Rhythm and Raga: Radhika Samson and Anantha R. Krishnan in concert

Rhythm and Raga: Radhika Samson and Anantha R. Krishnan in concert

Join us for a special concert of Indian classical music as Radhika Samson and Anantha R. Krishnan take the stage at OPERA America with music featuring the Subahar (bass sitar) and the Mridangam (double-headed drum).

Composer Wang Jie will introduce the concert and Fred Child, host of NPR's Performance Today, will lead an informal Q & A after the performance.

Radhika Samson is a renowned Indian classical musician and dancer, trained under the legendary Hansaveena maestro Pandit Barun Kumar Pal, a senior disciple of Bharat Ratna Pt. Ravi Shankar. A master of the Surbahar (often called the bass sitar), Radhika's performances are infused with the spiritual depth of the Dhrupad ang. She is the founder of Sadhana, an arts academy in New Delhi, and currently serves as faculty at the Chhandayan Centre for Indian Music in New York.

Anantha R. Krishnan, an acclaimed Mridangam artist, is the grandson and disciple of the legendary Vidwan Shri. Palghat R. Raghu. Anantha has won numerous accolades, including the prestigious Best Mridangist Prize from the Music Academy in Madras, five times. He also brings a unique fusion of traditions, having studied tabla with Ustad Zakir Hussain. Anantha is currently on the faculty of KM Music Conservatory in Chennai.

Wang Jie is a versatile and award-winning composer, as well as a student of Indian classical dance and the Mridangam. Fred Child is the host of Performance Today, the most-listened to classical music radio show in the country. He is also the Emmy-winning announcer for Live from Lincoln Center on PBS.

Wang Jie explained to us: Radhika is a renowned artist in the Hindustani tradition, a.k.a the North Indian classical music. Anantha joins us from the Carnatic lineage, meaning the South Indian classical music. It is a rare treat to witness a musical dialouge between these two distinguised artists, who each represent their traditon with authenticity and conviction. For our western ears, it's like putting Vivaldi and Beethoven in the same room and seeing what happens!

We hope you can join us for this musical journey that blends tradition, improvisation, and modern artistry. All ages are welcome!

This concert is sponsored by Citispace NYC, an intimate venue and space for the performing arts in Manhattanville, and Silver Music, a community music school on the UWS. We are excited to share these exceptional artists with you!

Host or Publisher CITISPACE NYC