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
Creating music is an immensely satisfying business; teaching students enables them to preserve the nuances of classical music for the future.
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.
Venue information
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 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.
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!