Ravi Shankar: Shine On, O Sun of India
“The magic in music happens only when the artist serves it with love and joy - and the listeners receive it with the same spirit”, Ravi Shankar.
Excerpt from "Ravi and Anoushka Shankar: Live in Bangalore"Ravi Shankar Institute For Music and Performing Arts
Like father, like daughter: Even Ravi Shankar was amazed with the fact the Anoushka was so much like him. Now, Anoushka's music speaks of her virtuosity as a performer, composer and collaborator.
Photo: Shankar and his daughter play the last concert he performed in India, to a packed audience in Bangalore, on 7th February 2012.
Ravi Shankar, Sukanya Shankar and Anoushka Shankar by RIMPARavi Shankar Institute For Music and Performing Arts
The Shankar house was seldom a silent place, and musicians were a permanent presence - learning, rehearsing, improvising, or simply playing musical games around the dinner table.
Anoushka started learning music and dance informally as early as age 2, and continued to learn Sitar and Piano after the age of 7.
In this photo: Teaching Anoushka in their home in Encinitas while Sukanya plays the Tanpura.
Ravi Shankar and Anoushka Shankar by RIMPARavi Shankar Institute For Music and Performing Arts
Anoushka began studying the sitar - and Indian classical music - from the age of 7 under the intensive tutelage of her father.
In this 2018 interview, Anoushka mentions what it was like to have her father as her Guru.
Ravi Shankar with Anoushka Shankar by RIMPARavi Shankar Institute For Music and Performing Arts
Anoushka's lessons from her father stretched across continents and 25+ years.
Photo: At their London home in 1989.
Young Anoushka Shankar by RIMPARavi Shankar Institute For Music and Performing Arts
After making her professional debut at 13, Anoushka began touring worldwide alongside her father.
She embarked on a successful touring career at 18, becoming known for her virtuosic yet emotional playing style, unusual instrumentation, and precise rhythmic interplay.
Video: an excerpt from a performance by Anoushka Shankar at the Festival Les Nuits de Fourviere in France (2012).
Anoushka Shankar at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles by RIMPARavi Shankar Institute For Music and Performing Arts
The GRAMMY Museum was the first U.S. museum to celebrate India’s most esteemed musician with a year-long exhibition. Titled Ravi Shankar: A Life In Music, it opened in 2015.
Photo: Anoushka Shankar honours her father at the opening of the exhibition in Los Angeles.
Influencing and inspiring musicians across generation and genres
Ravi Shankar influenced musicians and touched the lives of millions all over the world not only with his incredible virtuosity, but with his ability to be so humble in the midst of such adoration.
Ravi Shankar and Duncan Ward by Art MakosinskiRavi Shankar Institute For Music and Performing Arts
British conductor Duncan Ward has established himself as one of the most exciting and versatile conductors of his generation. He spent an incredible month studying with Ravi Shankar at his home in California in the summer of 2010.
Ravi Shankar and British Conductor Duncan Ward by Art MakosinskiRavi Shankar Institute For Music and Performing Arts
Duncan Ward had the privilege of a personal invitation to study the ragas and rhythms of Indian classical music with Shankar.
Ravi Shankar and Duncan Ward by Art MakosinskiRavi Shankar Institute For Music and Performing Arts
In 2017, Duncan Ward finally got the chance to conduct his Sitar Concerto No. 2, together with the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra and Anoushka Shankar as soloist.
Ravi Shankar, Joshua Bell, Anoushka Shankar and David Murphy by Art MakosinskiRavi Shankar Institute For Music and Performing Arts
Joshua Bell was hosted by Ravi Shankar at his home in San Diego, to learn Variant Moods, a piece written by Ravi Shankar and performed by Joshua Bell and Anoushka Shankar.
Ravi Shankar at home with Joshua Bell by Art MakosinskiRavi Shankar Institute For Music and Performing Arts
In 2009, Variant Moods was featured in Joshua Bell's album At Home With Friends.
He recalls fondly how great a man Ravi Shankar was and how memorable it was to work with Ravi in San Diego and get coached together with Anoushka.
Ravi Shankar and David Murphy by Art MakosinskiRavi Shankar Institute For Music and Performing Arts
David Murphy, a British Conductor, was a disciple of Ravi Shankar and spent time learning from him at his home in San Diego.
In this video message, recorded to commemorate Shankar's centenary in 2020, David Murphy recounts some treasured memories of his time with the Maestro.
Ravi Shankar and David Murphy by Art MakosinskiRavi Shankar Institute For Music and Performing Arts
David Murphy was invited to open the Southbank Centre’s Shankar100 Festival in January 2020 performing Shankar’s Sukanya with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
In the video, David Murphy shares more about Sukanya's rendition at Shankar100.
Ravi Shankar with Barun Kumar, Gaurav Mazumdar, Deepak Choudhury, Norah Jones, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Partho Sarothy, Shubhendra Rao, Udai Mazumdar, Alan Kozlowski, Anoushka Shankar and Bickram GhoshRavi Shankar Institute For Music and Performing Arts
Photo: Some of Ravi Shankar's most prominent disciples together on a rare occasion at his home in New Delhi in 2000.
Ravi Shankar, Zakir Hussain, Anoushka Shankar and Shibani Patnaik by RIMPARavi Shankar Institute For Music and Performing Arts
Photo: Performing with Zakir Hussain on the Tabla, young Anoushka and Shibani Patnaik on the Tanpura, on Ravi Shankar's 75th Birthday celebration at their home in San Diego.
A Family Photo of the Shankars by RIMPARavi Shankar Institute For Music and Performing Arts
A rare family photo with (L-to-R) his uncle Ramesh Mama, Krishna Shankar, young Anoushka, Sukanya Shankar, Ravi Shankar and Debendra Shankar at Hemangana, their home in Benaras, in December 1988.
Ravi Shankar, Sukanya Shankar, Anoushka Shankar and Norah JonesRavi Shankar Institute For Music and Performing Arts
An impromptu celebration at home in New Delhi, with both his daughters, on the return from receiving the Commander of the Legion of Honour of France (2000).
The Musical Journey Continues...
In 2012, at the age of 92, a month after his last stage performance in California, Ravi Shankar passed on to another world. His music continues to bring joy to us here on earth even now as it always will.
Read more about Ravi Shankar:
- The Early Years, from Dance to Music
- Taking Indian Music to the World
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