“Love Serenade” blends musical traditions between cultures and continents, boundary-free from any style. An eclectic arrangement of Schubert‘s enchanting melodies is imbued with arrestingly unusual harmonies and intricate improvisations by classical and world instruments.
Its heart-melting expressivity symbolizes unconditional pure Universal Love that stirs our souls with compassion, connecting all as one in Peace and Harmony.
Love is a creative and sustaining energy of Life
Proceeds will support non-profit One Little Finger Global Foundation (that partners with many other charitable organizations) and children of the world
Sophia Agranovich and Rupam Sarmah; featuring GRAMMY® winners Lili Haydn and Hamid Saeidi (Opium Moon)
Available everywhere at all the major distributors | Release date August 25, 2023
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Original composition: Franz Schubert
Additional compositions: Rupam Sarmah, Sophia Agranovich
Performed by: Sophia Agranovich, Rupam Sarmah, feat. Lili Haydn and Hamid Saeidi from Opium Moon
Piano: Sophia Agranovich
Violin: Lili Haydn (Opium Moon)
Santoor (Persian): Hamid Saeidi (Opium Moon)
Santoor (Indian): Aronyo Choudhary
Sitar: Subhas Bose
Sarod: Abhijit Ray
Instrumentation and Programming: Rupam Sarmah
Music Arrangers: Rupam Sarmah, Sophia Agranovich
Engineers: Rupam Sarmah, Joe DeVico, Jitendra Kumar Prasad
Mixer and Mastering Engineer: Rupam Sarmah
Producers: Rupam Sarmah, Sophia Agranovich
Record Label: RJ Productions International
Publisher: RJ Productions International, One Little Finger Global Foundation
©2023 RJ Productions International
Winner of the Clouzine International Music Awards – Best Instrumental Recording, Fall 2023
2-Time Winner of the Global Music Awards – Outstanding Achievement: Concept and Creativity/Originality
Winner of The Akademia Music Award – Best Instrumental Song
Winner of the OneEarth Music Awards – Best World Music, 2024
Schubert: “Serenade” – one of the Piano versions
Press Highlights
“This brand new single from Sophia Agranovich and Rupam Sarmah has to be one of the finest multi-instrumental creations I have had the pleasure of listening to this year.”
“Love Serenade steps into different genres with ease and crosses the boundaries of folk, classical, new age and global fusion with such style and grace, one that is sublimely engineered and produced in part by the musical genius that is Rupam Sarmah.”
“The ever talented classical pianist Agranovich manifests a warm tone on her piano, whilst the smoothness of Lili Haydn’s violin adds a truly mournful repose to the arrangement. You will also find upon this new single several other artists in every sense of the word, in Hamid Saeidi on santoor with Aronyo Choudhary, whilst the sitar is gifted to us via Subhas Bose, and the sarod courtesy of Abhijit Ray.”
“…Simply delicious 6 minutes plus duration of excellent music, this is instrumental music that unveils a charming narrative and thus needs the time to be there for the listener to explore all the nuances and pathways of artistic endeavour, which I may add it does superbly, which is also why I believe that Sophia Agranovich & Rupam Sarmah could well have a big hit on their hands with Love Serenade.”
– Steve Sheppard, OneWorldMusic Radio
***
“Based on the passionate and romantic Schubert piece “Serenade” (composed in 1826), Ukranian born classical pianist Sophia Agranovich and Indian virtuoso Rupam Sarmah’s sensually exotic, deeply meditational and subtly uplifting “Love Serenade” is a hypnotic multi-cultural expression of pure, unconditional Universal Love that offers, for the as yet uninitiated, a wonderful and highly unique introduction to the talents and musical aesthetics of these two impactful veteran artists…”
“…Fulfilling a musical mission to embody the artists’ belief that “Love is a creative and sustaining energy of life,” “Love’s Serenade” begins with a wash of Grammy winning guest santoor artist Hamid Saeidi’s mystical strings heralding epic sonic concepts to come and opening the proverbial door to a fantastical swirl of those strings, Agranovich’s elegant and impassioned melody and guest Lili Haydn’s caressing violin. The piece then settles into a tender, eloquent showcase for Agranovich, punctuated every so often by Sarmah’s emphatic exotica and Haydn’s gentle sway, which in turn give way to a darker tone underscored by a haunting cello element.”
“One of the most compelling aspects of “Love’s Serenade” is the seductive night/day, darkness and light dance by the cello and violin – as if to illustrate the duality of love, the euphoria, harmony and potential for freedom it offers balanced by the challenging realities of the human condition. As the piece progresses, Agranovich alternates moods via a soft, easily melodic flow and harder, more brooding chords.”
“About four minutes in, there’s a moment where Saeidi meets her sparking chords with snappy, resonant strings, adding depth and tension that ultimately, with the help of Haydn’s sweet and sly violin, leads to sheer harmony and beauty winning out – capturing that magical feeling that love, whether personal or universal in nature, whatever obstacles in the way, always wins.”
“As if to emphasize the point, Agranovich shares some of her most powerful dark-tinged chords, followed by a blissful, graceful “sigh” and a mix of dynamic high register glissandos punctuated by the plucky strings towards the very end.”
“It’s a six and half minute classical global journey for the ages – and hopefully just the latest in a series of dual projects by Agranovich and Sarmah!”
– Jonathan Widran, JW Vibe
***
“…Sophia Agranovich is a true and tempered talent, and anything she releases is simply more of an incomparable pedigree…”
“Already at the start, “Love Serenade” reveals itself a mosaic of musical styles – classical, Middle Eastern, and perhaps even a tad Celtic. Who’s contributing to such a multi-dimensional affair? Besides Agranovich on piano, “Love Serenade” features Lili Haydn on violin and Hamid Saeidi on Iranian santoor from Opium Moon, Subhas Bose on sitar, Aronyo Choudhary on Indian Santoor, and some assistance with additional instrumentation, programming and arranging from the renowned Rupam Sarmah. And yes, their prowess is on an even keel with Agranovich…”
“…The piece features melodies by Franz Schubert and some original compositions augmenting said melodies courtesy of Agranovich and Sarmah. So, there are some themes you’ll perhaps recognize, but granted a bit more musical punch with flurries of violin or sitar highlighting a moment, or offering brief and striking accompaniment…”
“Do you like longer form classical music that flows with what’s asked of it, not completely restrained by its standard modes of operation and open to accompanying but distinct musical languages? Are you a fan of soothing, contemplative music that stretches boundaries while admiring its foundations? Then you will LOVE yet another instance of Sophia Agranovich’s enchanting output.”
– The Ark of Music
***
“Even as music technology continues to increase at a rapid pace, there will always be something amazing about a classical instrumental piece. The talent to create this style of music without all the fancy modern techniques will always be classic. Our recent discovery of Love Serenade by Sophia Agranovich and Rupam Sarmah proves this point once again…”
“The love of music was strong for Sophia Agranovich since her earliest days. Her exposure growing up in Ukraine to art, theatre, literature, and especially music led to a lifetime of art. She was performing on stages and winning awards before she was 10 years old. This led to Agranovich emigrating to the United States to attend the famous Juilliard School in NYC and earn Bachelors and Masters degrees there.”
“Pairing with the multi-talented Rupam Sarmah led to the magical creation titled Love Serenade. Blending the classical piano beauty inspired by Schubert, Sophia Agranovich lays down the mesmerizing classical piano line. The addition of eclectic world instruments allows the track to reach a higher level. There is a freedom here as unusual harmonies show that there is no set genre that limits the artists.”
“An amazing feeling of calm cascades over the listener even though we are not sure which direction Love Serenade will go in next. Over 6 full minutes of music take us where Sophia Agranovich and Rupam Sarmah want to take us. We do know it will be an enjoyable journey for all.”
– IndieBand Guru
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