Live at the Centre: Jasdeep Singh Degun
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Date night
- Under 90 mins
- First-timer friendly
- Early finish
- Date
- Thu, 26 Nov 2026
- Time
- 20:00 · 1h 30m
- Venue
- CBSO Centre, Birmingham
- City
- Birmingham
- Tickets
- from £15
You'll be taken to the ensemble's official site.
Summary
Sitarist Jasdeep Singh Degun and tabla player Harkiret Singh Bahra join the CBSO strings at the CBSO Centre for a programme of Degun’s original chamber works and concerto movements.
Why it's fantastic
This intimate session bridges the gap between Indian classical traditions and Western strings, featuring a leading sitarist who recently reimagined Monteverdi for the opera stage. Hearing his delicate sitar melodies intertwine with a live string quartet offers a refreshing, cross-cultural perspective on how different musical worlds can breathe together.
Our guide to this performance
What you'll hear
In this performance, you will hear a thoughtfully curated selection of chamber works that place the sitar at the heart of a string ensemble. The evening features several of Jasdeep Singh Degun's own compositions, including the meditative 'Alaap' and the evocative 'Lament from Orpheus'. You will also hear the second movement from 'Arya', his concerto for sitar and orchestra, rearranged for this intimate setting. Listen for the way the rhythmic pulse of the tabla provided by Harkiret Singh Bahra interacts with the sustained, lush textures of the string quartet. The music creates a bridge between different sonic worlds, allowing the resonance of the sitar to weave through classical string arrangements. Each piece explores a distinct mood, from the structured development of 'Rageshri' to the emotive qualities of 'Abbhā'. It is a programme that highlights how individual instrumental traditions can blend to form a single, cohesive narrative voice, focusing on melodic clarity and rhythmic precision throughout the ninety-minute duration.
Who's performing
Jasdeep Singh Degun is a sitarist and composer recognised for his work in both Indian classical and contemporary collaborative settings. Joining him is Harkiret Singh Bahra, a tabla player known for his versatility and technical skill. They are accompanied by musicians from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, an ensemble with a long history of performing at the highest level in the Midlands. The orchestra is celebrated for its wide-ranging repertoire, and these string players bring their experience in the Western classical tradition to this specific chamber collaboration at their home base in Birmingham.
Planning your evening
The event takes place at the CBSO Centre in Birmingham, a venue well-regarded for its clear acoustics and close proximity between the audience and the stage. The performance has a total running time of 90 minutes. Because of the intimate nature of the chamber setting and the varied programme, it is a suitable choice if you are new to sitar music or looking for a shorter evening of live performance. No specific dress code is required for this concert. The venue provides a focused environment for this kind of small-ensemble collaboration.
Written by the Bravura editorial team from the ensemble's published programme and venue information. We don't reproduce copy from box-office sites. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Programme
- 01A selection of pieces for sitar, tabla and string quartet by Jasdeep Singh Degun, including: Abbhā, Alaap, Lament from Orpheus, Rageshri, Veer and the 2nd movement from his Concerto for sitar & orchestra (Arya).
Soloists
- Jasdeep Singh Degun sitar
- Harkiret Singh Bahra tabla
