Melbourne will once again play host to the Melbourne International Festival of Hindustani Classical Music on 8-9 March 2025. Organised by the Melbourne Hindustani Classical Music Society (MHCMS), the festival is marking its fourth edition with a line-up featuring some of the most celebrated female artists in the field.
Set against the backdrop of the James Tatoulis Auditorium in Kew, the event will bring together acclaimed musicians from India, offering audiences a rare chance to experience Hindustani classical music in its most authentic form. Among those headlining the festival are Vd. Shruti Sadolikar and Smt. Indrani Mukherjee on vocals, the Flute Sisters—Debopriya and Suchismita Chatterjee—on bansuri, and Sushri Ragini Shankar on violin. They will be accompanied by seasoned instrumentalists Pt. Ramdas Palsule on tabla, Pt. Vinay Mishra on harmonium, and Shri Apurba Mukherjee on tabla.
The festival will open on Saturday afternoon with a performance by Indrani Mukherjee, known for her deep connection to the Rampur-Kirana gharana. Mukherjee, who leads the vocal department at the Darbar Academy in the UK, is praised for her emotive and intricate renditions. Later that evening, the Flute Sisters will take the stage, bringing the signature artistry honed under the guidance of the legendary Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia. Their performances have captivated audiences worldwide, and their work alongside Ustad Zakir Hussain and Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma has cemented their place among the finest contemporary bansuri players.
Sunday morning will see violinist Ragini Shankar performing in the Gayaki Ang tradition, a style that mirrors vocal nuances on the violin. As the granddaughter of Dr. N. Rajam and the daughter of Dr. Sangeeta Shankar, she carries forward a formidable musical lineage. She has performed at prestigious festivals across the world and teaches at Whistling Woods International School of Music. Closing the festival on Sunday evening will be Shruti Sadolikar, a doyenne of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. Trained by Pandit Wamanrao Sadolikar and Ustad Gulubhai Jasdanwala, her performances are steeped in tradition while embracing the evolving nature of Hindustani classical music.
Tickets are available at $80 per session, with a festival pass granting access to all four events for $160. Refunds will be offered up to seven days before the event, though Eventbrite’s fee is nonrefundable.
The Melbourne Hindustani Classical Music Society has been at the forefront of promoting Hindustani classical music in Australia, curating events that bring world-class musicians to the city while nurturing a growing appreciation for the art form. With this year’s festival focusing on an all-female line-up, it highlights both the depth of talent and the influence of women in shaping the future of Hindustani classical music.
For tickets and more details, visit the MHCMS website or Eventbrite page.
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