Calcutta: How many of us know that The Cat Concerto, a Tom and Jerry short film, featured Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2? Or Chopin's Polonaise in D Minor is actually a tragic piece about a lost battle?

London-based Ukrainian pianist Dinara Klinton explained this and many other nuances of Western classical music to around 60 students from various city schools at a workshop, which was part of Cinema in Concert, presented by Showhouse, in association with TTIS, at Rotary Sadan on Friday.

Dinara is in the city to perform Magic Piano and Chopin Shorts at Cinema in Concert, to be held at Kala Mandir on August 5. She will play live music for the film that will be screened.

Dinara conducted workshops at various city schools such as Birla High School, South City International School, The Newtown School and Don Bosco School, Park Circus, where she shared nuggets from the history of Western classical music, performed for the students, interacted with them and allowed them to perform as well.

The pianist feels such workshops are a great way to expose young people to Western classical music. "This is a great way to bring in new audience. Classical music needs listening experience. One has to sit quietly for an amount of time," she said.

Dinara, on her first visit to India, is impressed with the young audience and the "diverse culture and people" of Calcutta.

"Children here are quite exposed to Western classical music. At the workshops I am trying to give little bit of information and also the background of this genre," added Dinara.

The students were mesmerised by Dinara's finesse on the keys and wanted to know more from her. "I am a beginner and I am quite inspired by her music. I am definitely going for the concert," said Tanya Sachdeva, Class XI, MP Birla Foundation Higher Secondary School.

Not just the students, their principals too were excited. "The workshop has encouraged students to take up classical music," said John Bagul, principal, South City International School.

Satabdi Bhattacharjee, principal, The Newtown School, feels the workshop helped students understand the universality of music. "To see her play a classical piece on a modern day animation, students will understand the universality of music," she said.

Dinara visited Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore before visiting Calcutta.