Indian Santoor & Arabic Lute Concert...

This was for the first time that a fusion duet of Santoor and Moroccan Lute was presented at an International conference inaugurating the Indo-Arab Partnership Forum.

The idea was to present and introduce Indo – Moroccan music into the world music scenario with the efforts of 2 eminent artists of Morocco and India - Ustad Haj Youness (senior most and Legendary Lute maestro & composer) with the Abhay Rustum Sopori (Santoor maestro & composer) who demonstrated the subtleties of both Moroccan and Indian music. It's also for the first time that a young artist like Abhay collaborated with one of the senior most artists of Arab region.

They played various compositions based on Arabic Muquams composed by both the maestros highlighting music of the 2 countries. They demonstrated incredible speedy patterns running through octaves with brilliant sequences of musical expressions receiving immense applause and appreciation from the audience. They were accompanied on Tabla by Sarit Das, one of the leading Tabla players of the country. During the concert Vidya Shah performed Sufi music while Maida-Eh-Yahyauui along with her group performed traditional Arabic music that enthralled the audience.

H.E. the Ambassador of Morocco Mr. Larbi Moukhariq appreciating the fusion concert hailed the efforts of both the maestro presenting the depth of the 2 musical instruments while praising both the maestros and hailing Abhay Rustum Sopori as 'Ustad' just like his father Pandit Bhajan Sopori, the Santoor Legend & Composer.

Ustad Youness was also happy to visit India and play with Abhay Rustum Sopori and said that it was not that difficult to collaborate with Abhay as his music and Santoor is totally divine which not only sooths the ears but penetrates straight into the heart.

Pandit Bhajan Sopori was also in full praise of both the musicians and said that though both the musicians met for the first time but the fusion concert was of high technical virtuosity and this could only happen as both happen to be very good musicians and top composers.