After a successful Europe performance tour the national capital's oldest choir is set to bring the music of love to local audiences.
The Capital City Minstrels (CCM) would regale Delhiites with popular music of the 50's and 60's including those from the Beatles and Elvis Presley.
"We had good reviews wherever we performed in Europe. The music for the Delhi concert is however going to be completely different," Usha Srivastava, one of the founding members told PTI ahead of the choir's concert here.
A Bharatanatyam dancer accompanied the choir led by a Hungarian conductor during the course of their "Viva la Musica -- Songs beyond Borders" tour where they gave performances at a castle near Dusseldorf, a gallery in Budapest and a conservatory in Paris.
The CCM enthralled foreign audiences with a mix of Hindi devotional songs, Gospel music, traditional kohli songs and scores from German, French and Hungarian music.
In the 2009 Spring Concert "How Deep Is Your Love," the 60-member band will give two performances the national capital. They are also scheduled to performances in Sanawar and Kasauli.
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"We will have songs from Beatles and Elvis Presley and also songs from the Renaissance period, which we can call as ballads," says Srivastava.
Hungarian conductor Gabriella Boda-Rechner, who accompanied the choir to Europe would be conducting the Spring concert too.
There is no age limit for entry into the group whose repertoire stretches from classical to Opera, Broadway, Indian music, Pop, Folk and Jazz, often performed in the languages of the original compositions.
"We have people from 15 years and older in our choir. There are no specific criteria for entry. Whoever has sung in the concert in the previous season and those who pass the music test of the conductor can be a member," points Livingstone who is one of the earliest members of the choir.
The CCM, founded by Zora Shaw in 1994 has had since then conductors from a variety of countries. There have been three Indian, a Korean and a American conductors each since then with the latest being a lady from Hungary, informs Livingstone.
Srivastava says from 8 to 12 members the choir had over the years grown to the current 60 members. "We meet every Wednesday for practice. Earlier it was in people's homes and later as the group got bigger we practiced in church and school halls. Nowadays we rehearse at the Hungarian Centre's Hall" says Srivastava.
The composition of the choir varies from school and college students to a lot of professionals, including diplomats, architects and doctors.