Cape Town, South Africa – Take note! A one night only transcendent experience is on the cards as the world premiere of Symphony of Bansuri takes centre stage at the Artscape Opera House on 2 August. Starring Grammy Award-winning flautist Rakesh Chaurasia and featuring the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO), this boundary-defying concert will showcase the expressive power of the bansuri – the traditional Indian bamboo flute – in an orchestral setting.
Presented by Inner Circle Entertainment, Symphony of Bansuri is a unique musical creation that brings together the rich melodic traditions of Indian classical music with the grandeur of Western symphonic expression. This is the latest in a series of acclaimed world premieres staged by Inner Circle, whose productions have previously played to sold-out local as well as international audiences.
Rakesh Chaurasia, the nephew and foremost disciple of flute maestro Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, is known for his ability to blend strength and serenity, innovation and tradition. His recent dual Grammy wins in 2024 further solidify his position as one of the world’s leading classical crossover artists.
“This project has been years in the making and reflects our continued commitment to world-class musical innovation in South Africa,” says Nisaar Pangarker, founder and creative force behind Inner Circle Entertainment. “To hear the bansuri in dialogue with a full orchestra is not only a sonic revelation but also a symbolic gesture – a meeting of cultures, histories and traditions. We are proud to host this global premiere in Cape Town.”
For his part, Rakesh Chaurasia shares: “I have such beautiful memories of my last trip to South Africa in 2016, where I shared the stage with the legendary tabla player late Ustad Zakir Hussain in a series of sold-out concerts. This forthcoming tour is bittersweet, because Zakirji has encouraged me for many years to create a concert accompanied by orchestra. Symphony of Bansuri is the culmination of that support and love. Sadly, he is not physically here to witness this – but it will be my very humble tribute to him, and I am sure his soul will be listening and blessing us.”
The production is a double bill – the first part being a traditional Indian Classical music recital featuring the bansuri accompanied by tabla, followed by second part of specially reimagined arrangements of Indian classical ragas, folk tunes, film melodies, and light classical works performed by the bansuri as the solo voice, accompanied by the full symphony orchestra under the baton of Damian Philander. The performance is crafted to elevate the bansuri as a complete instrument capable of transcending genres and captivating audiences across musical traditions.
Performance Details:
Symphony of Bansuri
Saturday, 2 August 2025 – 19H00
Artscape Opera House, Cape Town
Tickets available via Ticketmaster and the Artscape Box Office – tickets on sale now. Ticket prices – R200 – R1000
This unforgettable premiere promises to be a landmark moment in the cultural calendar, celebrating harmony not just in music – but in the meeting of East and West, tradition and innovation, past and future.