Utsav

A unique evening of Indian contemporary music. In a special touring performance, one of the greatest classical music voices of India, Aruna Sairam collaborates with leading British Indian composer Soumik Datta to explore the connections between Carnatic and Western musical traditions.

The Story

Leading on his signature instrument, the Sarod (19 stringed fretless lute), Soumik weaves an intriguing, global soundscape around Sairam’s majestic voice to evoke a haunting and sensory world. Aruna and Soumik will be accompanied by a team of virtuoso improvisers: Pirashanna Thevarajah on kanjira, mridangam and morsing, Cormac Byrne on bodhrán and percussion, and Al MacSween on piano.

Aruna Sairam
Aruna Sairam’s vocal style is rooted in the Carnatic tradition, yet continues to evolve, notably through collaborations with leading musicians such as Dominique Vellard of France (classical liturgical, medieval, and Gregorian chants); Noureddine Tahiri of Morocco (Arabo-Andalusian music); Christian Bollmann of Germany (neo-classical music); mandolin virtuoso U.Srinivas. She has performed all-over the world, at the Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, Le Theatre de la Ville (Paris), Royce Hall (Los Angeles), the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music (Morocco), and the Music Academy (Chennai).

Soumik Datta
Soumik’s concerts bridge the world of Indian classical and contemporary music. His artistic journey includes collaborations with Nitin Sawhney, Anoushka Shankar, Joss Stone, Akram Khan, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Talvin Singh, Manu Delago, Bernhard Schimpelsberger and Shankar Mahadevan to name a few. He has performed internationally at many prestigious venues including Southbank Centre and Shakespeare’s Globe, with City of London Sinfonia and is in collaboration with Royal Opera House.

TOURING NOW

words + imagery + code © Soumik Datta Arts, 2022