On December 28, 2006 Bombayites were treated to A Christmas Vision in the popular Coffee Concerts series presented by The B. P. Salon Orchestra under the baton of veteran conductor Parvez Doctor. Moods, an overture composed by Meher Madon-Jansen, took the audience on a musical journey ranging from the somber to the racy and lilting. Piano and vocal solos by sisters Chelsea and Chloe D’Souza were followed by entrancing Christmas songs by them and also by Marilynne Chabbra’s talented family.
The B. P. Salon Ensemble, formed by Doctor in February 1976, started its small, free informal Coffee Concerts in a very humble way at The Bhulabhai Institute Auditorium at Breach Candy where coffee, tea and homemade bhakras were enjoyed along with the music, informs the orchestra’s brochure. Participants included teachers, students, professionals and amateurs. The solo and chamber music items were always followed by orchestra performance and programs ranged from the most serious classics to semi-classics and even light music.
Parvez Doctor (inset) nurtures Indian musical talent
India’s only salon orchestra, the B. P. is also the only one to have performed for decades without depending on foreign talent. In addition to the B. P. Chamber and Salon Orchestras, Doctor has also founded The Bombay School of Music. He studied violin, viola and conducting with various local and foreign teachers and has conducted the Bombay Chamber Orchestra, the Bombay Philharmonia which he helped to found, and others. Many of Bombay’s young concerto soloists were given their first opportunity to perform under Doctor’s baton. He was ably assisted by the late Bepsy Marzban as organizational director of the B. P. Musical Enterprises. The post has now been filled by the dynamic Khursheed Wadia whose son Firdause is the sole Parsi talent among the players.