A carefully crafted invitation to delve into the best of current classical Indian music, this year Darbar engages its sister art form by presenting classical dance as well as music.
Akram Khan MBE has curated the dance element and will be making a rare appearance onstage before his imminent retirement from full-length pieces.
Darbar Festival this year unites the finest exponents of Indian classical dance with established, Indian classical music, both revered musical masters and new talents of the Subcontinent, for which the festival has been synonymous since its 2006 inception. Co-curated by Sandeep Virdee OBE and master dancer, choreographer and Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Akram Khan MBE, the festival will offer an immersive experience for audiences across four days of the finest Indian classical music and dance, marking a first in the history of both genres in the UK.
Thursday 9 November, Sadler’s Wells
The programme will open with a UK Premiere, Akram Khan, Tala and Raga Experience, a triple bill concert. Dance impresario, Khan, will perform a short solo focussing on his kathak tradition, the classical dance form of North India. Patri Satish Kumar, a musician from the great Carnatic tradition, will perform with Triplicane Sekar on the Tavil (the first time this South Asian percussion instrument will be featured in the festival) and Amrit Khanjira on khanjira. Pravin Godkhindi and Supreet Deshpande follow with ragas – one of the key structures of Indian music – on basuri (flute) and tabla, India’s iconic percussion drums.
Friday 10 November, Sadler’s Wells
Ragas, Sarod and Fiery Dance will comprise a triple bill of dynamic new talents, with international star of bharatanatyam, Mythili Prakash, and noted kathak perfomer Dheerandra Tiwari, alongside a music concert by the remarkable Debasmita Bhattacharya on the emotive sarod, joined by Gurdain Rayatt on table.
Friday 10 November, Lilian Baylis Studio
Secret of Midnight Ragas will showcase the inimitable talent of Indrani Mukherjee, one of the finest classical vocalists performing today. In this intimate baithak (traditional floor seated concert), she will perform night-time ragas into the small hours, accompanied by Sanju Sahai on tabla and Milind Kulkarni on the harmonium.
Saturday 11 November, Lilian Baylis Studio
Escape Through Morning Ragas will present Pandit Ram Kumar Mallick and Samit Kumar as they unfold their morning ragas through dhrupad, one of India’s oldest and most evolved art forms, that the Mallick family has evolved over 12 generations of musicians. They will be accompanied by Surdarshan Chana on the jori, a powerful percussion instrument from Punjab.
Afternoon Raga Effect will welcome Arshad Khan, enveloping the audience through afternoon ragas with the esraj, an earthy and soul-stirring string instrument that was revived by the Sikh Gurus and Rabindra Sangeet some 300 years ago. Tabla master, Shabaz Hussain, will accompany.
Benares Rhythm Essentials is a special midnight concert through which stories of the Sikhs’ persecution by Moghul rulers will be evoked by the emerging master, Surdarshan Chana, through the jori and the language of paranth (oral notation). He will be accompanied by Milind Kulkarni on the harmonium.
Saturday 11 November, Sadler’s Wells
Triple bill concert Indian Adventures of Sitar and Dance on will provide a rare chance to see two, internationally acclaimed dance artists, kathak dancer Aditi Mangaldas, and bharatanatyam soloist, Mavin Khoo, who will perform with vocalist OS Arun, and one of India’s most distinctive sitarists of her generation, Shahana Banerjee, with Supreet Deshpande on tabla.
Sunday 12 November, Lilian Baylis Studio
Spirit of Morning Ragas on will welcome in the festival’s final day with Indrani Mukherjee’s honeyed, vocal timbre set to envelop the intimate, baithak concert alongside harmonium maestro, Milind Kulkarni, and table performer, Gurdain Rayatt.
Rhythm Unleashed will showcase the talent of Supreet Deshpande, a musician fast emerging as a rhythmic, tabla genius. In his UK debut, he explores traditional rhythmic patterns as he unravels improvised ragas whilst taking inspiration from the audience, accompanied by Milind Kulkarni.
Something Then, Something Now This solo presents classical bharatanatyam repertoire in a contemporary way, through the talent of Seeta Patel. With stunning light design by Guy Hoare, Patel returns with a developed, full evening work, which previewed at Darbar Festival 2016.
Sunday 12 November, Sadler’s Wells
Double bill concert Nishat Khan and the Soul of Khayal will present Pandit Kaivalyakumar interpreting spiritual evening songs from the North Indian khayal tradition, with Gurdain Rayatt on tabla and Milind Kulkarni on harmonium providing resolute accompaniment. The second session will welcome virtuoso sitar player, Nishat Khan, torchbearer of one of India’s most renowned musical families, performing with tabla maestro, Shahbaz Hussain.
Darbar Festval at Sadler’s Wells will also provide masterclass insights into Indian dance, comprising talks and live, one-to-one coaching: Dance Masterclass: Aditi Mangaldas on Friday 10 November, Ashton Studio; and Dance Masterclass: Mavin Khoo on Sunday 12 November, Ashton Studio will provide live coaching and unique insights into Indian dance from these leading artists; while Talk with Akram Khan on Saturday 11 November, Lilian Baylis Studio will present an in conversation with session not to be missed by fans, dance aficionados and performance arts enthusiasts.
Tickets: £12 – £50 Ticket Office: 020 7863 8000 or www.sadlerswells.com
