darbar international south asian music festival€œa place where everyone expects and gets the...

“A place where everyone expects and gets the highest quality performances of Indian classical music.” - BBC Radio 3

Darbar InternationalSouth Asian Music FestivalLondon, 3-5 April 2009Leicester, Gateshead, Nottingham, Dewsbury, Cobham and Birmingham – March 28 to April 12

ContentsSouthbank Centre, LondonPurcell Room Sessions Friday 3rd April 4Saturday 4th April 6Sunday 5th April 8

Queen Elizabeth Hall Sunday 5th April 14

Yehudi Menuhin Hall, SurreyTuesday 7th April 16

Across EnglandDarbar Festival across the country 18

TicketsBooking events at the Southbank Centre 22Booking Yehudi Menuhin Hall 16Booking events across the country 18

Photographic Exhibition 12Darbar Book 13Partners, Sponsors and Supporters 20Contact Darbar 21

We are delighted to welcome you to the Darbar International Festival of South Asian Music 2009 at London’s Southbank Centre.

Beyond the capital, the Festival also takes place in Leicester, Cobham, Dewsbury, Nottingham, Gateshead and Birmingham – in all more than 30 concerts.

We are proud to say that outside of India, the Festival – which brings together classical traditions from across the sub-continent – is the largest event of its kind and rides on the back of widespread media and artistic acclaim.

Over three packed days, we invite you to explore India’s spectacular diversity of musical traditions from across the sub-continent: north Indian Hindustani, south Indian carnatic, dhrupad – India’s oldest form of music, and exhilarating collaborations bringing together music from across genres.

This year’s Festival brings over 50 artists presenting 20 instruments including Dhrupadi rabaab originating from Afghanistan, Jori percussion from Punjab and saxophone from the world of blues and jazz.

Discover new ragas specific to particular times of the day in morning, afternoon and evening concerts. Talk to the artists in the ‘Audience with…’ sessions and mingle with them outside of the concerts. Take a glance at our exhibition of world-class photography from previous Darbar festivals and enjoy the free events on the Southbank Centre.

Most of all come and experience some of the highest quality classical music heard in this country.

Finally, book early to get big savings!

Sandeep Singh Virdee Artistic DirectorKulbir Singh Natt Director

To receive information about Darbar events register on www.darbar.org.uk

2009 Festival Programme

“One of the nicest things aboutthe Darbar Festival is that every year one encounters something totally unexpected, something totally different and something brand new.” BBC Radio 3

Friday3rd April 2009 Purcell RoomSouthbank Centre

Harmeet opens a three-day music fiesta with gentle morning ragas on sitar displaying serenity, vibrancy and beautifully composed improvisations.

Bhupinder comes from the Benares style of playing this ever-versatile instrument.

Morning, Session 110.00am From £9 (as part of ‘Festival Pass’) up to £15

Harmeet Singh Virdee – SitarBhupinder Singh Chaggar – Tabla

Rahul Sharma – SantoorSubhankar Banerjee – Tabla

Sit back and enjoy the sublime, meditative sounds of santoor played by the virtuoso talent of Rahul Sharma, son of the illustrious Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma. Rahul, who has performed throughout Europe and USA, is accompanied by Subhankar Banerjee, one of India’s finest tabla maestros.

‘...sounds that sing, soar and soothe to create music as vibrant as a Himalayan hillside and equally exotic... Rahul Sharma, take me away.’ Pulse (USA)

Harmeet Virdee

Rahul Sharma

Book more, pay less: Series discounts of up to 40%

Book early, pay less: Festival pass only £99!

Box office:southbankcentre.co.uk/darbar0871 663 2500


Somjit Das Gupta is not only one of the most gifted musicians playing the sarod and Dhrupadi rabaab, but he has also a distinguished authority on Indian instruments. Somjit, who’s personal collection dates back some 300 years, shares his passion in an illustrated musical discussion.

Audience with Somjit Das Gupta – Exploring the heritage of the Dhrupadi rabaab

Jesse Bannister effortlessly drifts between indo-jazz and ragas on saxophone. A talented musician and composer, Jessie is accompanied by world’s first female professional tabla player, Anuradha Pal, who’s been thrilling audiences since being hailed as a ‘child prodigy.’

“...a unique sound that will challenge the horizons of saxophone players for many decades.”

Jesse Bannister – SaxophoneAnuradha Pal – Tabla

Somjit Das Gupta is one of few maestros playing Indian classical music on the Dhrupadi rabaab – a forerunner to the sarod – that originated hundreds of years ago from Afghanistan.

He is accompanied by Pinky on Jori from Punjab, a rarely heard percussion instrument resembling tabla.

Afternoon, Session 2 Evening, Session 3

“Best of all, there was the gifted South Indian singer Aruna Sairam, singing with a mesmerizing combination of sheer inventive abandon and virtuosic musical.” LA Times

2.30pm From £9 (as part of ‘Festival Pass’) up to £15

6.30pm From £15 (as part of ‘Festival Pass’) up to £25

Somjit Dasgupta – RabaabSukhwinder Singh (Pinky) – Jori

Aruna Sairam – Carnatic vocalJyotsna Shrikanth – Violin Patri Satish Kumar – Mridangam

Prepare yourself for a treat with spell binding singing from Aruna Sairam, in her first UK tour. Aruna’s concerts attract crowds that create “traffic jams around the auditorium.”

Accompanying her is the prestigious talent of Patri Satish Kumar and Jyotsna Shrikanth, a musician of dynamism and finesse.

Sukhwinder Singh

Aruna Sairam

Somjit Das Gupta

Jesse Bannister


Morning, Session 410.00amFrom £9 (as part of ‘Festival Pass’) up to £15

Sindhu & Indu Pathmabaskaran – Carnatic VocalKiruthika Nadarajah – Violin Aravindhan Baheerathan – FluteSenthuran Premakumar – Mridangam Dharmesh Parmar – Tabla

Sindhu and Indu Pathmabaskaran lead a line-up of rising carnatic stars singing beautifully crafted melodies and dynamic invloving percussion.

Ashwini Bhide Deshpande – Hindustani VocalJyoti Goho – HarmoniumSubhankar Bannerjee – Tabla

Ashwini Bhide Deshpande is one of the finest classical divas from the north Indian classical tradition. Her performances, always of exceptionally high quality, include silver-toned renditions of khayal and poetic bhajans.

“A truly awesome singer who mesmerised the audience in an enthralling performance.” The Hindu

Ashwini Bhide

Saturday4th April 2009 Purcell RoomSouthbankCentre





6.30pmFrom £15 (as part of ‘Festival Pass’) up to £25

Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar – Dhrupad VocalMohan Shyam Sharma – Pakhawaj

Transport yourself to the temples of ancient India with deeply devotional dhrupad. Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar represents the 20th generation of dhrupad singers within the Dagar family. Traditionally his family perform dhrupad as a duet, but Wasifuddin successfully presents the dynamic of a duet in a solo performance.

Pandit Tejendra Majumdar – SarodPandit Kumar Bose – Tabla

Tejendra Majumdar makes the sarod - the most majestic sounding of Indian instruments – sparkle. He plays with delicacy and emotional maturity to create a breathtakingly beautiful sound. He is accompanied by the larger than life Pandit Kumar Bose, the torchbearer of the Benaras gharana.

“…unquestionably one of the great maestros of the sarod.” L.A. Times

Afternoon, Session 5 Evening, Session 62.30pm From £9 (as part of ‘Festival Pass’) up to £15

Audience with Shashank Subramanium – Exploring the heritage of carnatic flute

Shashank, widely considered to be one of the leading Indian classical flautists, engages in a musical discussion about the one of the most celebrated musical instruments of India and a life steeped in musical accomplishments from a young age.

Tejendra Majumdar

Ganesh & Kumaresh – Carnatic Violin DuetR. N. Prakash – Ghatam (clay pot) Patri Satish Kumar – Mridangam

Brothers Ganesh and Kumaresh, a unique musical partnership, continue the carnatic theme with a violin concert of power, precision and an incredible virtuosity.

“…an incredible performance of unrivalled sensitivity, expression and tonal quality.” Times of India

Shashank Subramanium

Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar

Ganesh & Kumaresh


Purbayan Chatterjee – Sitar Shashank Subramanium – Carntic FlutePatri Satish Kumar – MridangamSukhwinder Singh (Pinky) – Tabla

Speed, virtuosity and mercurial invention combine to create a unique sound by world-class musicians from the two ends of India. Purbayan Chatterjee plays the sitar with a maturity beyond his years. Shashank, a child-prodigy of the south Indian flute, plays the instrument with an irresistible panache.

“The combination of the airy and the sinuously metallic is immediately arresting, and the players’ speed, virtuosity and mercurial invention are nothing short of astounding.” Daily Telegraph (UK)

Morning, Session 710.00amFrom £9 (as part of ‘Festival Pass’) up to £15

Dr Vijay Rajput – Hindustani VocalUstad Fida Hussain – HarmoniumManjeet Rasiya – Tabla

UK-based Dr Vijay Rajput, disciple of the illustrious north Indian vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, is one of Britain’s most talented classical vocalists. Here he presents poetic morning ragas to ease you into Sunday.

Purbayan Chatterjee

Dr Vijay Rajput

Sunday5th April 2009 Purcell RoomSouthbankCentre





6.30pmFrom £15 (as part of ‘Festival Pass’) up to £25

Aniruddha Bhattacharya – Khayal VocalJyoti Goho – HarmoniumBhupinder Singh Chaggar – Tabla

Aniruddha Bhattacharya sings with an irresistible eloquence. Aniruddha, who is one of the strongest, most exuberant young voices in the world of north Indian classical music, begins the closing session Darbar Festival.

Pandit Kumar Bose – Tabla solo tribute to Pandit Kishen MaharajPandit Ramesh Mishra – Sarangi

Pandit Kumar Bose makes a welcome return to the Darbar Festival in a tribute concert to the legendary Pandit Kishen Maharaj who passed away last year. For those of you who missed his outstanding performance in the first Darbar Festival in 2006, this is one not to be missed.

“One of the ultimate tabla players of our time, Kumar Bose.” Sense World Music

Afternoon, Session 8 Evening, Session 92.30pmFrom £9 (as part of ‘Festival Pass’) up to £15

Audience with Wasifuddin Dagar – Heritage of Dhrupad

Ustad F. Wasifuddin Dagar, who represents the 20th unbroken generation of dhrupad singers in the Dagar family, is one the most eloquent speakers on the dhrupad music, its associations with the ancient temples of India and his own impressive family lineage.

Aniruddha Bhattacharya

Pandit Kumar Bose

Rupak Kulkarni – North Indian FluteAnuradha Pal – Tabla

Sit back and enjoy the sensual beauty of the Indian (Bansari) flute with Rupak Kulkarni, disciple of the world-renowned Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia. Rupak’s concerts are a treat, combining the elements of the ancient vocal Dhrupad and the more recent genre, Khayal. He is accompanied on stage by one of the very few world-class female tabla players.

Wasifuddin Dagar

Rupak Kulkarni


“Ragas are soliloquies and meditations, passionate melodies that draw circles and triangles in a mental space, a geometry of sounds that can turn a room into a fountain, a spring, a pool.” Octavio Paz

“When I close my eyes and begin to sing, there is only darkness... slowly, light comes, then the beginnings of colour.” Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar


“fantastic imagery, candid back stage pictures by a world class photographer” Gurwinder, EastWestPhotography

Music and Artists in Images

A unique photographic and video insight into Indian classical music, the artists and the Darbar Festival by Arnhel de Serra.

A Reportage photographic exhibition at Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer

3 – 5th April 2009FREE ENTRY

Publisher: Darbar Arts Culture HeritageOrder your copy: [email protected]

Book comes with a DVD of extended excerpts of concerts from the Darbar Festival 2008 broadcast on SkyArts television.

Reflections on the Darbar Festival and the state of Indian classical music in Britain in the early 21st Century written by musicians, people involved in the arts and music writers, with some fantastic high-quality photographs

“a beautiful book that captures the true essence of Indian classical music in modern Britain” Rakesh Chaurasia, Flute maestro

“fond memories captured in words and pictures” Pandit Kumar Bose, Tabla maestro

“a real treasure” Purbayan Chatterjee, Sitar maestro

DarbarArts CultureHeritage

Hardback RRP:£30

Festival Price: £20

2009 Festival Programme Darbar International South Asian Music Festival

Nina Virdee – whose soulful voice effortlessly glides the airwaves – leads a line-up of stars to present a potent mixture of jazz, flamenco, western soul, ‘house’ dance and Indian classical to create cutting-edge music in the premier of her ‘Urban Love’ tour.

Purbayan Chatterjee, an outstanding musician, plays the electric sitar; Hary Kumar Siva plays with exuberance on the 7-string electric violin and Giuliano Modarelli adds guitar riffs with an Iberian flavour guitar. Sukhdeep Dhanjal and R.N. Prakash drive the percussive beat on tabla and ghatam, while Harmeet Virdee provides the groove with live electronic music.

Sunday 5th April 2009, 5.00pm Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre

£12 and £15 (10% discounts for children under 16 or students)

Urban Love

“She has the soul, the voice and the charisma, superb” Pt Ravi Shankar

Guest Artist


Box office:southbankcentre.co.uk0871 663 2500

Nina Virdee – VocalPurbayan Chatterjee – Electric SitarHary Kumar Siva – Electric violinGiuliano Modarelli – Spanish guitarR.N. Prakash – GhatamSukhdeep Dhanjal – Tabla Harmeet Virdee – Music Arrangments


First half performace:

Tablature!

Four tabla players. Four percussionists. Four composers. 30 years after the Blair-Peach Riots in Southall, Tablature! showcases the best that musicians from different cultures can do without the barriers of separation. In a project curated by one of Southall’s outstanding residents, Kuljit Bhamra has helped develop a new, universal system for writing music for the tabla. Hear the results with four new pieces fresh from the white heat of creative collaboration.

Tabla: Subhankar Banerjee, Sandeep Raval, Gurdain Rayatt, Dharmesh Parmar and Kuljit Bhamra.

Percussion: Adam Clifford, Scott Lumsdaine, Manny Arciniega and Daniel Bradley on percussion.

Composers: Jatanil Banerjee, Evangelia Rigaki, Roberto Rusconi and Luke Styles

Percussion Duet: Tabla and Mridangam

Subhankar Banerjee and Patri Satish Kumar combine dynamic percussive rhythms from north and sound India.


A rare opportunity to hear two of the finest Indian classical musicians without a sound system.

Purbayan Chatterjee, who began performing at the age of five and already has an international career of more than 25 years. Recognised as one of the great young exponents of sitar, he displays an inventiveness that has established him among the elite musicians playing this evocative instrument, made famous by the collaborations between Pandit Ravi Shankar and Yehudi Menuhin.

Accompanying Purbayan is Pandit Kumar Bose, who played with Pandit Ravi Shankar during the seventies and also worked with orchestral compositions conducted by Yehudi Menuhin. Today, he is one of the world’s most sought after tabla players.

Tickets £15

Box Office08700 [email protected]

Address: Stoke d’AbernonCobham, Surrey KT11 3QQ

Purbayan ChatterjeeSitar Pandit Kumar BoseTabla

Tuesday 7th April 20098.00pm

The Yehudi Mehunin HallCobham, Surrey

Pandit Kumar Bose

Purbayan Chatterjee


Every year artists taking part in the Darbar Festival take part in the Darbar Shivir where they teach UK based musicians to the highest level.

The Shivir residential retreat is an intense learning experience for the most promising UK based musicians and teachers.

During the Shivir, maestros from the 2009 Festival will be teaching a unique oral musical heritage that has been passed down through many generations of musical families.

Potential applicants will be assessed before they are accepted.

Ustad Shahid Parvez who led the Sitar Shivir in 2007 said: “Shivir’s are much more than summer schools or workshops. They provide a greater capacity for teaching. I can teach a whole piece which will be with them for their whole life.”

Debipriya Das, from the Tarang group of young musicians, said the experience “has been awesome. All the students are of a very high standard, and this has created a challenging atmosphere of learning.”

ShivirA call to musicians... ...and aspiring musicians

Darbar Shivir

6 – 8 April 2009Yehudi Menuhin SchoolCobham, Surrey

To fully benefit from the Shivir, potential applicants are encouraged to attend the retreat as a residential student.

Teachers and disciplines:• Pandit Kumar Bose – Tabla• Tejendra Majumdar - Sarod• Subhankar Banerjee - Tabla• Purbayan Chatterjee – Sitar • Ashwini Bhide – Vocal• Shashank Subramanium – Carnatic Flute

If you are interested to find out more please email Darbar’s Artistic Director, Sandeep Virdee on [email protected]


Darbar InternationalSouth AsianMusic Festival 2009

Birmingham Niskham Centre

Jesse Bannister1st April

Darbar & Sampadwww.birminghamboxoffice.com

London Southbank CentreDarbar 3-day Festival3rd-5th April www.southbankcentre.co.uk

Nottingham New Art ExchangeRupak Kulkarni1st AprilDarbar & New Art Exchange01159 248 630

Harrow Harrow SchoolTamil Concert29th MarchDarbar & Ratnam Foundation 07956 541 844

GatesheadThe Sage Rahul Sharma

Ganesh & Kumaresh1st April

Darbar & Gem Artswww.thesagegateshead.org

Leicester CurveDarbar 2-day Festival11-12th April 2009www.curveonline.co.uk

CobhamYehudi Menuhin Hall

Purbayan Chatterjee/Kumar Bose7th April

Darbar08700 842 020

CobhamYehudi Menuhin SchoolDarbar Shivir Music Retreat

6-8th [email protected]

LondonBharatiya Vidya Bhavan

Aruna Sairam workshops30th March – 2nd April

Darbar & Vani Fine Arts020 7386 0924

LondonBharatiya Vidya Bhavan

Anuradha Pal 29th March

Darbar, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan & Chakardar

020 7386 0924

KeyDarbar FestivalWorkshopOther events

Dewsbury Town Hall Aruna Sairam28th MarchDarbar, Kala Sangam & Manasamitra01924 324 501


Don’t miss a beat...To receive information about Darbar events register on www.darbar.org.uk


Funders

The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust

Sponsors

Media Partners

PhotographersArnhel De SerraJonathan WorthJames NaderJulian Dyson Kajal Nisha Patel KalapremiRajen MistrySandeep VirdeeSense World Music

Partners

Special Thanks

Darbar Arts Culture Heritage Trust is a charity that relies on the support, goodwill and generosity of many funding bodies, organisations, companies and individuals.

Without their continued support the quality and diversity of the Darbar Festival would not be possible. The Darbar team would like to pay a special thanks for their contributions:

Ratnam Foundation


ContactDarbar Arts Culture Heritage264-266 Leicester RoadLeicesterLE18 1HQ

Telephone+44 (0) 1162 987 387

Fax+44 (0) 1162 987 487

[email protected]

Websitewww.darbar.org.uk

FacebookDarbar Arts Culture Heritage

YouTubewww.youtube.com/darbarfestival

Flickrwww.flickr.com/photos/darbar

To receive information about Darbar events register on www.darbar.org.uk

Christoph BracherDebipriya DasDharam VariaDharambir SinghDharmesh ParmarGunwant KaurHarmeet Singh VirdeeKishor RavatManjit Rasiya

Manorama PrasadParminder ChadhaPrantik GuptaPritpal NijjarPriya PrakashRandeep LallRanjana GhatakSuzana Serbic

Supporters & Volunteers


If you wish to become involved in the work of Darbar, email [email protected]

Book 3-5 sessions in a single transaction

Book 6-8 sessions in a single transaction

Book all 9 sessions in a single transaction to buy the Festival pass

Up to 6th March

Saving 20%

Saving 25%

Saving 40% so that a Festival pass costs £99!

From 7th March

Saving 10%

Saving 13%

Saving 24% so that a Festival pass costs £125

4 separate transactions from 7th March

A single transaction from 7th March

A single transaction up to 6th March

1 x £25 plus 3 x £15

Saving 10%

Saving 20%

£70

£63

£56

Book More, Book Early, Pay Less – Festival Pass £99!Make big savings by booking early to obtain early bird discounts and booking multiple sessions in a single transaction. Book all 9 sessions (Festival pass) before 6th March and see all 18 events for just £99! – a massive saving of 40% off the full price of £165.

Booking InformationDarbar Festival – Purcell Room, Southbank Centre3rd to 5th April 2009

Friday 3rd April

Session 1 10am – 1.30pm

Session 2 2.30pm – 5.30pm


Harmeet Virdee (sitar) Rahul Sharma (santoor)

Audience with Somjit Das GuptaJesse Bannister (saxophone)

Somjit Das Gupta (rabaab)Aruna Sairam (carnatic vocal)

£15

£15

£25

£12

£12

£20

Saturday 4th April




UK artists carnatic performanceAshwini Bhide (khayal vocal)

Audience with Shashank SubramaniumGanesh & Kumaresh (carnatic violin)

Wasifuddin Dagar (dhrupad vocal)Pandit Tejendra Majumdar (sarod)

£15

£15

£25

£12

£12

£20

Sunday 5th April




Dr Vijay Rajput (khayal vocal)Purbayan & Shashank (sitar & carnatic flute)

Audience with Wasifuddin DagarRupak Kulkarni (flute)

Aniruddha Bhattacharya (khayal vocal)Pandit Kumar Bose (tabla solo)

£15

£15

£25

£12

£12

£20

From 7th March

Up to 6th March – Early Bird Prices

Cost of 9 sessions if each session is booked as a separate transaction £165 £132

Booking the 4 sessions (3, 4, 5 & 7) with carnatic artists This booking can be made in 3 ways.


Disclaimer: Information in this brochure is correct at the time of going to print. Darbar cannot be held responsible for unforeseen circumstances that may result in changes to published programme.

Booking tickets for Southbank concerts

Online: www.southbankcentre.co.uk/darbar

By Phone: 0871 663 2500 (9am - 8pm each day)

In Person: Royal Festival Hall Box Office, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XX

How do I get to Southbank Centre?

By Tube:Embankment or Waterloo stations.

By Rail:Waterloo, Waterloo East or Charing Cross.

By Bus:Bus numbers 1, 4, 59, 68, 75, 139, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 243, 341, 521, RV1 X68 stop on Waterloo Bridge.

Car:SatNav postcode: SE1 8XX. Access to Southbank Centre car parks is from Belvedere Road. Open from 7am to 1am.

Go for a Gold Festival Pass!

An exclusive offer for music fans and connoisseurs. For £2501 you get:

• Premier seats in the front 3 rows with artists and VIP guests throughout the Festival.

• An invite to the Pre-Festival dinner with the artists and opening of the Darbar Photographic exhibition on 2nd April 2009.

• An Indian dinner with the artists on Friday and Saturday night after the concerts at a Five-Star hotel.

• Two photographs taken by a professional photographer with artists of your choice from this year’s Festival.

• A signed copy of the newly published book on Indian Classical Music by the 10 artists who are featured in the book and attending this year’s Festival.

Please note that the Gold Pass can only be booked by phone.

1. £250 if you book before 6th March 2009. The price price after 7th March 2009 is £300.


darbar international south asian music festival€œa place where everyone expects and gets the...

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