Latest News
Monday 19 May
At last - the big day is here...
Yesterday, BG met up with the international team from the World Harmony Run at the Albert Memorial just across the road from the Royal Albert Hall. The runners carry the torch to over 100 countries around the world every year, making it the largest relay event in the world. The Run was founded by the late philosopher and peace activist Sri Chinmoy in 1987, in whose memory tonight's concert is dedicated.
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BG played a couple of songs for the runners the on the steps of the memorial, including 'There are Birds in the Garden', an English song he wrote about Sri Chinmoy. On Friday, BG also made an appearance in the British House of Lords at a service celebrating the life and works of Sri Chinmoy, who passed away in October 2007. |
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BG with Sahadeva Torpy, who is lead concert organiser along with his brother Devashishu, in front of the Royal Albert Hall... |
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...and standing beside a concert poster located right outside the hall. |
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Friday 16 May
All the musicians are now in London, putting together the final touches in preparation for the big night. The Royal Albert Hall is expected to be filled to capacity on Monday night; we stopped taking ticket requests at the beginning of the week, although there might be a chance to get tickets on the night...
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Sitarist Sheema Mukherjee pictured during rehearsals. Sheema learnt her art from some of the true greats of Indian classical music - her uncle Pandit Nikhil Bannerjee, and Ustad Akbar Khan. |
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With the glorious weather we have been having, perfect for more meditative musings through London. Here we see BG perched overlooking the Thames river... |
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BG contemplating a summertime dip; the Thames actually looks rather clean today. |
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BG enjoying the good life in Richmond Park. Either that, or he wants someone to take his order. |
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And here we have a rather fine specimen of planticus grebenshikus, an evergreen perennial which continually blossoms with flowers of surprising beauty and fragrance. |
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Monday 12 May
Ticket update
Due to overwhelming interest in the concert there are no more tickets available. However, because this is a free concert, there may be seats available on the night of the concert.
Voucher holders should exchange their Voucher(s) before 7pm on the night of the concert.
For those who requested tickets on our form and were unable to get a ticket voucher, Standby Vouchers have been sent out which may be exchanged for any available seats after 7pm on the night of the concert at the Box Office, Door 12. Standby Voucher holders should join the Standby line outside Door 12. At last year's concert all Standby Voucher holders managed to attend the concert.
If there are any remaining available seats after all Standby Vouchers have been exchanged, they will be made available on a first come first served basis at the Box Office, Door 12.
Ticket requests that came from outside the United Kingdom:
Tickets ordered outside the UK will be held at the 'Pick Up' table inside Door 12 from 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm on Monday 19th May. If they have not been collected by 7.00 pm they will be made available to Standby Voucher holders.
Wednesday 30 April
The first set of rehearsals for the big night have been completed, with BG declaring himself extremely happy with the result. The concert will see the Russian legend perform with 14 virtuoso musicians from all around the world. Here is a very nice shot of Boris having a nice moment alone with his guitar in the studio...
India and Ireland: Boris with harmonium player Arpan Patel (left) and Becky Taylor (right). Half of the musicians will be playing instruments of Indian and Irish origin: Arpan will be joined by Sheema Mukherjee on sitar, Alok Verma on tabla and Maria Pomianowska on sarangi, whereas Becky will be joined by two other leading UK-based Irish musicians, Brian Finnegan on flute and John Joe Kelly on bodhrán.
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Old friends: BG will also be joined by two of his fellow Aquarium members, Sasha Titov on bass (left) and Boris Rubekin on keyboards.
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Of course, BG also found time to get out and about, and take in some of the beauty of the arrival of spring... |
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With this picture you could be forgiven for thinking we were in Montmartre in Paris, instead of the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London... |
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Some meditative musings by the lake... |
Birthday Celebrations:(Left) BG and wife Irina Bhuvaneshwari Grebenshikova with birthday girl Dipika Smith, one of the organising team.
On the right, we can see BG, cunningly disguised as a birthday cake...
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Friday 25 April
From all over the world, our musicians have arrived in London to begin rehearsing for the big night. Twelve have arrived already, and according to our fly on the wall, the opening session was a very spontaneous flow of expression from all quarters! What will emerge from the fusion of so many great musicians is anyone's guess...
Among the musicians performing with BG are:
- Flautist Brian Finnegan (seen here with BG) and bodhrán player John Joe Kelly from award-winning Anglo-Irish band Flook. John-Joe has been described as "the best bodhrán player in the known universe"
- Sitar player Sheema Mukherjee, who learnt her art from the Indian legends Pandit Nikhil Bannerjee and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan...
- Sarangi player Maria Pomianowska - a multi instrument maestro equally adept at playing Eastern instruments and those of her native Poland.