The Maestro

	L Subramaniam L Subramaniam has been hailed as one of the greatest performers and a living legend by critics and connoisseurs alike. "In the West, I have heard only one other music which is as meditative, serene, powerful and yet equally joyful-that of Johann Sebastian Batch",says one leading critic. L Subramaniam, who, with his individualistic, brilliant and masterful style, has introduced a new era in violin-playing, was a child prodigy. He made his first public appearance at the age of six and took the music world by storm. After a rigorous training under his father, V.Lakshminarayana and guidance from his mother L.Seethalakshmi he went to the United States where he received his master's degree in music, and taught South Indian Music at Cal Arts. Before leaving for the U.S., he completed his medical studies at Madras Medical College and registered as a Medical Practitioner. L Subramaniam has introduced and popularized Karnatic music globally. He has participated in several international music festivals and performed at several prestigious venues such as the Royal Albert Hall (London), Salle Pleyel and Champs Elysees Theatre (Paris), Madison Square Gardens, Lincoln Center and United Nations (New York), Hollywood Bowl, Music Center (Los Angeles) and the Bolshoi Theatre, Tchaikovsky Hall (Moscow), Tivoli Gardens (Copenhagen) to name a few.
L Subramaniam is a composer par excellence; many of his compositions have been performed, recorded and choreographed. With his rich background of Indian music and his intensive study of Western Music, he has created a new and unique idiom, taking the best from both systems. But, as a critic of the Los Angeles Times has said, "It would be a mistake to typecast him as an Indian musician trying to Americanize himself. He is a master soloist...his writing has succeeded in ignoring and transcending whatever boundary lines exist between Eastern and Western composition". L Subramaniam was invited by Zubin Mehta to participate in the Festival of India, 1985 in the U.S., and to compose a special composition for the opening of New York Philharmonic's season, following the success of his orchestral works, Double Concerto for Violin and Flute and Spring Rhapsody, commissioned by different orchestras,. This special composition, "Fantasy on Vedic Chants", was premiered at the Lincoln Center under Zubin Mehta's baton and had L Subramaniam as the featured soloist. L Subramaniam has to his credit several albums, many of which he has produced. He is the first Indian musician to release a Compact Disc . He was the host of the first video presentation on Indian Music and Dance titled "Master Musicians from India" . He has recorded and compiled a multi-volume "Anthology of Indian Music" for Ocora label of Radio France. He was also the musical advisor for Peter Brook's grand stage production of Mahabharata and has composed music for movies like Salaam Bombay, Mississippi Masala etc. L Subramaniam is the recipient of several awards, titles and honours, including the President of India award,the coveted National Award Padmashree from the Government of India, the title of "Violin Chakravarthy" (Emperor among Violinists) from the Governor of Madras, the Sangeet Natak Academy Award for the Most Creative Artist and a special Medal of Honour from H.M.King Birendra of Nepal after his performance on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of H.M. the King's accession to the throne. He has been honoured for outstanding contribution to the world of music. His name appears in internationally-acclaimed reference volumes like the "International Who's Who in Music, "Men of Achievement(U.K.), "Community Leaders and Noteworthy Americans", and "Book of Honour" to name a few.
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