Ravi Shankar First Sitar Concerto

"It was Andre Previn who made it happen. He admired Ravi's music. In 1963 itself he had suggested that Indian music might be coupled with Western concert music. After the London Symphony Orchestra appointed him as it's principal conductor in 1968, he invited Ravi to compose a Concerto for Sitar & Orchestra.

But Previn, who had never formed much of a bond with Ravi, on seeing the first draft of the score, listed 21 queries betraying his anxieties. Ravi included a demo cassette along with his answers.

The premiere took place on 28.01.1971. The recording took place at Abbey Road at the end of May & Capitol Records claimed it sold like a pop record. But the starkest critic was Previn himself who attacked the recording (conducted by himself) as "absolute, total, utter shit....I knew it was nonsense."

But Yehudi Menuhin wrote to Ravi "The Sitar Concerto is absolutely superb. To use the western orchestra to produce Indian music is a great achievement, especially when it is carried by your playing & virtuosity."

From "Indian Sun" by Oliver Craske.

(My note: It is my favourite record in jacket design, music & recording.)