Dragon Sounds, Nepal Fundraiser and more!

Sunday’s concert at the Glenn Gould Studio, presented alongside Raag Mala Toronto was stunningly good. Niladri Kumar and Aditya Kalyanpur showed exactly why they’re poised as the next generation of classical Indian music stars. Power, precision and youthful verve combined for a splendid performance.The 13th Annual Asian Music Series, sponsored by TD Bank, continues tomorrow evening at the Small World Centre with a unique concert bringing together Vancouver, Toronto, Taiwan, tradition and modernity. Sound of Dragon features some of the finest performers on Chinese instruments alongside a group of top notch contemporary instrumentalists. The results are unique interpretations of folk music as well as original works with influences from Indian, Klezmer, Persian, Chinese, Taiwanese, and more. Joining the ensemble is Toronto pipa virtuoso Wen Zhao. Have a look at the video for a sample of what they do.Don’t forget about next Monday at the Centre, when we host a fundraiser for Nepal‘s earthquake victims. The lineup for this important event is truly impressive – recently adding Armenian guitar star Levon Ichkanian to an already bursting-at-the-seams group of artists. This is a superb example of community coming together for a compelling cause and great music-making.

The end of the series is approaching and it’s going to be a great finale – a rousing night of Qawwali in tribute to the great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. The group performing – Fanna Fi Allah is renowned for their powerfully energizing concerts, taking the audience to the heart of the tradition.