London Ragas Fusion: Flute, Piano, Tabla & Ghatam in Dialogue
- #London
- #In-Person
- NOV 15, 2025
- Saturday
- 7:30 PM
- 2 hours
- The Duke's Hall
- London, United Kingdom
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Event Summary
Performing Artists
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.
Performing Artists
-
Ajay Prasanna -
Rekesh Chauhan -
Shahbaz Hussain -
R. N. Prakash -
Giuliano Modarelli
Event Details
This November, London welcomes a truly special evening of Indian Classical Music at Duke Hall, Royal Academy of Music. On 15th November, London Ragas Fusion brings together four celebrated maestros, each carrying a world of tradition and innovation in their art.
At the heart of the performance is Pandit Ajay Prasanna, three-time Grammy-nominated flautist and one of India’s leading bansuri exponents. His music carries both lyrical serenity and creative brilliance, a sound that has travelled across continents and genres. Alongside him is 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.
They are joined by pianist Rekesh Chauhan, an award-winning pianist renowned for seamlessly blending Indian Classical Music with Western instruments, and RN Prakash, a master of the South Indian Ghatam whose earthy, clay-pot rhythms bring texture and vitality to the ensemble. Together, these four artists create a confluence of sound where North and South India meet, and East and West flow into harmony.
But this evening is more than music; it is also an invitation to pause, reflect, and experience the healing resonance of sound. For centuries, Indian classical traditions have regarded music as a form of meditation, a means of restoring balance within ourselves and within our communities. In today’s world, these timeless practices remind us of the profound connection between music, mental health, mindfulness, and emotional well-being.
As the bansuri breathes, the piano sings, the tabla speaks, and the ghatam pulses, the hall will transform into a sanctuary of rhythm and melody. Whether you are a long-time listener of Indian classical music or discovering it for the first time, this evening offers not just performance but renewal—a chance to feel uplifted, connected, and restored through the universal language of music.
Doors open at 7:00 PM, with music starting promptly at 7:30 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!
Venue information
The Duke's Hall
Royal Academy of Music, 1–5 York Gate, Marylebone Rd, London, NW1 5HT
Event Highlights & Gallery
Relive the magic - watch videos and browse photos from this event
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I hear live Indian classical music in London, and which venues does KalaSudha use?
You can hear Hindustani (North Indian) classical music live in London at London Ragas, KalaSudha's monthly baithak. At a baithak the audience sits close to the musicians. London Ragas can take place at different venues across London, and KalaSudha plans to add more baithaks in other parts of London. KalaSudha is based in London, so every concert tour it organises also plays London once.
KalaSudha is also launching a streaming player on its own platform soon, with live concerts and edited recordings of past concerts in up to 4K. See how to book tickets for a London concert and how to get to the venues.
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 Rekesh Chauhan, and what is he known for?
Rekesh Chauhan is a British pianist who blends eastern and western styles. He won the NIAA Young Musician of the Year in 2018 and the Eastern Electronica Prize. He received the British Empire Medal in the 2023 King's Birthday Honours for his music and his work for mental health in the British Asian community. His debut album, Beyond Roots, came out with Milapfest in 2015. With KalaSudha he has worked with Pandit Ajay Prasanna and Ustad Shahbaz Hussain.
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 or eight finger holes. 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.
Have more questions? Contact our support team and we'll be happy to help!