Description:

When two musical giants accomplished in their own right come together, something magical can be expected. So it is when Pandit Shubhendra Rao and Saskia Rao-de Haas play together their worldrenowned collaboration ?East Marries West?. The couple?s music is hailed as a new musical language that is both avant-garde and traditional at once with an effect that conjures a symphony orchestra. The Edinburgh Press writes, ?Together, they form an intriguing duo. A work of outstanding originality? Being and becoming meet in sound and gesture?. New York Times has described their composition ?Yathra? as ?movingly meditative?. Together, Shubhendra and Saskia carry Indian music towards new horizons with their strong belief in the unifying power of music. On stage, their effortless musical communication and improvisation is a joyful experience. Listeners are spellbound by the virtuosity of the duo as well as the energy and freshness that they bring to their performance. Internationally, Shubhendra and Saskia have performed their program ?East Marries West? at prestigious concert halls, jazz festivals and open-air festivals such as The John F. Kennedy Centre for Performing Arts in Washington DC, Edinburgh Festivals in Scotland, The National Arts Festival in South Africa, Esplanade in Singapore, the Tropical Institute in Amsterdam, Fajr International Music Festival in Tehran, Musee Guimet in Paris. In India, they are invited regularly to perform at prominent music festivals such as Legends of India, Doverlane Music Conference in Kolkata, Baba Harivallabh Sangeet Mahasabha in Jalandhar, Saptak Festival in Ahmedabad, Vasanta Habba in Bangalore, Mysore Dusshera Festival amongst others. Gateway Magazine describes Pandit Shubhendra Rao as ?a musical bridge to many cultures.? A prot?g? of legendary Maestro Ravi Shankar, Shubhendra is an unmatched master at his instrument whose playing reminds the listener of the masters of yore transformed into today?s era. The Press d