Raga Unison at Southampton: Wind, Drums and Strings | Double Bill Concert
- #Southampton
- #In-Person
- NOV 14, 2025
- Friday
- 7:00 PM
- 2 hours, 30 minutes
- Turner Sims Southampton
- Southampton, United Kingdom
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Event Summary
Performing Artists
Performing Artists
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Ajay Prasanna -
Kousic Sen -
Giuliano Modarelli -
Debasis Chakroborty -
R. N. Prakash
Event Details
Pandit Ajay Prasanna is a widely acclaimed international flautist from a distinguished musical family. He carries the legacy of his father, Pandit Bholanath Prasanna, who was one of the best flutists 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, Kousic Sen. Born into a musical family in Calcutta, Kousic trained under great masters of the Banaras Gharana and has become one of the foremost tabla players of his generation. Known for his intense and energetic performances, he has performed across the world with leading musicians, bringing a powerful new dimension to traditional concerts.
With these two legends, we will also have RN Prakash, a versatile South Indian percussion player. His instruments will bring a different flavour to the evening, where these ancient traditions of music, their craft, and their sound meet at our iconic concert hall, Turner Sims.
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 all the top festivals, as well as 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 Southampton. 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.
Creating music is an immensely satisfying business; teaching students enables them to preserve the nuances of classical music for the future.
Venue information
Attendee reviews
Ratings describe the event experience.
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Event Attendee
Event experience 5/5
So being a student here at Southampton, when I first heard of the event I was absolutely so grateful because most of the events are always out of reach in London or various areas but the fact that this was on the campus was absolutely amazing. The Raag that we listened to today and what we witnessed was absolutely out of this world and I'm so grateful to the organisers and it's been an amazing overall experience and we've had a chance to even speak to the Artist so yeah its really Grateful & mindblowing.
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Event Attendee
Event experience 5/5
We are residents of Southampton and on Facebook we saw that KalaSudha go up for a performance at Turner University. My daughter is also a student here and we just could not ignore this chance to attend it. Can I just say, the overall experience and the atmosphere was absolutely outstanding. Some of the artists that you viewed were absolutely out of this world. I mean, I've seen so many other programs.
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Event Attendee
Event experience 5/5
For me, it was memory and I went back to my childhood days because I am from India and especially from West Bengal. So I was fond of classical music and dance since my childhood and after so many years, I witnessed such kind of vibrant programs. So I'm really, really proud and I just loved it. I enjoyed it a lot. Thank you so much.
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Event Attendee
Event experience 5/5
I really enjoyed it. I think the second half was so lively and I think that made it special for me was the expressions of the performers and the joy in which they were actually singing and almost bouncing off each other. So that was really good to see. It wasn't just let's perform and get out of here. They were really, really enjoying it. I think that's what made it special for me.
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Event Attendee
Event experience 5/5
Well I found that music absolutely joyful, really it was an incredible experience and it seemed to work on another level. My heart rate has gone down and you feel it quite physically. It was a wonderful experience. I've heard music like it before, that's why we came back. Enjoyed it.
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Event Attendee
Event experience 5/5
Well, I found it on Facebook and it was a pretty cool experience. Amazing musicians, they play with their soul and they give everything to it. I really enjoyed it.
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Event Attendee
Event experience 5/5
We are so privileged to have this wonderful artist in our city. I really loved it.
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Event Attendee
Event experience 5/5
Absolutely fantastic. It's the greatest thing in the classical music. Anyone can see. If you get a chance to see it, just see it.
Showing 3 of 8 reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does KalaSudha present live Indian classical music in Southampton, and who has played there?
KalaSudha presents Indian classical music in Southampton and lists each concert on KalaSudha in Southampton. KalaSudha has presented Raga Unison at Southampton: Wind, Drums and Strings, a double-bill concert at Turner Sims Southampton, a concert hall. It brought the flautist Pandit Ajay Prasanna, the tabla player Kousic Sen, the ghatam and South Indian percussion player R. N. Prakash, and the guitarist Giuliano Modarelli.
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 tabla player Kousic Sen, and where did he train?
Kousic Sen is a tabla player, born into a musical family in Calcutta and trained by masters of the Banaras gharana. He plays in classical concerts, accompanies dance and works in cross-cultural collaborations. He has been an Artist in Residence with Milapfest in Liverpool and has toured the USA, Canada, Europe and Asia.
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 Benares (Banaras) gharana of tabla, who founded it, and what does it sound like?
The Benares gharana is a school of tabla playing named after Benares (Varanasi), where Ram Sahai founded it in the late 18th or 19th century. Gharana accounts say he studied in Lucknow, so the school descends from the Lucknow tabla gharana. Its sound is powerful and open, built on resonant strokes such as na and din, and its players favour full-hand strokes. Lineage accounts say Ram Sahai wanted a style that could carry a solo and accompany singing, instrumental music and Kathak. Kousic Sen trained with masters of the gharana.
Have more questions? Contact our support team and we'll be happy to help!