Silver chordsThe Cantata Choir, founded by Joachim Buehler, the ex-director of Max Mueller Bhavan, is celebrating its silver jubilee this year. The choir will perform `Elijah' - an oratorio by Mendelssohn. Based on a Biblical text, it was first performed in Birmingham in 1846, and was one of Mendelssohn's greatest achievements. The performance will be conducted by Olga Collaco, the conductor of the Cantata Choir since 1988. It will feature soloists like Natasha Collaco (Soprano), Zarin Gladialy-Hodiwala (Contralto), Dinyar Antia (Tenor) and Ferdinand Miranda (Baritone). The choir will be accompanied by Marilynne Chhabra (Pianoforte).On February 23, 1998, at the Tata Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point. Time: 6.30 pm.Double troubleThe latest comedy doing the rounds of Gujarati theatre is Amara Jewa Amej. Out of the seven characters, five play double roles and the other two are genuine twins. The story revolves around the lost son of Savitri - Vijay, who hasdisappeared as a young boy. Savitri is sure that he will come back and waits for him in their old house every Tuesday.Meanwhile she has another adopted son, Vikram, who is the bad guy. He has an affair with Revati and ends up getting engaged to Malati, who is her exact double. Chaos thrives with the entry of a thief, who, Savitri is convinced is her lost son Vijay. A jealous Vikram hires hoodlums, to murder Vijay, who again are the lookalikes of the rest of the cast. Confusion reigns.Written and directed by Kedar Shinde, it features Kamlesh Oza, Amita Choksi, Manish Mehta, Arun Ranjankar and Sachi Joshi.On February 15, 1998, at Patkar Hall, SNDT. Time: 7.45 pm.Ethical issuesThe Gujarati play, Sugandh Nu Surnamu, has set a new record: 100 performances in 100 days. Produced by Sheela and Rajendra Butala, it premiered on November 9, 1997 and on February 15, 1998, its 100th show will be staged. Adapted by Pravin Solanki from a Marathi play by Ashok Samel, Sugandh NuSarnamu raises the issue of unethical practices adopted by professionals in the judicial and legal fraternity. Amar Desai is one such advocate who faces resistance from his social worker wife.The same tale is unfolding in their neighbour's house except that there the wife insists that her honest purchase-officer husband take bribes. The play has been directed by Arvind Vaidya and stars Dharmesh Vyas, Sejal Shah, Ketan Mody, Maheshwari and Dilip Darbar.Glass godsFor a city starved of sculpture exhibitions, here is some good news - an exhibition of 30 glass sculptures, entirely hand blown and created between 1995 and 1997, has been organised. Titled `The Sacred Prism', the work has been produced in Murano, Italy, at the Glassworks of Gino Cenedese. They have been conceptualised by the Italian artist, Antonio Da Ros, and the acclaimed painter Manjit Bawa.Of the 30 works, 21 are Ganpatis, both realistic images and abstract. The rest are sculptures of other Indian deities likeDurga and the Shivaling. They are being presented by Gayatri Ruia. "Ganesh is the darling God of Indians and moreover, Antonio was fascinated by the image," says Ruia. The sacred sculptures come at a heavenly price as well. They are priced above Rs 2 lakh.At the Coomaraswamy Hall, Prince of Wales Museum, from February 15 to 22, 1998. Time: 10.00 am to 6.45 pm.
