Saturday 13 July, 19:45-20:15

Sunset Ragas (DE/IN)

An enchanting concert of Indian Classical Music featuring Dr. Markus Schmidt on sitar and Ravi Saundankar on tabla.

Dr. Markus Schmidt (Germany) and Ravi Saundankar (India/Cyprus) will present a selection of Indian Classical sunset melodies. In Indian tradition, specific ragas are associated with particular times of the day or seasons. Performing these ragas at the appropriate time is believed to amplify the energy of nature and release their healing power. Experience the magic of these sunset ragas as they harmonize with the natural rhythms of the evening.

Dr. Markus Schmidt : sitar

Ravi Saundankar : tabla

BIOS

  • Dr. Markus Schmidt bridges the worlds of India and the West as a musician, scholar, author, and explorer. Trained in Western music from a young age, he mastered the guitar by 20. His passion for Indian Classical Music was nurtured by the esteemed sitar virtuoso Pandit Subroto Roy Chowdhury, establishing him as a leading European sitarist.

    Dr. Schmidt holds a Ph.D. in comparative musicology and philosophy, with extensive research in performance and comparative music studies. He has served as a visiting professor at several international universities.

    Traveling frequently between India and Europe, Dr. Schmidt engages in concerts, workshops, lectures, and teaching. His mission is to foster joy, empathy, and mutual understanding through the universal language of music.

  • Ravi Saundankar, an active Indian Classical performer, hails from a musical family and began his journey at age 7 under the guidance of his father, Pt. Videh Saundankar. He furthered his training at the Ustad Alla Rakha Institute of Music in Mumbai, mentored by Aditya Kalyanpur, and influenced by masters like Ustad Zakir Hussain and Ustad Fazal Qureshi. Ravi holds a diploma in Vocal and Tabla from the esteemed 'Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya' University of Music.

    Ravi has graced stages worldwide, performing alongside eminent musicians at prestigious venues like the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and the University of Cyprus. His expertise spans Indian classical, ethnic jazz, world music, and fusion genres.