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- Indian Embassy, RCRC hosts concert bringing soul of Indian classical music to a captivated audience in Riyadh
- Mesmerizing performance by internationally acclaimed sitar maestro Shujaat Husain Khan highlighted shared appreciation for music that brings people together
RIYADH: An unforgettable evening of music and cultural friendship unfolded in Riyadh this weekend at a musical evening, “Desert Harmony — Sitar Melodies,” hosted by the Indian Embassy in collaboration with the Royal Commission for Riyadh City at the Cultural Palace, Diplomatic Quarter.
The concert brought the soul of Indian classical music to life for a captivated audience comprising Saudi government officials, diplomats, the Indian community and music lovers, through the spellbinding artistry of Ustad Shujaat Husain Khan, whose sitar and melodious voice reciting classical Ghazal (Urdu poetry consisting of rhyming couplets) held the hall in rapt attention.
Transforming the venue into a shared cultural space where every note seemed to deepen a sense of connection for a regaled audience, the musical evening highlighted the strong cultural ties between India and Saudi Arabia, and the shared appreciation for music that brings people together.
Indian Ambassador Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, delivering his welcome remarks, said: “This collaboration of the RCRC reflects the Saudi government’s deep and sincere commitment to making Riyadh a world-class destination for culture and the arts, in the spirit of Vision 2030. We are grateful for their support, their trust and their shared belief that cultural exchange is an investment in the future of our two nations.
“India and Saudi Arabia share a relationship of exceptional warmth, strategic depth and growing cultural vitality. The ties between our two nations are rooted in history and enriched by a shared vision for the future for peace, progress and prosperity of both the nations and its people. They are strengthened, above all, by the presence of over 2.7 million Indians who proudly call this country their second home,” the ambassador said.
“In recent years, we have made meaningful efforts to build the cultural pillar of this great partnership. A landmark moment in this journey came last year, when we signed a memorandum of understanding on cultural cooperation. Both nations underscored the commitment to place culture, heritage and the arts at the heart of our bilateral relationship, and to invest meaningfully in people-to-people exchanges,” he added.
Khan said: “It is in this spirit that the embassy, together with the RCRC, is proud to present ‘Desert Harmony.’ This concert is both a celebration and a continuation of that conversation. The sitar is one of India’s most eloquent voices. Ustad Shujaat Husain Khan needs no introduction. What sets him particularly apart is not only his extraordinary technical mastery, but his rare gift for classical singing and a style of playing that makes the sitar sing with the intimacy and warmth of the human voice.”
Speaking to Arab News on the sideline of the concert, Shujaat Husain Khan said: “I am very grateful that the government here has invited me. It’s important for people, especially in these terrible times, to realize that culture and music is something that binds people, puts people together. Riyadh is a promising city and I think gradually will start making a name for itself in a culture with music. So, for me, it’s a wonderful experience to have come here.”
Over the course of the evening, the musician and his accompanying artists guided the audience through a rich journey of classical ragas, evocative poetry, and Sufi-tinged folk melodies that resonated across linguistic and cultural lines.
The event not only showcased the depth and sophistication of India’s classical music tradition, but also highlighted the growing cultural partnership between India and Saudi Arabia.
As the audience was left spellbound, Mohammed Serajuddin, one of the audience members, told Arab News: “It was more than a concert; it was a living expression of how music can build bridges, affirm shared values and bring two friendly nations even closer together.”
Internationally acclaimed musician Shujaat Husain Khan is one of the greatest North Indian classical musicians of his generation. He belongs to the Imdad Khan gharana of the sitar, also known as the Etawah gharana school of music, and his style of playing sitar, known as the gayaki ang, is imitative of the subtleties of the human voice.
He has recorded more than 100 albums and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best World Music Album for his work with the band Ghazal, featuring Iranian musician Kayhan Kalhor.