Last updated 05:36, Friday, 25 July 2008

Sic Deus Dilexit MundiFor the first time ever in Carlisle’s ancient cathedral, a classical Indian concert. A musically-experienced audience was mesmerised by breathless virtuosity that stunned the senses. Purbayan Chatterjee, the world renowned sitarist, travelled from Calcutta the previous day, and met, for the first time, Shahbaz Khan, his tabla accompanist. As with great jazz musicians, it was as if they’d always played together.

Purbayanji laid out the first, Raga Yaman, with a devotional introduction that prepared listeners for the almost imperceptible entry of Shahbaz’s empathic tabla playing. An increasingly intense, beautifully executed section followed and the whole was brought to an obvious, satisfying conclusion. The audience gasped.

Tuning the instruments to a new scale for Raga Ragashree was a musical experience in itself, giving a foretaste of treasures to follow. The speed of the hands of both players was astonishing.

Raga Darbari Kanada, a solo piece, showcased more of Purbayan’s dazzling technique, but never at the expense of the music, smoothly expressed throughout.

The spiritually uplifting Raga Bhairavi was about grandeur, bathos, melancholy and romance. It interluded with an entertaining ‘battle of the banjos-type’ section, unexpected modal development, some quite western to my ears, and culminated in a magnificent crescendo finish.

The audience was left wanting more.

STUART HEPBURN