Anoushka Shankar to Debut At New York Philharmonic

She will play her father Ravi Shankar’s piece 35 years after he first performed it at the New York Philharmonic.

Thirty-five years after sitar maestro Ravi Shankar played at the New York Philharmonic, his daughter Anoushka Shankar is set to make her debut at the iconic venue. An award-winning sitar player herself, Anoushka will be playing the same piece that her father played on 23 April 1981, just a few months before she was born.

Zubin Mehta, who commissioned Ravi Shankar back then, is now directing Anushka for the event.

It’s like I have a relationship with the piece of music that is very special. And playing it with Zubin Uncle of course has always been the most beautiful thing for the family closeness and for the history of this piece being commissioned under him. It felt like bringing it full circle, getting to play it with the NY Philharmonic, which commissioned it. So, it has felt very special. 

Anoushka Shankar

This piece, which was his second concerto, was titled 'Raga Mala'. He had a desire to create an intricate musical piece for orchestra and sitar. He had earlier done his first concerto in 1971 for London Symphony Orchestra and now he wished to collaborate with Mehta.

With 'Raga Mala', Shankar created a masterpiece by weaving in more than thirty ragas. This is not the first time Anoushka is gearing up to perform one of her father’s pieces. And given the inclusion of several interludes of improvised sitar solos, she can now give the piece her own original touch.

It’s a beautiful thing, a lovely little dance that happens, that static nature of playing a fully composed piece of music then has to shift, and it keeps things kind of edge-of-the-seat for everyone. It’s just makes it really fun.

Anoushka Shankar

Ravi Shankar was a pioneer in the field of music, and he created cross-cultural compositions. Anoushka, too, has collaborated across genres, and understands deeply about the importance of her father’s work in current times.

It sounds very modern in the way it puts things together. It’s very modern. So, I do think it was ahead of its time.

Anoushka Shankar

Anoushka is not only carrying forward the legacy of her father, but she is working towards creating her own as well.

He would have been very proud. It would have made him really happy.

With inputs from: NBC News