The Indo-American Arts Council, a New York City based non-profit that promotes Indian theater, performing arts, media, fashion, and literature in the United States, will celebrate 75 years of Indian independence this month with three concerts August 13 to 15 at Carnegie Hall featuring top Indian classical and contemporary musicians.
Kaushiki Chakraborty, one of India’s leading classical vocalists, and her Sakhi ensemble are a group of women artists that bring together “voice, instruments, percussion, and dance in a stylistically expansive exploration of womanhood in Indian music and culture.”
The Saath Saath ensemble will showcase the musical partnership between flute maestro Rakesh Chaurasia, sitar maestro Purbayan Chatterjee, and rising tabla star Ojas Adhiya. They also welcome master percussionist Taufiq Qureshi, who incorporates the African djembe and his own breath to accentuate Indian rhythms.
The final “India at 75” event at Carnegie Hall celebrates the “mystery of Indian classical music and a synthesis of musical traditions motivated by Mahatma Gandhi’s message of truth, love, non-violence, and peace.” Sarod grand master Amjad Ali Khan performs a traditional raga with fellow sarod masters Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash, and tabla accompaniment by Ojas Adhiya and Amit Kavthekar. They are joined by the Refugee Orchestra Project for the second half of the concert to “showcase the vitally important role of refugees in the cultural wealth of the United States.”
Together they will perform “Samaagam—Concerto for 3 Sarods”, which concert organizers say “preserves the essence of both Indian and Western traditions through 12 different ragas.”
The India at 75 concerts are made possible with support from the Consulate General of India in New York, and are presented by Indo-American Arts Council in association with Carnegie Hall.