UN delegates and staff enjoyed an evening of music for peace at the premiere of Eternal Journey, a film featuring legendary violinist Maestro L. Subramaniam improvising to archival video performances of Sri Chinmoy’s instrumental renditions of his melodies. The event was held on 30 November 2018 at the Harbor Grand Studio in Manhattan.
UN delegates and staff enjoy an evening of music for peace at the premiere of “Eternal Journey,” a film featuring legendary violinist Maestro L. Subramaniam improvising to archival video performances of Sri Chinmoy’s instrumental renditions of his melodies, at an event held on 30 November 2018. From left to right: Karma Sonam Tshosarm, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Bhutan to the UN; Nayana Hein, Director, Sri Chinmoy Poetry Festival; Aye Aye Thant, daughter of third UN Secretary-General U Thant; Ranjana Ghose, Executive Producer of the film; Maestro L. Subramaniam, host of the event; Sadia Faizunnesa, Consul General of Bangladesh in New York; Ambassador Toshiya Hoshino, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the UN; and Nilima Silver, General Secretary of the Peace Meditation Group.
Dr. Subramaniam is celebrated worldwide for the diversity of his contribution to the world of music. He is an elite authority as well as being trained in the classical Carnatic music tradition and in Western classical music. Acclaimed for his violin virtuosity and renowned for his compositions in orchestral fusion, L. Subramaniam is an accomplished composer and conductor. He has performed with such notable orchestras as the Beijing Symphony Orchestra, the Berlin State Opera, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra (conducted by Zubin Mehta), the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Oslo Philharmonic.
In the film Eternal Journey, L. Subramaniam immerses himself in deep musical conversation with Sri Chinmoy, who composed over 22,000 soulful songs in his lifetime, and offered profound inner peace through music. Sri Chinmoy and Dr. L. Subramaniam had a close friendship founded on their mutual love of music. “We must play together,” Sri Chinmoy remarked at their last meeting together in 2006. But that was not to transpire before Sri Chinmoy passed away the following year.
Maestro Subramaniam did not forget Sri Chinmoy’s special wish, and it inspired him to put together this captivating music film. In Eternal Journey, video recordings of Sri Chinmoy playing on the esraj, cello, vibraphone and Western flute are seamlessly “answered” by Dr. Subramaniam on the violin. Juxtaposing the past and the present, and through the medium of music and film, L. Subramaniam and Sri Chinmoy embark on an eternal journey.
For three “Conversations in Music” from the Eternal Journey film, please visit the following links:
For ITV coverage of the Eternal Journey premiere, please visit the following link: ITV Vision of Asia coverage of Eternal Journey premiere
Below is the invitation to the 30 November 2018 event, with additional information about the film.
