World Music Institute and 92Y Present Indian Violinist L. Subramaniam Tonight

For the first time in its distinguished history, the World Music Institute's Masters of Indian Music series presents India's violin icon L. SUBRAMANIAM, revered around the world as "The Paganini of Indian Classical music." Co-presented with 92Y, the concert takes place tonight, February 5 at 8:00 p.m. at 92nd Street Y. Tickets $55, $45, $35, $25. Visit www.worldmusicinstitute.org for more information.

L. Subramaniam has earned international acclaim for his virtuosic techniques and distinct style that embraces both Western classical music and the classical music tradition in Southern India known as Carnatic music. A Grammy-nominated artist, Dr. Subramaniam has made more than 200 recordings and collaborated with artists such as George Harrison, Stevie Wonder, Yehudi Menuhin, Jean Pierre-Rampal, Herbie Hancock, Al Jarreau, Stéphane Grappelli and Maynard Ferguson. For this concert, he shares the stage with his son, violinist Ambi Subramaniam, as well as Mahesh Krishnamurthy on mridangam.

This is the only North American concert presented as a part of this year's esteemed Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival. Dr. Subramaniam began the annual Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival to honor the memory of his father, Professor V. Lakshminarayana, who was a pedagogue and master of Indian violin who passed away in 1990. The festival has been held across 49 cities in 20 countries and five continents, and is sponsored by The Times of India, the largest print publication in the world. From World Music Institute's Artistic Director Par Neiburger: "L. Subramaniam is quite simply one of India's greatest musicians and deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as such luminaries as Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan, Amjad Ali Khan, and Hariprasad Chaurasia. He is arguably India's greatest exponent of classical violin, and as a violinist, his musicianship is largely unparalleled. He has also famously branched out of traditional Indian music to collaborate with artists such as George Harrison, Stevie Wonder, and Yehudi Menuhin. His upcoming Indian classical concert that we are co-presenting with 92Y continues the long legacy of World Music Institute's Masters of Indian Music series.

We are very proud to present this performance, which is the only North American concert that's part of the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival, which has grown to be a multi-cultural music event that takes place in many countries around the world. Playing alongside his son and fellow violinist Ambi Subramaniam, this event celebrates the legacy of three generations of India's master violinists."

L. SUBRAMANIAM is one of the few rare musicians belonging to the eternal trinity of carnatic music, and takes his place as a 10th generation musician traced directly to Saint Narayana himself, the first carnatic violin musician.

As a composer, L. Subramaniam has written works for some of the world's greatest orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic and Zubin Mehta ("Fantasy on Vedic Chants"), the Swiss Romande Orchestra ("Turbulence"), The Kirov Ballet ("Shanti Priya"), The Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra ("The Concerto for Two Violins"), and The Berlin Opera ("Global Symphony"), which was broadcast simultaneously over 28 nations to millions of people.

He has composed music for a select few films, including "Salaam Bombay" and "Mississippi Masala," and was the featured soloist for Bernardo Bertolucci's "Little Buddha" and "Cotton Mary" of Merchant - Ivory Productions. His compositions have also been used in various stage presentations by leading ballet companies, including the Cleveland San Jose Ballet and the Alvin Ailey Company.

Dr. L. Subramaniam is the Violin Chakravarthy (Emperor) of India, recipient of the President's Award of Best Violinist of all India, Padma Bushan Award from the Government of India, Medal of Honor from the King of Nepal, honorary doctorates from several universities, Grammy nominations and countless other awards. By special request of Prime Minister Modi of India, in 2014, Dr. L. Subramaniam performed to a packed Madison Square Garden prior to the Prime Minister's historic speech.

In October 2013, he published the first volume of the SaPa Baby book, co-written with his daughter Bindu Subramaniam, designed to teach Indian classical music to young children.

L. Subramaniam's complete bio is here.

About WMI (www.worldmusicinstitute.org) - Since 1985, World Music Institute has been the leading presenter of world music and dance in the United States. WMI is committed to presenting the finest in traditional and contemporary music and dance from around the world at attainable prices for all, with the goal to promote awareness and engagement of other cultures and to encourage cultural exchange between nations and ethnic groups. WMI collaborates with community organizations and academic institutions to foster greater understanding of the world's cultural traditions and depends on public and private funding to accomplish its mission.

Under new leadership as of 2015-16 -- its 30th anniversary season -- World Music Institute has introduced an ambitious expansion of concert offerings that include contemporary, experimental and avant-garde presentations, as well as the traditional music that WMI has long been known and admired for. In addition, the institution is thrilled to have launched new partnerships with BAM, 92nd Street Y, Storm King Art Center, Le Poisson Rouge, and Drom -- while continuing partnerships with The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Town Hall, Symphony Space, and the Apollo Theater (the annual Africa Now festival).

Some of the new and already widely-hailed series that World Music Institute created in the 2015-2016 season are the Lusophone Festival, Counterpoint series, Masters of Cuban Music, Masters of African Music, the return of Flamenco dance, and a Global Local initiative that offers opportunities and exposure to emerging NY talent in international music and dance. WMI is committed to continuing its legacy of presenting the world's greatest living masters in Indian classical music as well as in Indian dance, notably with its acclaimed Dancing the Gods series.

To donate or become a member, the public can visit worldmusicinstitute.org.

About 92Y (www.92Y.org) - 92nd Street Y is a world-class, nonprofit cultural and community center that fosters the mental, physical and spiritual health of people throughout their lives, offering: wide-ranging conversations with the world's best minds; an outstanding range of programming in the performing, visual and literary arts; fitness and sports programs; and activities for children and families. 92Y is reimagining what it means to be a community center in the digital age with initiatives like the award-winning #GivingTuesday, launched by 92Y in 2012 and now recognized across the US and in a growing number of regions worldwide as a day to celebrate and promote giving. These kinds of initiatives are transforming the way people share ideas and translate them into action both locally and around the world. More than 300,000 people visit 92Y annually; millions more participate in 92Y's digital and online initiatives. A proudly Jewish organization since its founding in 1874, 92Y embraces its heritage and welcomes people of all backgrounds and perspectives. For more information, visit www.92Y.org.