Archive

"(I) want to be the world’s greatest (Parsi) opera singer, to make my community proud, my country proud… I know I’ll achieve it. It’s not impossible… It’s challenging but not overwhelming. Going to Vienna is the first step,” states baritone Frazan Adil Kotwal.
The 23-year-old has earned admission to the Konservatorium Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität der Stadt Wien (Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna). Kotwal opted for this University though he also got admission in Musik und Darstellende Kunst (University of Music and Performing Arts), which is conductor Zubin Mehta’s alma mater, he informs us. He adds, "Eight were selected from about 200. I chose my University (because) it has that energy.” He has also been accepted by the Bulgarian soprano Elena Filipova in her classes at this conservatoire.
In August 2015, he returned home after a two-week course in vocal training from Liesing, south-west of Vienna, where he had earned a scholarship for the music festival. The ervad wended his way back home from Leising last year to pray the muktads at the S. R. Patel, Nanapeth Agiary in his birthplace Poona (also known as the gaam ni agiary) which he has been doing from the sixth grade — a tradition he has still kept alive.

 

 

 

 

The beginner bagged state funding at the University though he is not from a preferred European Union country. Adding, "I triggered curiosity as I spoke German (despite) being a brown person. Never thought I could be good,” Kotwal articulates his reservations regarding reaching his crescendo as a western classical singer.
Whilst at Liesing, Kotwal expanded his repertoire, studied with vocal teacher Randall Scarlata and met "collaborative musicians.” He still takes Skype lessons from Scarlata who is based in the US. "From Se tu m’ami (by Alessandro Parisotti) and Amarilli, mia bella (by Giulio Caccini — songs needing lyricism but modest technique) I performed Beethoven’s folk songs for cello, piano and voice; Mozart’s six nocturnes for three voices, etc.” Moore Parker, music critic says, "Frazan is in possession of a fine voice, artistic sensitivity, ability to communicate in his music-making and personal charm.”
He laughs off his ignorance of the rigors of the selection process in music schools saying, "Being oblivious helped.” He had no idea that there were music students who had reached their present standard after years of rigorous practice. He says he had no clue about the fervor for auditions. He recognizes that if he had known all this, he would have been a bundle of nerves!
Awaiting beginning of term in September before his departure for Vienna, the singer currently practices two to three hours a day, studies German, watches operas for familiarization and gets the local music cognoscenti to critique his practice sessions. He performed solo with the Bel Canto choir and at the Max Mueller Bhavan (MMB) with the Musik Kreis (music circle) both in Poona. He has also performed at some clubs and the Russian consulate in Bombay. Over the years, plays and musicals have showcased him in most of the metropolitan cities of India.
The music enthusiast started a Musik Kreis at the MMB in Poona, internationally known as the Goethe Institute. Every Wednesday he selects a German composer of lied (lyrical song) and participants sing his works. He has spurred this since August 2015 with five participants in attendance for the first session, and now boasts about 35 regulars. People aged 16 to 65 show interest and tune in once a week. He intends to keep this alive and be available via Skype when he is in Austria on a need basis and encourages the circle to take its own shape, with no strings attached. "My main aim is to make it (classical music) accessible to the youth. I am also active on Facebook and post funny incidents from the sessions,” to keep interest alive.

How it all began
Kotwal tried his hand at a nine-to-five freight forwarding job six months after finishing college, but ennui set in and he knew beating the same drum at a desk job was not for him. At 18, he began learning western classical singing after hearing budding coloratura soprano Farah Ghadiali sing at a college festival. He recalls she patiently sat him down to answer all his questions and then introduced him to her teacher with whom he attended some master classes. He then performed in some opera choruses and was introduced to the world of music in Bombay. With Jini Dinshaw he learnt the violin and viola which he believes enables him to have sound pitching. The musician lightheartedly informs us that he was inspired to learn the violin after seeing the film Fiddler on the Roof.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Would Kotwal recommend a music career to other Zoroastrian youth? He shoots back, "Of course, without a doubt. If I can, anyone can. I don’t have a pedigree. It’s not impossible — people will go for a career in music.”
"What makes me different is that I am a dastur (priest), and when I sing, it’s like a prayer for me. I feel am connecting to the universe. That gives me a slight edge,” he believes. Asking this zealous Zoroastrian whether praying during the muktads affects the vocal chords, he says even while praying he uses his voice technique.
Frazan and elder brother Jehaan prepared for their priests’ initiation at the Vadi Dar-e Meher in Navsari under Ervad Homi Kotwal (no relative) who had earlier initiated their father Adil as a navar as well. Homi was recently in the public eye for opting for burial instead of dakhmenashini. In fact Frazan maintains that Homi had always been forward looking but "very strict.” The young mobed reveals "the initiation was a life changing experience — a true test of discipline… and just life. Forty days of not touching anyone… It was not an ordeal but an experience. Good memories of it.” Frazan also connects the rigor and discipline of the navar-maratab training with his daily vocal practice.
Interest in music was fired from his school days at Sardar Dastur Hormazdiar High School. He lauds the school for encouraging extra-curricular activities, giving him a platform to perform in theater and musicals where he usually got the lead role. Subsequently, he graduated in mass communications from Bombay’s Jai Hind College.
Adil broke out on his own and pioneered JFK Transporters after freighting goods between Bombay and Delhi for a few months to assist his uncle. Mother Sanober (née Surti), assists in the family business from home and Jehaan helps run the family’s transport and logistics business with their father. The company just earned Castrol’s Best Transporter of the Year award in 2016. Proudly Frazan proclaims that Jehaan was the youngest award recipient at age 25, amongst 70 transporters. "My brother and I are closely bonded,” Frazan mentions and informs us that Jehaan is also a national level hockey player.
From animato (effervescence) the music pupil turns somber when asked if he can be termed a liberal or traditional Zoroastrian. "As a Navsari mobed and then as a young Jai Hind kid… I am open (to liberal thinking) but I do have a conflict,” he says. Adding, "I am not confident (of taking one position or the other.) I haven’t thought much about it.” After a moment’s pause, he interjects, "I would like my children to be priests, to be brought up in our ethos, to go to the agiary etc. There are certain ways of doing things… out of respect.”