Ambi Subramaniam Wins Bravo Award in Moscow
Violinist and composer Ambi Subramaniam, a native of India, has been recognized as the Best Musician from a Partner Country of the Year at Moscow’s Bravo Awards. This achievement marks the second Indian to win at an event considered equivalent to the Grammy Awards in Russia.
Subramaniam, who was previously the recipient of the award in 2024, received the accolade unexpectedly. He recounts, "The first thing we checked was that it was a legit email. Once we spoke to them, we got more details." The award ceremony, held on April 15, 2025, also saw Subramaniam perform a song called "Flight of the Humble Bee," composed by his father, veteran violinist Dr. L. Subramaniam, with a symphony orchestra and a local tabla player.
Subramaniam’s performance at the event was described as "hassle-free" after two rehearsals with the symphony orchestra. He sat down on a podium to play the violin, wheeled on stage, played, took a bow, and then wheeled back down. He humorously notes, "It was wild."
During his trip to Russia, Subramaniam made core memories about the country, which reinforced the idea that classical music is universally appreciated. He mentions, "There were little speakers along the street in Red Square and around the Kremlin. Even when I went, I could hear classical music being played from those speakers. I had seen this old documentary on [composer] Tchaikovsky, and they were interviewing bus drivers and people on the street, talking about how classical music has changed their lives. The culture [of classical music] is deeply ingrained."
Subramaniam’s performance at the celebrated Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow was surreal. He says, "When I walked in, honestly, it felt like going into a time machine, but in the best way possible. Everything has been maintained so beautifully. It’s like a 200-year-old auditorium, and it feels like you’re going into the 19th century, but of course lights and sound are state of the art. They’ve kept that grandeur. It was definitely surreal."
Next, Subramaniam is heading to the U.S. for a tour performing Indian classical music. He also mentions some collaborations with his father, Bindu Subramaniam, Akshay Anantapadmanabhan (percussionist), and Mahesh Raghvan (producer) from the Thayir Sadam Project. They have recorded two songs that should be coming soon, one of which is co-written by a young vocalist from their Subramaniam Academy of Performing Arts (SaPa). Subramaniam expresses pride in the collaboration, saying, "Were super proud that shes written a really nice song, and its a collaboration, so were happy about that."
This achievement highlights Ambi Subramaniam’s significant contribution to the world of classical music and his continued success in the industry.
Reference : https://rollingstoneindia.com/ambi-subramaniam-bravo-award-russia/
