Kings Place, London, Hall Two
Keval Shah, piano
Jess Dandy, contralto
‘What is here may be found elsewhere; what is not here is nowhere at all.’
Indian and Western philosophies converse in this unique concert, a fusion of cultures, perspectives and soundscapes. Written for Jess Dandy and Keval Shah, Indian-American composer Reena Esmail’s Godsongs sit at the heart of a programme which highlights the ways in which Western and Eastern philosophies converge and diverge.
Esmail’s settings of Sanskrit verses from the Bhagavad Gita bring together the classical music traditions of North India, Hindu devotional chant and Western art-song, drawing out the essence of Vedantic thought, and are interspersed with music from the canon of classical song repertoire.
Two outstanding and daring artists join forces for this unique reimagining of India’s most celebrated and influential scripture, and its fascinating relationship with European poetry, thought and music.