Musical Dialogues of the East

A powerful live performance where musical traditions meet, converse, and come alive.

Musical Dialogues of the East is a rich cross-cultural concert experience that brings together outstanding musicians and vocalists from across South Asia and the Middle East for an evening of melody, rhythm, and improvisation. Blending the sounds of rubab, oud, qanun, cello, tabla, guitar, and voice, the performance explores the shared musical language that connects distinct traditions while celebrating the unique character of each one.

At the heart of the programme is a dynamic exchange between Hindustani classical music, Middle Eastern maqam, and the folk traditions of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. Through traditional repertoire, collaborative improvisation, and newly arranged ensemble works, the concert creates a vibrant musical journey that is both deeply rooted and strikingly contemporary. Short spoken introductions between pieces offer audiences insight and context, enhancing the experience while preserving the flow of the performance.

Over the course of 120 minutes, audiences are taken through atmospheric ensemble openings, virtuosic instrumental features, expressive vocal performances, rhythmic dialogues, and a powerful full-ensemble finale. From intimate melodic exchanges to soaring collective passages, Musical Dialogues of the East is an immersive celebration of artistic connection, cultural conversation, and the universal language of music.

Ensemble Members:
Saad Barcha – Rabab
Shishir Rao – Vocals
Avtar Singh – Dilruba
Hashim Hussain – Tabla
Ziad Hisham – Guitar
Tarek Elazhary – Oud
Rama Alcoutlabi – Vocals
Walid Zaido – Riq

Performance Lineup:

Hindustani Classical segment (50 minutes):
Rabab solo instrumental – 10 minutes
Raag instrumental (Dilruba + tabla) – 10 minutes
Khayal exploration with vocals (Dilruba + tabla + vocals + Rabab) – 30 minutes

Middle Eastern Segment (40 minutes):
Muwashahat Andalusian – 10 mins
Muwashahat Egyptian – 10 mins
Umm Kulthum rendition – 10 mins
Fairouz rendition – 10 mins

Final fusion piece with all artists – Hindustani Classical x Maqam improvisation (15 minutes)

Aga Khan Music Programme

Founded in 2000, the Aga Khan Music Programme (AKMP) validates, supports, and strengthens the critical role of music and musicians in societies shaped by Islam. Working with artistic communities across the Middle East and North Africa, Europe, Central Asia, South Asia, and West Africa, the AKMP celebrates music as a vital expression of human spirituality and a powerful means of fostering tolerance, curiosity, and pluralism.

While honouring and sustaining traditional forms of music teaching and performance, the AKMP also champions contemporary projects by artists whose creations are inspired but not constrained by tradition. Through a global network of arts presenters and educational institutions, the Music Programme brings its projects and performances to audiences worldwide.