Ravi Shankar’s Festival of India II

September 19, 2005

Ravi Shankar’s Festival of India II

featuring Anoushka Shankar, sitar

Roy Thomson Hall, Thursday, October 13, 2005, 8 p.m.

Tickets: $114.50 - $49.50 - Call 416-872-4255 or visit the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office
www.roythomson.com

Toronto, ON, September XX, 2005 — India’s living legend, sitarist and composer Ravi Shankar, is joined by his daughter and protégé, Anoushka Shankar, and an exceptional ensemble of musicians and dancers in a celebration of India’s classical music culture in Ravi Shankar’s Festival of India II at Roy Thomson Hall, Thursday, October 13, 2005, at 8 p.m. The evening showcases compositions by the “Godfather of Indian classical music”, blending sitar, Indian violin, folk drums, wind instruments, and traditional Indian vocals.  Anoushka Shankar joins her father on sitar.

Ravi Shankar recently celebrated his 85^th birthday with a landmark performance with Anoushka at the BBC Proms. This marked the first time that either of them had appeared at the Proms and it is the first time ever that the BBC Proms had given any music other than Western classical music a primetime slot.  In the first half Anoushka performed her father's Sitar Concerto No. 1 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jurjen Hempel. In the second half, Ravi Shankar and Anoushka played traditional Indian ragas together.

As a performer, composer, teacher and writer, Ravi Shankar has been called India’s most esteemed musical ambassador. After making a name in his native India, he began popularizing Indian classical music in the West starting in the 1960s during three historical concerts: the Monterey Pop Festival, the Concert for Bangladesh, and the Woodstock Festival. Ravi Shankar has written music for, and recorded and collaborated with many renowned musicians, among them Yehudi Menuhin, Jean Pierre Rampal, George Harrison, and Phillip Glass. He has composed extensively for films and ballets in India, Canada, Europe and the United States and is an honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In 2003, he won the ISPA Distinguished Artist Award, joining illustrious past-winners like Menuhin, Rampal, Simon Rattle, Martha Graham and Kurt Masur. He earned his third Grammy in 2002 for Full Circle/Live at Carnegie Hall 2000, which won Best Album in the World Music category. Ravi Shankar has also been knighted by the Queen of England. To learn more about Ravi Shankar, visit www.ravishankar.org.

Anoushka, in her early 20s, has already earned worldwide recognition for her artistry and not only tours and records with her father, but has also released several solo albums since her debut album, Anoushka, in 1998. To learn more about Anoushka Shankar, visit www.anoushkashankar.com.

Sponsored by TD Canada Trust.

Co-presented with Asian Television Network.

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Media Contact:  Victoria Lord, 416-484-9047, x224; e-mail: victoria@vlpr.com