The world premiere of Symphony of Bansuri will take centre stage at the Artscape Opera House on 2 August, 2025. Starring Grammy Award-winning flautist Rakesh Chaurasia and featuring the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, this boundary-defying concert will showcase the expressive power of the bansuri – the traditional Indian bamboo flute – in an orchestral setting.
Presented by Inner Circle Entertainment, Symphony of Bansuri is a unique musical creation that brings together the melodic traditions of Indian classical music with the richness of Western symphonic expression.
Rakesh Chaurasia, the nephew and foremost disciple of flute maestro Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, is known for his ability to blend strength and serenity, innovation and tradition. His recent dual Grammy wins in 2024 further solidify his position as one of the world’s leading classical crossover artists.
Bansuri in dialogue with a full orchestra
“This project has been years in the making and reflects our continued commitment to world-class musical innovation in South Africa,” says Nisaar Pangarker, founder and creative force behind Inner Circle Entertainment. “To hear the bansuri in dialogue with a full orchestra is not only a sonic revelation but also a symbolic gesture – a meeting of cultures, histories and traditions. We are proud to host this global premiere in Cape Town.”
Symphony of Bansuri is a double bill – the first part being a traditional Indian Classical music recital featuring the bansuri accompanied by tabla, followed by second part of specially reimagined arrangements of Indian classical ragas, folk tunes, film melodies, and light classical works performed by the bansuri as the solo voice, accompanied by the full symphony orchestra under the baton of Damian Philander. The performance is crafted to elevate the bansuri as a complete instrument capable of transcending genres and captivating audiences across musical traditions.
What: Symphony of Bansuri
Where and when: Artscape Opera House on 2 August 2025
Tickets: Ticketmaster and the Artscape Box Office
WS
