Raga Unison at Edinburgh: Wind, Drums and Strings | Double Bill Concert
- #Edinburgh
- #In-Person
- NOV 16, 2025
- Sunday
- 5:30 PM
- 2 hours, 30 minutes
- Assembly Rooms
- Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Event Summary
Performing Artists
Performing Artists
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Ajay Prasanna -
Debasis Chakroborty -
Shahbaz Hussain -
Giuliano Modarelli -
R. N. Prakash
Event Details
Pandit Ajay Prasanna is a widely acclaimed international flautist from a distinguished musical family. He has been nominated for the Grammy 3 times. He carries the legacy of his father, Pandit Bholanath Prasanna, who was one of the best flautists India has ever produced. His disciples include Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia. In this uniquely themed concert, Pt. Ajay Prasanna will be playing with Tabla maestro Shahbaz Hussain. A renowned and accomplished tabla virtuoso, Shahbaz is considered one of Europe's finest players, known for his dynamic and intricate performances in Indian classical music and fusion projects.
Giuliano Modarelli is a UK-based guitarist, composer, and producer. In this very unique theme, he is joining the stage with visiting artist Pandit Debasis Chakroborty. Giuliano is a master of his craft and has performed at top festivals and with many famous artists, including tabla player Bikram Ghosh. And Debasis Chakroborty is a student of the great Pandit Brij Bhushan Kabra, who invented the Indian Slide Guitar. He was trained by several other masters of the Senia-Maihar Gharana at different times while mastering his craft, including Pandit Barun Kumar Pal and Pandit Jotin Bhattacharya. He has practised in the Senia-Maihar Gharana tradition of music for decades, and his style of playing combines both Gayaki and Tantrakari Angs. Their strings, accompanied by Indian drums, will transport us to a different world.
This is a uniquely themed evening by KalaSudha for South Asian music lovers in Edinburgh. This isn't just a concert, it's a chance for our community to experience the oldest form of music tradition, performed by the best of their Gharana legacy. Bring friends, make an evening of it, and add another memorable night to our rich local culture.
Doors open at 5:00 PM, with music starting promptly at 5:30 PM.
Audience Policy:
- Unauthorised filming or photography is not permitted.
- The use of mobile phones (including texting and silent mode) is not allowed during the event. We kindly ask for your cooperation. Thank you!
Learning to play tabla with different gharanas and styles made me a more musically awakened soul, gave an immense depth and enriched my tabla playing.
Venue information
Event Highlights & Gallery
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Video Performances
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Attendee reviews
Ratings describe the event experience.
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Event Attendee
Event experience 5/5
I'm really grateful to come here and see this performance in Edinburgh. This is happening. This is amazing. And I would like to get more and more such events in Edinburgh so that I can be a witness for this memorable evening. So thank you, KalaSudha, for having me, having such a great evening here in Edinburgh.
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Event Attendee
Event experience 5/5
It was an amazing experience. This was the best Indian music show which I have attended in UK so far. I've been to quite a few in Glasgow and in London, but nothing has moved me the way these guys moved today. What was more intriguing was the Miami guitar, which was being played in an Indian raga, and the guy who played the guitar with him, and he was playing Indian ragas on the guitar. That was mind-blowing. I've never heard anything like that. The second section was even amazing. The flute player, Mr Praveen. Hats off to that guy. I was like, When I see him, I'll touch his feet. That's how amazing he was. So whoever who is not here, be there whenever you see next post from Kallasuda and be there to experience the magical experience of Indian classical music and how it moves you. Because it moved me, it moved us. It's an amazing experience. Thanks. Thank you for bringing this to us.
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Event Attendee
Event experience 5/5
It's surreal experience, very good performance, very good artist.First session, second session was truly magical.The music was really, really something which was out of this world. Especially the fusion and the jugalbandis that the artist had between them were really great and it took us into a different dimension altogether.Those who have not watched this program earlier, I would definitely recommend to go ahead and watch it when you get a chance. Thank you very much for this experience, it was wonderful.
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Event Attendee
Event experience 5/5
It was absolutely amazing to see a range of performances and just the improvised nature, you know, it's amazing to see how they jam together, so yeah, fantastic evening.
Showing 3 of 4 reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I hear live Indian classical music in Edinburgh, where has KalaSudha presented concerts there, and how do I hear about the next Edinburgh date?
KalaSudha has presented Indian classical music in Edinburgh at the Assembly Rooms on George Street, in a double bill of bansuri (bamboo flute) with tabla and Indian slide guitar with guitar. The Georgian building dates from 1787. For the line-up, see who played at Raga Unison in Edinburgh.
To hear about the next Edinburgh date, press Register for updates on the KalaSudha Edinburgh page or join the KalaSudha newsletter.
Who is the flautist Pandit Ajay Prasanna, and what is his musical lineage?
Pandit Ajay Prasanna is a flute player from a musical family. He carries forward the legacy of his father, Bholanath Prasanna, a flute master whose students include Hariprasad Chaurasia. He plays in the style of the Banaras gharana. He has performed across India and abroad, including at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London and at festivals in Asia and Europe. His honours include Grammy nominations, the Global Indian Music Award for his album Cinema, the Sangeet Ratna Award and the Surmani Award.
Who is the Indian slide guitarist Pandit Debasis Chakroborty, the senior-most disciple of Pandit Brij Bhushan Kabra?
Pandit Debasis Chakroborty is a Hindustani slide guitarist and the senior-most disciple of Pandit Brij Bhushan Kabra, and his playing reflects Kabra's style. His name is also written Debasis Chakraborty. He plays in the Senia-Maihar gharana and has taught since 1992.
He has been part of the Department of Performing Arts at Mangalayatan University since its inception, and returns to universities in Australia and the USA as a conductor-performer and artist-in-residence. He helped carry out a joint music research project between Mangalayatan University and Monash University, and has published 10 research papers.
What is a bansuri, how is it made, and how is it played?
A bansuri is a transverse flute cut from a single length of seasoned bamboo. It has no keys and no moving parts, only six finger holes, or seven in Pannalal Ghosh's style. The maker burns or drills the blow hole and the finger holes. The player controls pitch through the lips at the blow hole, breath pressure and half-holing, covering a finger hole in part, which gives the slides and bends of a raga. Until the 1940s it was not thought a concert instrument; Pannalal Ghosh made a larger bansuri for the classical stage.
What is the Senia-Maihar gharana, who founded it, and which KalaSudha artist plays in it?
The Senia-Maihar gharana is the sarod lineage that Allauddin Khan founded at Maihar, a former princely state, in the early 20th century. Most sources treat it and the Maihar gharana as one school spanning several instruments. "Senia" names the Tansen line, which Allauddin Khan joined as a disciple of Wazir Khan of Rampur. He brought a dhrupad approach to the sarod, sitar, violin and bansuri. Among KalaSudha's artists, Pandit Debasis Chakroborty plays in the gharana.
Have more questions? Contact our support team and we'll be happy to help!