East Marries West: Shubhendra and Saskia Rao

New Delhi's husband-and-wife team of sitarist Shubhendra Rao and cellist Saskia Rao weaves together the seemingly diverse traditions of European and Indian music. In order to comply with Indian classical music's stringent requirements, Rao-de Haas adapted her cello, adding one additional playing string and ten sympathetic strings, creating the Indian Cello, the only such instrument in existence. The duo plays both classical Indian music and original compositions that are at once traditional and avant-garde.

The pair are in the Twin Cities to perform with Ragamala Dance at The O’Shaughnessy March 25—27. These shows follow their March 9 premiere of Shubhendra’s original composition for Ragamala at the Kennedy Center’s maximum INDIA Festival, a three-week celebration featuring India’s greatest living masters of classical and contemporary dance, music theater, film and art.

Ticket options and info

• On sale date: now
• Phone: 612-338-2674 ext 2 ($1 fee per ticket)
• In person: From a Cedar volunteer in the front lobby before and after shows (no fee), Depth of Field (no fee), or Electric Fetus (small fee)
• Online: Ticketweb (fees apply) (click on red Buy Tickets button at top of this page)
• All Cedar shows are all ages.
• Students with ID may gain discounted admission for tickets at the door.

Shubhendra Rao

Ace composer and performer, Shubhendra Rao is ranked amongst the key soloists of India. Distinguished as a musical bridge to many cultures, he creates an experience for his audience that "is not aimed at titillating the senses, but to seize the soul" (The...

Saskia Rao

‘On January 24, 2003, the Doverlane Music conference, one of the most prestigious annual festivals in North Indian Music, presented a female Western musician playing a western instrument for the first time in its 51- year old history....Saskia Rao’s alap...