Darbar Festival, one of world's largest festival of Indian classical music, outside India, returned to the Barbican centre in London from 24-27 October, with a magical mix of emerging and young talent with master performers making their UK debuts.
On Saturday 26 October, Amaan Ali Bangash on his first UK solo debut performance on sarod and Pt Anubrata Chatterjee on tabla kickstarted the much-anticipated evening concert, in a packed auditorium. In the audience was celebrated sitarist Anoushka Shankar’s mother Sukanya Rajan.
While Amaan mesmerised the audience with some excellent compilations of ragas by his father, Sarod Maestro Ustaad Amjad Ali Khan, the start was rather slow-paced and long. But with time, the compilations became quick, magical and the two artists on stage complimented each other’s performances with utmost grace.
Belonging to the seventh generation in an unbroken chain of Senia Bangash School of Music lineage, Amaan Ali Bangash has showcased the sarod as one of India’s foremost Indian classical instruments and traditions.
Dr L Subramaniam and Ambi Subramaniam took the audience by awe. After a short break, in the second half, India’s foremost violinist, composer and conductor Dr L Subramaniam made his Darbar Festival debut with his son Ambi and champions of contemporary Carnatic percussion.
Dr Subramaniam has composed for and conducted major orchestras, scored for films and collaborated with a diverse range of musicians across genres including jazz, occidental, and north Indian duets.
As the father and son started their performances accompanied by mridangam, matka and tabla, Dr Subraniam explained the mathematical process behind his composition. But as both went along, it was almost a conversation through music, beautifully flattering each other’s recitals. The audience gave a standing ovation as they finished.
Also, part of the lecture demonstrations, Dr L Subramaniam unveiled the secrets behind his groundbreaking compositions in East West Composition Unwrapped on 27 October.
Darbar and future musicians
Launched 19 years ago, Darbar Festival continues to present the finest international and UK Indian classical musicians.
Darbar Arts Culture and Heritage Trust Artistic Director, Sandeep Virdee OBE said, “Indian classical music is often misunderstood as an obscure art form that distances the audience. Far from it. With a vast repertoire of music styles and subgenres depending on your emotional state, it has the power to stir, thrill and inspire the soul. We are delighted to showcase the world’s finest proponents of this magical artform and welcome audiences from richly diverse backgrounds near and far.”
Darbar has recently found a new home in Hayes, which will be base for many upcoming musicians and talents along with the masters. To support this initiative and the future artists, support/donation is requested via https://www.darbar.org/donate.
Highlights from the Darbar Festival
Over the weekend, on Friday 25 October, India’s finest tabla legend, Pandit Anindo Chatterjee, shares his unique blend of technical excellence, innovation, collaborative spirit and pedagogical contributions in a technically dazzling and emotionally moving performance. He was joined by his son Anubrata Chatterjee for this turbo-charged tabla duet.
On Saturday 26 October, Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande, India’s foremost female vocalist, lead audiences through the emotive landscapes of midnight ragas. Sitarist Pandit Kushal Das returned to Darbar Festival in this magical double that immersed audiences in the raga, as it unfolded from super slow to contemplative improvisation and ferocious rhythmic crescendos.
Jayanthi Kumaresh, a world-class virtuoso of the Saraswati veena hosted a captivating lecture demonstration that shared her expertise, insights and passion for the veena, offering audiences a rare opportunity to experience the rich tradition and soul-stirring ragas of this ancient art form first-hand.
Carnatic vocalist, Aruna Sairam, brought her vast repertoire of raga knowledge and spiritual lyrics to Darbar on 27 October.
In addition, Darbar Festival offered several family-friendly events and pop-up markets along with the ever-popular Indian Music Appreciation Course on 19 October is the ultimate guide to raga and tala music for those new to Indian classical music.
