On a night that celebrated the seamless blend of Indian classical music and Western orchestration, the Royal Festival Hall in London witnessed a spellbinding performance by Sarod Grand Master Amjad Ali Khan, alongside his virtuoso sons Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash. The sold-out concert saw the trio collaborate with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by the brilliant Lidiya Yankovskaya, in a musical confluence that transcended borders and traditions.
Music, like a river, knows no boundaries. It flows, merges, and unites. This concert was a testament to that ethos, weaving together the delicate intricacies of the Sarod with the grandeur of a Western symphony. At its heart was Samaagam, a concerto composed by Amjad Ali Khan, whose name itself is synonymous with the Sarod.
The word Samaagam finds its roots in Sanskrit, meaning confluence—an apt name for a piece that seamlessly blends two rich musical legacies. Reflecting on this journey, Amjad Ali Khan shared, “Samaagam has been a very memorable journey. The aim was to preserve the essence of both Indian and Western traditions so that they could flow into each other without artistic compromise. Through this process, we joyfully explore the common musical ‘DNA’ of both traditions. It is indeed such a pleasure and honour to perform with the brilliant members of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Maestra Lidiya Yankovskaya is one of the most amazing conductors I have worked with. We have had some truly memorable concerts together, including our performance at the United Nations in 2018 for UN Day. Across cultures and faiths, music has always been the pathway to spirituality.”
With every note that echoed through the grand hall, the audience was taken on a mesmerizing journey—one that transcended time, space, and tradition. The depth of the Sarod’s voice intertwined effortlessly with the orchestral swell, creating moments of sheer transcendence. The overwhelming response from the audience bore testament to the magic unfolding on stage.
Amaan Ali Bangash expressed his joy at the evening’s success, saying, “It was so wonderful to perform at a sold-out Royal Festival Hall in London.”
Ayaan Ali Bangash, echoed this sentiment, adding, “It was a great honour to perform with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and reunite with our long-term collaborator, Lidiya Yankovskaya, a brilliant conductor with whom we performed at the United Nations on UN Day a few years ago.”
For Lidiya Yankovskaya, this concert was yet another luminous chapter in a journey of musical collaboration. “Such a wonderful experience performing to a sold-out Royal Festival Hall with the incredible musicians of the London Philharmonic Orchestra and superb collaborators, including long-time musical partners Maestro Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan Ali Bangash, and Ayaan Ali Bangash.”
“It was a great honor to perform with London, Philharmonic, Orchestra, and reunite with a long-term collaborator Lidiya Yankovskaya a brilliant conductor with whom we performed at United Nations on UN day as well few years ago,” expressed Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash.
The evening was not just a concert; it was a symphony of cultures, a dialogue between traditions, and an offering of pure, unfiltered musical brilliance. As the final notes faded into the embrace of the grand hall’s silence, the audience knew they had witnessed something rare—a moment where the past and future of music converged in a rhapsody of unity.
For those who wish to relive the magic, videos and photos from the performance are available, capturing the grandeur of this extraordinary evening.
As the echoes of the concert linger, it is evident that music has the power to unite, to heal, and to transcend. The Royal Festival Hall bore witness to a moment where the Sarod’s strings and the sound of the Philharmonic became one—a harmonious dialogue of East and West, past and future, earth and ether. And in that moment, music did what it does best—it spoke, without words, to the soul
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