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Indian Summer Festival Digital Season

2020/05/15 (Friday)

INDIAN SUMMER FESTIVAL

10TH ANNIVERSARY/10 WEEKS/10 EVENTS

In celebration of their 10th anniversary edition (and in response to the global pandemic) the 10-day July Indian Summer Festival will move online with 10 specially curated-for-screen digital events over 10 weeks! From Grammy Award-winning musicians to emerging poets, razor sharp economists to visionary environmental warriors, this year’s programming spans literary dialogues, intellectual debates, musical performances, and interactive culinary experiences. Indian Summer Festival has built its reputation on its loving and audacious curatorial punch, and this 10th anniversary edition sees a stunning global cast of talent applying its creative power to address this unsettling time.

 

NIGHT OF THE RAGA

There is no single English word that can be used to easily translate the meaning of the word ‘Raga’. It is not quite a musical scale, it is not really a tune, it isn’t exactly a musical mode, but in many ways it is all of these things. To go to its root, raga means ‘to colour’, but also to be moved, to be affected and the intention of a raga is to evoke a mood, or a certain feeling in its audience. To feel raga in all its variety, ISF2020 goes to some of the most outstanding classical musicians in India. In the middle of a nation-wide lockdown, they dig deep into their repertoires and offer us songs of solace, inspiration and empathy. This is a rare chance to visit these outstanding musicians in the intimacy of their homes and, thanks to technology, sit with them virtually in the same room, rather than the giant concert halls that these musical legends usually fill.

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and his sons Amaan and Ayaan speak to kinship and family bonds. They were all, happily, in the same place when India announced a strict lockdown. They take us to the source of their music – their home. They are sixth and seventh generation musicians, and their instrument sarod, is a member of the family.

Shubha Mudgal and her partner in music and life Aneesh Pradhan, are separated in two different cities. They still manage to collaborate from a distance for this event, and bring us songs from ‘Baramasa’ a poetic and musical tradition, fittingly speaking of intense love and longing.

Dr. L Subramaniam, the ‘God of Indian Violin’ is known for his landmark collaborations with classical Indian musicians, jazz musicians, western classical orchestras, Hollywood and Bollywood films. From the stillness of his home, he still travels musical worlds, offering us a glimpse of his astonishing range, with a special appearance by his wife, the celebrated multi-platinum singer Kavita Krishnamurti.

Watch the replay on the ISF Facebook page or YouTube channel.

Accessibility information

This event will be live-captioned on all platforms.

 

Every Saturday from May 16-July 18, register for upcoming events for free or if you can please consider making a donation: www.indiansummerfest.ca/supporter/

 

Check out the full schedule of Online Events here including THE VIRUS IS A WAKE UP CALL featuring captivating speakers and renowned food experts Vandana Shiva and David Suzuki. 

While the majority of summer festivals have been cancelled this year, Indian Summer Festival went ahead with their launch on May 16, featuring a presentation of some of Vancouver's finest and most accomplished musicians in a special virtual event to kick off ISF’s 10th Anniversary season. 

Featuring:

  • Salia Joseph
  • Amarjeet Singh + Baljit Singh
  • Lasya Vankayala + Curtis Andrews
  • Ruby Singh + PIQSIQ
  • Sejal Lal
  • Mohamed Assani + Jeanette Bernal-Singh
  • Tarun Nayar
  • Sunny Matharu + Ashwin Sood
  • Jhalaak