswami Dikshitar, whose 250th birth anniversary is being celebrated this year. Eminent vocalist T.M. Krishna will bring his compositions to life on the NCPA stage. Other composers whose works will be featured are Jitendra Abhisheki, Bade Ramdas, Chhote Ramdas, Nanak Prasad Mishra and R. D. Burman.  

Padma Subrahmanyam

August at the NCPA is incomplete without its annual dance residency, as part of which a premier dance institution that has been a torchbearer of an Indian classical dance form is invited. This August Dance Residency features Chennai’s Nrithyodaya, founded by K. Subrahmanyam in 1942 and presently headed by Bharatanatyam exponent Padma Subrahmanyam. The 2025 edition includes a performance and a two-day workshop with insights from ancient Natyashastra traditions.

Lead vocalist Mark Reilly from Matt Bianco

Another exciting debut is in store for September. British band Matt Bianco, known for their sophisti-pop, jazz funk and Latin-inspired music, is all set to perform at the Tata Theatre. A popular ensemble in Europe, it has now also developed a strong audience base in America and Asia with chart-topping singles and albums.

Randy Brecker and Peter Erskine

But before that, the 2025 edition of NCPA Legends is sure to enrapture jazz lovers in July with Grammy-winning artistes Randy Brecker (trumpet) and Peter Erskine (drums). The band also includes saxophonist Yaacov Mayman and pianist Otmaro Ruiz. Completing this line-up is bassist Richie Goods. The concert comes close on the heels of an electrifying performance by Colombian jazz star Jesus Molina who brought the house down this June.

Along with the performing arts, visual art, too, finds a salient place on the calendar. The Dilip Piramal Art Gallery has a compelling line-up of exhibitions in the coming months. This September, the gallery will invoke images of India’s cinematic past through a showcase of rare photographic archives from Kamat Foto Flash—a studio renowned for its publicity photography for the Indian film industry since the 1940s. On display will be production stills featuring the greatest icons of Bollywood: Guru Dutt, Raj Kapoor, Mohan Segal, Sunil Dutt and Bimal Roy, to name a few.

A spectacular Autumn 2025 season, international debuts and annual festivals make for an exciting next quarter at the NCPA Mumbai.