Singer Kamalini Mukherji and percussionist-composer Bickram Ghosh have joined forces for an innovative musical venture. They are placing Rabindranath Tagore's timeless songs within a Western orchestral framework. This unique collaboration promises to open fresh chapters in the global journey of Tagore's music.
A Historic First for Tagore's Music
Kamalini Mukherji reveals this project marks a significant first. She says, "For the first time, six Tagore songs, sung by me, are being brought together as a large-scale song cycle for a Western European orchestra, composed by Bickram da." The Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra commissioned this work. It blends Western orchestral music with select Indian instruments and sound textures.
Mukherji notes this represents a major milestone. She explains, "Until now, the only Tagore song cycle of this scale was Lyric Symphony, composed in 1923 by Austrian composer Alexander von Zemlinsky, a contemporary of Tagore." She has worked extensively in Germany, exploring meaningful cultural exchanges through music. The soundscape Ghosh creates brings Western symphonic traditions and Indian musical elements together naturally.
Premiere in Europe and Future Plans
The Tagore Song Cycle will premiere in Duisburg on July 3, 2026. Guest performances across Europe will follow. Kamalini states, "The aim is to introduce Tagore's poetry and music to new audiences worldwide." Plans also exist for a future pan-India tour. This would bring the work back to the country where these songs originated.
Adding momentum, Bickram Ghosh will perform at Eigenzeit Festival 2026: Music Beyond Borders. This festival draws inspiration from Tagore's vision of cultural unity. It features leading artists from India and Europe.
Origins and Creative Vision
For Bickram Ghosh, the collaboration started with an email. Nils Szczepanski, director of the Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra, approached Kamalini with the proposal. Ghosh recalls, "Kamalini invited me to compose the orchestral parts for a new song cycle." He felt the possibility of creating something special was immediate.
Ghosh adds, "At this stage of my career, I want to work on a larger canvas." Indian classical music traditionally remains intimate, shaped by instruments like sitar, tabla, veena and mridangam. Orchestral composition represented a long-held ambition. This project offered the right moment and the right philharmonic orchestra.
Shared Passion for Tagore
Kamalini expresses excitement about working with Ghosh. She says, "It's wonderful to be working with Bickram da for the first time. I trust him musically, but what matters most is that we can talk about Rabindranath." Their shared background in English literature enables deeper exchanges. Her reading of Tagore's songs meets his musical vision.
She emphasizes, "That dialogue is vital, because each song is poetry, carrying Rabindranath's own spirit." One of her all-time favorite Tagore songs is Akash Bhora Surjo Tara. This became the first song she chose for the cycle. The use of the word bishoye in the lyrics has always deeply moved her.
Rooted in Tagore, Realized at Jorasanko
Describing a shoot at Jorasanko Thakur Bari, Kamalini calls the experience "surreal." She says the space carries an emotion akin to Santiniketan. "Tagore walked, thought, wrote, and felt here—shooting here gave me goosebumps."
For Bickram Ghosh, the project's pull lay in its Tagore connection. "Though my foundation is classical music, I grew up with Tagore. Presenting his work internationally, blending Indian musicians with a Western orchestra, felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." He reflects on the past month and a half spent completing compositions in close studio sessions.
Creative Process and Collaboration
Kamalini sang as Ghosh built arrangements around her voice. The music now moves to Grammy-winner Barry Phillips for the full orchestral score. Rehearsals in Germany will follow in May. Ghosh calls Kamalini "a highly accomplished singer." Her openness, intellect and international vision made the collaboration seamless.
Ghosh states, "I'm extremely excited to revisit Rabindranath with Kamalini – this time on a much larger scale." Over the past 25 years, his work in fusion and film music involved extensive use of orchestral sounds like violins and cellos. This project feels like a natural step forward.
