Kishna Ensemble – ‘Indian classical’

Siddharth Kishna plays classical Indian raga on the sitar. He is accompanied by Sharmili on the tanpura, Saniya on the bamboo flute and Aaryan on the tabla. Lovely!

Programme notes
TheKishna Ensemble introduces you to the rich tradition of North Indian classical music. At the heart of this tradition lie the ragas: ancient melodic forms that are not merely music, but also evoke a mood, an emotion or a moment in the day. The musicians pass this tradition down from generation to generation, as has been the custom in India for centuries.

The sitar forms the musical centrepiece of the ensemble, supported by the warm sound of the tanpura, the expressive tones of the bamboo flute and the refined rhythms of the tabla. Together, the musicians create a meditative and colourful soundscape in which improvisation, virtuosity and spirituality come together.

The musicians
The Kishna Ensemble consists of sitar player Siddharth Kishna, his wife Sharmili Mitra on the tanpura (a fretless lute), daughter Saniya Kishna on the bansuri (Indian bamboo flute) and son Aaryan Kishna on the tabla (drums).

Siddharth Kishna is regarded as one of the Netherlands’ leading sitar players. He began his studies at the age of ten with sitar master Ustad Jamaluddin Bharitya and continued his training in India. After graduating cum laude from the Rotterdam Conservatoire, he became a principal lecturer in sitar at Codarts. Through concerts in Europe, Canada and India, he has built an international reputation thanks to his refined playing and profound musicality.

The other members of the ensemble have also been steeped in Indian musical culture from an early age. In 2024, the ensemble performed at the Concertgebouw as part of ‘From Southeast with Love’, where they impressed the audience with their authentic renditions of Indian classical music.