London: DARBAR Festival 2010 (25th March – 11th April)

As in 2008 and 2009, every Easter the UK Festival DARBAR gives music lovers the opportunity to experience some of the finest Indian classical music in the world and explore the diversity of music from across the sub-continent. In 2010 there are more than 40 events.

Presenting music throughout the day, the Festival features a rich mix of international maestros, UK artists and new talent performing in Britain for the first time. There are also films, talks with the artists and free workshops for children. Premiere has Encounter, an innovative composition bringing together Indian and Western classical vocal traditions.

2010 sees the Festival at its new home, the Kings Place, London’s spectacular new creative centre with an oak panelled auditorium, state-of-the-art acoustic technology and a waterside restaurant – all within a few minutes of Kings Cross station. Savings can be made with discounted Early Bird prices and a Festival Pass.

Elsewhere in London, there are musical evenings at St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace (5-7 March), and music and a photographic exhibition at the Nehru Centre (25-31 March). Darbar also partners with the Southbank Centre to present the Alchemy Festival (8-11 April) of contemporary music, dance and other art forms from South Asia.

Outide of London, the Darbar is present in Gateshead, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Birmingham, Leicester, Milton Keynes and Cobham.

1st day: Thu Mar 25

	Darbar Photographic Exhibition A photographic exhibition of the Darbar Festival. 6:00 pm to 1:00 pm, Nehru Centre – London read more…
	Sitar recital A recital by one of UK’s most prominent North Indian classical musicians. 6:45 pm to 8:45 pm, Nehru Centre – London read more…

2nd day: Thu Apr 1

Session 1: Encounter – Patricia Rozario and Veena Sahasrabuddhe A premiere of unique performance bringing together Western Operatic and Indian Classical singers 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm, Kings Place (Hall 1) – London read more…

3rd day: Fri Apr 2

	Session 2: Carnatic Veena and Sarangi Double Bill: Hari Sivanesan on veena followed Murad Ali on sarangi 1:45 pm to 5:00 pm, Kings Place (Hall 1) – London read more…
	Tabla Solo by Satyajit Talwalkar A musical treat for percussion fans from an emerging tabla master. 5:20 pm to 6:00 pm, Kings Place (Hall 2) – London read more…
	Tuning Into Indian Music A free event exploring the ancient system of tuning in Indian music 5:20 pm to 6:00 pm, Kings Place (St Prancas Room) – London read more…
	Session 3: Double concert – Sunil Kant Gupta, then Ranjani and Gayatri Flute recital by Sunil Kant Gupta followed by carnatic vocal concert by Ranjani & Gayatri 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm, Kings Place (Hall 1) – London read more…
	Film: Ramchand Pakistani A fictionalised account of real-life story of family caught up in the tensions between India and Pakistan 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm, Kings Place (Hall 2) – London read more…

4th day: Sat Apr 3

	Session 4: Hindustani Khayal with Veena Sahasrabuddhe Serene morning ragas from an outstanding classical singer 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, Kings Place (Hall 1) – London read more…
	Children’s Music Workshop 1 Free workshops in Indian classical instruments. Suitable for 9-14 year olds. 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm, Kings Place (St Prancas Room) – London read more…
	Session 5: Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma…In Conversataion and a sitar recital Double bill of the santoor maestro in discussion followed by Kushal Das on sitar 1:45 pm to 5:00 pm, Kings Place (Hall 1) – London read more…
	Exploring the Tanpura A musical discussion exploring the instrument that is the backbone of Indian classical music 5:20 pm to 6:00 pm, Kings Place (Hall 2) – London read more…
	Session 6: North-South Indian Percussion / Dhrupad with the Gundecha Brothers Double concert extraordinary percussion followed by evocative Dhrupad singing 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm, Kings Place (Hall 1) – London read more…
	Film: Lovesongs – Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow Jaya Bachchan & Om Puri in a film by novelist Jayabrato Chatterjee 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm, Kings Place (Hall 2) – London read more…

5th day: Sun Apr 4

	Session 7: Veena as you’ve never heard it before! Rajhesh Vaidhya: Carnatic Veena with a Difference 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, Kings Place (Hall 1) – London read more…
	Children’s Music Workshop 2 Free workshops in Indian classical music instruments. Suitable for 9 to 14 year olds. 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm, Kings Place (St Prancas Room) – London read more…
	Session 8: An Audience with Ranjani and Gayatri / Khayal Recital Double bill of a talk with Ranjani & Gayatri, followed by a Venkatesh Kumar 1:45 pm to 5:00 pm, Kings Place (Hall 1) – London read more…
	Exploring the Kanjira Find out about the rhythmic patterns of the deceptively simple south Indian Kanjira5:20 pm to 6:00 pm, Kings Place (Hall 2) – London read more…
	Session 9: Soumik Datta and Pandit Shiv Kumar Double concert of a sarod recital followed by santoor by Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm, Kings Place (Hall 1) – London read more…
	Film: Zubeidaa Drama about a concealed life of a mother by celebrated director, Shyam Benegal 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm, Kings Place (Hall 2) – London read more…

6th day: Tue Apr 6

Flute recital by Sunil Kant Gupta A rare opportunity to hear a bansuri recital without amplification 7:45 pm to 9:15 pm, Yehudi Menuhin Hall – Cobham, Surrey read more…

7th day: Fri Apr 9

Santoor Concert by Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma Double concert: Sitar by Roopa Panesar followed by Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm, Birmingham Town Hall read more…

8th day: Sat Apr 10

	Santoor Concert by Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma A rare opportunity to rare the santoor maestro in an intimate setting 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm, Sage Gateshead read more…
	Sitar recital by Roopa Panesar Evening ragas on India’s most iconic of instruments 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm, New Art Exchange – Nottingham read more…

9th day: Sun Apr 11

Santoor Recital by Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma Double concert: Hindustani Vocal followed by a Santoor performance 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm, Curve Theatre – Leicester read more…

(Source: 03/2010 – Darbar Festival – www.darbar.org.uk)