One of the most celebrated violinists, vocalists, and composers in Indian classical and global music, L. Shankar brings you into the intricate and expressive world of Indian classical music.
Deeply rooted in the Carnatic classical tradition, L. Shankar has spent decades expanding the sound and reach of Indian classical music.
For this performance, Shankar is joined by an exceptional percussion ensemble featuring V. Selvaganesh on mridangam, kanjira, and konakkol; Amit Kavthekar on tabla; and Swaminathan Selvaganesh on kanjira and konakkol.
Known for his powerful command of the violin and voice, Shankar is recognized for his mastery of Ragam Tanam Pallavi, one of the most demanding forms in Carnatic music. The form moves through three parts: Ragam, where the raga is explored freely; Tanam, where rhythm begins to shape the melody; and Pallavi, where a composed line becomes the centre for improvisation, variation, and rhythmic play.
“Music with substance and heart” — The New York Times
Experience the Music
L. Shankar’s performance is rooted in Carnatic music, the classical music tradition of South India.
The music is built around ragas, which give the performance its melodic shape, and talas, which give it rhythmic structure. Rather than following a fixed song format, the music often develops through improvisation, with the artist expanding a melodic idea in real time.
The percussion ensemble brings together both South Indian and North Indian rhythmic traditions. The mridangam is the main double-headed drum used in Carnatic music. The kanjira is a small frame drum known for its sharp, flexible sound. The tabla brings the tonal depth and rhythmic vocabulary of North Indian classical music. Konakkol, the vocal recitation of rhythm syllables, adds another layer, allowing rhythm to be spoken as well as played.
You can expect extended violin passages, rhythmic exchanges between the artists, moments of vocal expression, and percussion sections that move between precision, speed, and improvisation.
Events at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre may include strobe and other intense lighting effects. These can affect guests with photosensitive epilepsy or light sensitivity.
For questions and inquiries about accessibility requests, please contact ticketing@admitone.com.
This concert is part of Ishq Festival 2026, produced by Small World Music.
ISHQ Festival is made possible thanks to funding in part by the Government of Canada, Canada Council of the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, the Province of Ontario, and Toronto Arts Council.
ISHQ Festival est financé par le gouvernement du Canada, Conseil des arts du Canada, le gouvernement du Ontario, Conseil des arts du Ontario, et le Conseil des arts de Toronto
Sunday, November 22
8:00 p.m.
For questions and inquiries about accessibility requests, please contact ticketing@admitone.
Queen Elizabeth Theatre · 190 Princes' Boulevard
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