A REMARKABLE rise resulted in Pratibha Singh Baghel headlining a culturally rich concert at the Royal Festival Hall in early 2024, accompanied by a grand orchestra.
That superb sold-out show to an enthralled audience followed up international live performances and wonderful music releases, including on the Sufiscore record label. That magical journey continues for the singer this month as she teams up with Sufiscore and legendary lyricist Javed Akhtar for her biggest ever live performance, at the Royal Albert Hall in London next Sunday (17).
She is once again joined by world-class musicians for a show that promises to highlight her remarkable vocal range, with everything from ghazals to old Bollywood film classics.
Eastern Eye caught up with one of India’s most remarkable singing talents to talk about her musical journey, forthcoming show, future hopes, inspirations, Sufiscore dream partnership and artists she admires including Adele.
How would you sum up your amazing music journey?
My journey has been interesting. I started in 2008 professionally, and never knew that it was going to make such an impact. I never thought it was going to be this way so soon. I always had a dream to perform in the Royal Albert Hall and that is coming true. So, all the credit goes to Sufiscore – it’s going to be their first concert and features the legendary Javed Akhtar saab, who is a renowned poet in Hindi cinema.
Your London Royal Festival Hall show in early 2024 was breathtakingly brilliant. What was that experience like?
I performed there for the first time with the show Symphony Of Love. We had its world premiere in Cape Town in 2023, so that was the third concert. I had a tremendous experience. The audience in London welcomed us with open hearts. I had thought that maybe because we were going to sing Hindi songs, ghazals, thumris and some Indian classical stuff – I didn’t know whether people would be interested. But the amount of love they showered on us was unmatched.
Baghel performing on stageWhat can we expect from the Royal Albert Hall concert?
It is going to be absolutely different to what we had done at Royal Festival Hall. We are curating a new set for Royal Albert Hall. We have some amazing musicians from our country such as Deepak Panditji, a violinist who has played with [renowned ghazal singer] Jagjit Singhji for so many years. And you know, when Jagjit Singhji performed at Royal Albert Hall, Deepakji was there in that show. So, I will feel that reconnect when singing Jagjitji’s compositions. It will bring back those memories.
What else can we expect from the show?
Paras Nathji will be on the flute, and Santosh Mulekar on the piano. You can count on these people. They are a treasure of our country. They, along with other brilliant musicians, are going to be there in the show.
We are curating a very wonderful set of ghazals, contemporary songs, old cinema classics, and some new film songs. So, the set is going to be interesting.
How do you feel about teaming up with a legend like Javed Akhtar?
Oh, it’s absolutely an honour to share the stage with him. I’ve known him for so many years. I’ve sung so many film songs written by him, including a recently released one. I had shared a stage with him once before, but this is going to be absolutely different, because it is only going to be Javed saab and myself on the performing stage, alongside the musicians. I’m so looking forward to it. It feels like a privilege to be sharing the stage with such a legendary artist.
How do you feel when you’re on stage singing in front of a packed audience?
The stage is the only place where I feel like a queen. When I see my audience, their smiles, applause and them singing along with me, I feel completely alive. That is the moment I live for. I think that moment can define me.
How do you generate so much emotion on stage whenever you sing?
Actually, you don’t have to try hard for that. It’s just that it comes out naturally. I don’t try to put emotions in the songs, I just sing my heart out. I think because music is the only thing that makes me sane, that is why, when I sing, I feel I’m there in that zone and feel those emotions. I am connected to God and a higher power, I think. That’s the feeling that comes out when I sing.
How do you feel performing at UK’s leading live music venue, the Royal Albert Hall?
I had been saying it all the time and will reiterate it again – it’s a dream coming true. I had always dreamed about performing there and it is coming true quite soon with this wonderful concert, all thanks to Sufiscore. I think it’s one of the most prestigious venues in the world. I would say it’s an honour to be there as a singing artist.
Whether it’s with stunning music releases or this grand concert, you have developed a dream partnership with Sufiscore. What is that like?
Sufiscore has always been a rock solid support for myself also, and for so many musicians like me. I have built a great relationship with them because they promote the kind of music that we do. Also, they give us liberty. Now they are coming into events also. And what better than Royal Albert Hall? I think this is the only music label for independent music, which allows you to experiment with music. It allows us to take chances at whatever level we want. So, I think it’s a great blessing for all Indians and independent artists.
Your dream about performing at Royal Albert Hall is about to come true. What other dreams do you have in music?
I want to perform on the Grammy stage also. OK, so dreams do come true. One has definitely come true, as I will be performing at the Royal Albert Hall next Sunday (17). I think I like to enjoy the journey a bit more than reaching the destination. I have so many dreams, but don’t want to put them out in numbers. Whatever comes my way, I take it, very spontaneously. I’m very grateful that things are coming the way I want them.
Pratibha Singh BaghelPeople love to listen to your songs. But which songs do you like to listen to?
Oh, I like to listen to Adele a lot. I love Adele. I love listening to Bruno Mars. And, if you talk to me about ghazals, then I listen to Mehdi Hassan saab a lot. I listen to Madhu Raniji and Hariharanji. From the younger generation, I like to listen to Arijit Singh. There are so many people that I like to listen to when I’m not working.
What inspires you as a singer?
Anybody who’s very determined and disciplined actually inspires me a lot. In this profession, some people take it casually, thinking it’s a creative process, where you just go with the flow. But it takes a lot of discipline and focus. When I see someone like Shankar Mahadevan – the kind of time and energy they put into their music and creativity, that inspires me.
Why do you love music?
Oh, there is no one reason why I love music. I think I was born to love music. It’s the way a person loves somebody deeply. I think I love music that way. I can’t live without it. It’s so beautiful.
Finally, why should we all come to the Royal Albert Hall concert next Sunday (17)?
You can’t miss it because it’s going to have everything that music lovers want in one show. There will be every kind of music, including Indian classical, fusion, film songs, ghazals. At the same time, we have legendary Javed Akhtar saab. Then we have Deepak Panditji, who’s arranged the whole music.
We have some brilliant musicians. It’s going to be a treat. I think we are going to have a lifetime experience because it’s Royal Albert Hall, and we are all prepared for that.
Javed Akhtar presents Pratibha Singh Baghel for an evening of classic and contemporary ghazals and geet at Royal Albert Hall in London next Sunday (17). A Sufiscore and Inner Circle Production. www.royalalberthall.com
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