Santoor player collaborates with CPO

Rahul Sharma

Santoor player, Rahul Sharma will perform with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra in a production called Symphony of Santoor on Friday February 21 at the Artscape.

Under the baton of Brandon Phillips, they will collaborate for a confluence of the traditions of Indian and western classical music.

The concert will journey through Indian classical ragas, folk, and light classical music compositions, rearranged for orchestra by Sharma, with the 100-stringed santoor as the starring soloist.

“This collaboration is unlike anything I have ever done before and I am truly looking forward to debuting the Symphony in Cape Town, a city that holds a special place in my heart” said Sharma.

“There is a certain amount of nervous anticipation in doing something like this for the first time and it is therefore an honour to be able to perform this ground-breaking work with the confidence of having an orchestra, such as the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra under the respected guidance of Brandon Phillips, right behind me.”

Sharma learnt his craft from his father, the renowned Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, beginning his training at the age of 13 years old. Father and son are globally recognised for their skill on the santoor – a trapezoid shaped 100-string wooden instrument.

Sharma’s music spans many genres from classical to folk, rock, new age and world fusion, working with artists such as pianist Richard Clayderman, psy-chillout pioneers Deep Forest, and topping the US Billboard with his collaboration with smooth jazz artist Kenny G.

Aside from the 46-piece Cape Town Philharmonic orchestra, Rahul will be accompanied by a team of musicians from India.

Tickets cost from R200 to R600 and are available at Computicket. For more information, visit www.innercircle.co.za