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Featuring Tenzin Choegyal, Sangeet Mishra and Shen Flindell, three talented artists from Tibetan and Indian traditions, Raga Shambhala takes the audience on a musical journey to the Himalayas and beyond.
The concert opens with the divine sounds of sarangi in the hands of 8th generation master Sangeet Mishra accompanied by leading Australian tabla player Shen Flindell, as they perform a selection of classical Indian ragas.
They are joined by Tibetan performer Tenzin Choegyal in an evocative blend of nomadic song and Indian rhythm. While his mastery of traditional Tibetan instruments is well known, Tenzin’s principal instrument is his voice which is memorable in its poignancy and intensity.
As each performer draws on age-old musical traditions, audiences sense the rich spiritual heritage of India and the vastness of the Tibetan plateau in the music they create, bridging the Himalayas in fine style.
Tenzin Choegyal is a Tibetan artist, composer, activist and cultural ambassador. Forced into exile in India as his family fled Chinese repression in Tibet, Tenzin feels a particular connection to the music of the wandering people of his homeland and continues to perform droklu, the nomad music of his parents. Tenzin is a master of the lingbu (bamboo flute), the Tibetan nomad’s instrument of choice and the dranyen (three-stringed lute) and is well-known for his extraordinary vocal ability. His cantering rhythms, soaring vocals and exquisite flute solos have enchanted audiences around the globe including several Concerts for Tibet House at Carnegie Hall, New York. A keen collaborator Tenzin enjoys experimenting with various genres such as orchestral works, electronic compositions and indigenous music from various traditions, resulting in many innovative and evocative performances.
Sangeet Mishra is a capable exponent of Indian classical music in the Benaras tradition. He first learned sarangi from his father Pandit Santosh Mishra and received advanced training from his paternal and maternal grandfathers Maestro Bhagwan Das and Maestro Narayan Das Mishra. Presently based in Mumbai, Sangeet maintains a busy schedule as a professional musician having performed on numerous musical platforms both in India and overseas. Sangeet successfully employs a contemporary approach to playing sarangi without compromising its traditional purity and is at ease playing styles ranging from pure classical Indian to modern contemporary music. A highly versatile performer, Sangeet has collaborated worldwide with musicians from various genres and styles to create a new musical language.
First initiated into the Benares Gharana of tabla by one of the great old masters of the style in 1994, Shen Flindell has become one of Australia’s leading tabla players. He is the accompanist of choice for numerous Indian classical artists and performs in several fusion groups including Tibet2Timbuk2 and Spirit of Bhakti. Shen is best known for his beautiful sound and supportive accompaniment and has released 6 albums ranging from Indian classical bansuri to Tibetan world fusion. Shen loves bringing people together through music, whether playing with his many young students or collaborating with top musicians from around the world.
Join us for light refreshments after the performance.
