NCPA aims to create careers for retired musicians

National Centre for Performing Arts, India's premiere performing arts institution, is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Khushroo N. Suntook, chairman of the NCPA, talks about the institution's past as well as its way forward. Edited excerpts:

Tell us about the journey of NCPA.

NCPA was inaugurated in 1969, on the premises of the Bhulabhai Desai Memorial Institute in Breach Candy, Mumbai. Eleven years later, the NCPA moved to its present location [Nariman Point, Mumbai], starting with the Little Theatre.

On December 30, 1997, two months before Jamshed Bhabha Theatre's completion, the structure was engulfed by fire. However, in less than two years, the JBT stood proudly again, ready for its inauguration on November 24, 1999.

In August 2006, NCPA formed the Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI), the country’s first professional symphony orchestra.

You, along with Kazakh violinist Marat Bisengaliev, established the SOI.

When I approached Marat to start the SOI, he agreed on condition that he will only start if musicians are of the calibre that he wants. It was difficult initially, as there were only few good players. We then started a school to train children. Today, we are in the sixth year, and they will be the future of the SOI.

What are the unique features of NCPA library?

The NCPA library is the only specialised performing arts library in Mumbai. The music library has 5,000 hours of recordings and more than 20,000 books.

What is the roadmap for the future?

My main objective is to create careers for retired musicians, and also to start a course in appreciation and criticism of performing arts.

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