Chicago: Following its historic, sold-out debut in New Hampshire in 2023, the critically acclaimed Symphony Masala concert returns this October to Illinois with the Chicago Sinfonietta for two spectacular performances. This vibrant celebration of culture, music, and light—timed perfectly with Diwali, the Festival of Lights—will take place at:
Wentz Concert Hall, Naperville, IL – Friday, October 17, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Studebaker Theater, Chicago, IL – Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Titled “Light the Way. Feel the Rhythm.”, the 2025 edition of Symphony Masala promises a soul-stirring journey through Bollywood classics, global symphonic masterpieces, and transcultural storytelling.
The evening opens with Symphony Masala, a groundbreaking reimagining of Bollywood’s most beloved melodies arranged for a Western symphony orchestra—without the use of traditional Indian instrumentation. The performance features Indian-American vocal powerhouse Anuradha “Juju” Palakurthi, accompanied by a full orchestra under the baton of Roger Kalia, multi-Solti award-winning conductor and former Freeman Conducting Fellow.
“Symphony Masala was conceived to bring iconic Bollywood melodies to Western audiences through symphonic orchestration that is both accessible and portable,” said Ms. Anuradha “Juju” Palakurthi, co-producer of the concert and founder of Juju Productions. “It offers a vibrant taste of over a century of Bollywood music, serving as a joyful bridge between East and West.”
The evening will also pay homage to the historic 2007 Chicago Sinfonietta performance in which founding conductor Paul Freeman passed the baton to Maestra Chen.
