Culture and the Classics: An Interview with Mervon Mehta from The Royal Conservatory of Music
MyBindi.com’s Ashna Singh speaks with Mervon Mehta for insight on classical musical at The Royal Conservatory.
Apart from Bollywood, Indian classical music resonates in the hearts of those from the South Asian Diaspora. It is a form of art that connects individuals to South Asian heritage and culture but by no means is limited to this demographic. Renowned singers such as Asha Bhosle have much to offer the global sphere through an incredible talent for vocals. However, many second generation South-Asian Canadians have been consumed by North American hip-hop culture.
Mervon Mehta, Executive Director of Performing Arts for The Royal Conservatory, says “a great ghazal singer can be true to the classical forms while remaining absolutely current, [and] absolutely vital to a younger demographic.” Mehta oversaw the successful launch of Koerner Hall, The Conservatory’s stunning 1,135-seat concert venue and is responsible for programming Koerner Hall’s successful series of classical, jazz, world music, and pop concerts, as well as select performances throughout The Conservatory’s home at the TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning.
MyBindi.com’s Ashna Singh speaks with Mervon Mehta for insight on classical musical at The Royal Conservatory.
Q. What criteria do you look for when choosing an artist/band to perform at the RCM?
Quality, Quality, Quality. It really doesn’t matter what genre of music, who the audience is, or where the artist comes from. I am a firm believer that true talent and virtuosity finds its audience and those artists invariably have something of value to share.
Q. How is planning world music concerts different from that of pop/classical?
They are basically the same, although with a world music audience we have the added advantage of a so-called built in audience from the artist’s country of origin. In Toronto, we are so blessed that every nation on earth has a community living here who brings their passion and energy to concerts by their ‘own’ artists. But we also hope to introduce world music artists to divergent communities as well. If we presented Ashaji and filled the hall with only members of the South Asian community, I would be very disappointed. She is a great artist who can and does cross boundaries.
Q. How did you get involved with bringing Asha Bhosle concert?
I have presented Asha once before in the USA and so her North American manager called me when he heard of Koerner Hall, the wonderful new venue I was associated with in Toronto.
Q. Given your expertise in the area of music, what is unique about Asha Bhosle and Niladri Kumar as singers from India?
Audiences are going to see a different side of these artists at our concert. If we were to present Asha in a strictly Bollywood/playback evening it would be quite different and, perhaps, our 1000 seat venue would prove to be too small. What attracted me to this particular program and what attracted the artists to Koerner Hall is the intimacy they will be allowed to enjoy in our beautiful acoustic setting.
Q. Many second generation South-Asian Canadians have been consumed by North American hip-hop culture. What can they learn about their culture and heritage through ghazals and Indian classical music performed by renowned artists?
That is a terrific question and I suppose the answer is the same one I would give to the younger generation about going to see Shakespeare or western classical music or to the AGO to see an exhibit: One can only know what is good, what is worthwhile, [and] what will stand the test of time by knowing the classics. Often classical art forms are taught as if they were bad medicine to be ‘endured’ but a great Shakespearean actor, a great painter, a great ghazal singer can be true to the classical forms while remaining absolutely current, [and] absolutely vital to a younger demographic. The great ones also do not require their audience to be scholars of their art. They connect to us in a way that ordinary people cannot.
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