CONCERT | Sounds of South India Where Carnatic Music Meets the Bansuri

Over dit evenement

South Indian classical music, or Carnatic music, is an ancient tradition in which melody, rhythm, and improvisation merge into an intense musical dialogue. At its core lies the raga — a melodic world that unfolds through subtle ornamentation, expressive nuance, and spontaneous creativity. Tonight, three exceptional musicians from India bring this rich tradition vividly to life.

Vocalist and violinist Ila Sangeetha Diliip is a versatile artist with a strong musical identity in both her voice and violin playing. She has performed widely in India and abroad — including Europe, Canada, and Africa — and is known for her expressive interpretations and her ability to bridge different art forms. Her concerts range from intimate melodic explorations to virtuosic rhythmic structures, such as elaborate Raga–Tana–Pallavi compositions.

Violinist K.J. Diliip, born into a family of musicians, trained under several renowned teachers, among them the legendary violin maestro M.S. Gopalakrishnan. He has performed internationally and is highly regarded both as a soloist and as an accompanist. Together, Ila and Diliip form a distinctive musical duo known for their vocal–violin and violin duet concerts, in which voice and violin intertwine in a uniquely complementary way.

The rhythmic foundation of the ensemble is provided by Sunaad Anoor on the kanjira, the South Indian frame drum. A fifth-generation musician from a family of instrumentalists, he has developed a personal style in which the rich Carnatic rhythmic tradition blends with influences from jazz, folk, and other world music. His spontaneous, energetic playing has made him a sought-after percussionist on international stages.

After the intermission, the concert opens into a special encounter between North and South Indian classical music. Dutch bansuri player Kees (Cornelis) van Boxtel joins the ensemble for two ragas. The bansuri — the bamboo flute of the North Indian Hindustani tradition — introduces a lyrical, meditative tone that enters into dialogue with the Carnatic style of the South Indian musicians.

In this way, a musical conversation unfolds between two great classical traditions of India, united by improvisation, attentive interplay, and the timeless expressive power of the raga.