Since its inception, the NCPA has been the torchbearer of Western classical music in India, and regularly presents some of the world’s leading performers on its stages through recitals, chamber music, visiting orchestras, as well as live opera and ballet.

In 2006, the NCPA founded the Symphony Orchestra of India, the country’s first and only full-time professional orchestra, which performs regular concerts at the NCPA and on tour in India and internationally. Apart from the SOI, orchestras that have been heard on the NCPA stages include the London Symphony Orchestra with Sir Colin Davis and Daniel Harding, BBC Scottish with Sir James MacMillan, Royal Flemish Philharmonic (now the Antwerp Symphony) with Philippe Herreweghe, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande with Osmo Vänskä, and many more. Chamber music and recitals have featured such artistes as Stephen Kovacevich, Andreas Haefliger, Sumi Jo, Dame Felicity Lott, the Kodály Quartet, in addition to the biannual Artie’s chamber music festival, to name just a few. Screenings include The Metropolitan Opera’s award-winning Live in HD series and ballet screenings from the Bolshoi.

India is a promising venue for Western classical music, as the enthusiastic, growing audiences, and the calibre of artistes who repeatedly visit, attest, and the NCPA remains at the forefront of presenting performances in this genre.