Together, Basu and Sarkar create a dialogue of percussion and melody that embodies the essence of Indian classical music. Photo courtesy of Yuba-Sutter Arts & Culture

MARYVSILLE, CA (MPG) – In its ongoing efforts to bring unique, one-of-a-kind arts and culture events to the community, Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture is proud to announce a new concert in its world music series. Meet Abhishek Basu and Chiradip Sarkar. Their upcoming Pulsating Strings concert at the Sutter Theater Center for the Arts brings together these two extraordinary artists of Indian classical music in a spellbinding instrumental duet that celebrates rhythm, melody and tradition.

The performance will be held on Sunday, Sept. 14 at 2 p.m. at the Sutter Theater Center for the Arts 754 Plumas Street in Yuba City. Tickets are $20 and are available online at yubasutterarts.org or in the box office, Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ticket price includes appetizers. There will also be a no-host bar. We want to thank our sponsors for this concert; PHEI - Partnership for Health, Equity & Inclusion, HASPI - Health and Social Policy Institute and Pep Dhaliwal and Chaya Galicia.

Hailing from Kolkata, India, Abhishek Basu is an internationally acclaimed tabla virtuoso and music director, known for his ability to blend the intricate rhythmic cycles of Indian classical percussion with innovative, contemporary expression. His mastery of the table, the hand drums that serve as the heartbeat of Indian classical performance, creates a dynamic foundation that both anchors and elevates the music.

Abhishek Basu is an internationally acclaimed tabla virtuoso and music director. Photo courtesy of Yuba-Sutter Arts & Culture

Sharing the stage with him is Chiradip Sarkar, a gifted santoor player whose artistry reflects the lyrical beauty of this hammered dulcimer-like instrument. As a disciple of Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya, a celebrated Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee (India’s National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama), Chiradip carries forward a rich lineage of santoor performance while bringing his own sensitivity and creativity to the instrument. The santoor’s shimmering, cascading notes create a soundscape that is at once meditative and vibrant, weaving delicate patterns that flow seamlessly with the tabla’s intricate rhythms.

Together, Basu and Sarkar create a dialogue of percussion and melody that embodies the essence of Indian classical music: spontaneity, precision and emotional depth. Their duet will journey through ragas and talas, improvising within ancient frameworks to craft music that feels timeless yet immediate. Raga is the melodic element and is crafted by improvisation on fixed patterns of ascent and descent. Conversely, tala is the rhythmic structure on which the melody is laid. The tabla’s thunderous sonic bols and subtle textures will converse with the santoor’s resonant, celestial tones, producing moments of both fiery energy and serene introspection.

Chiradip Sarkar is a gifted santoor player whose artistry reflects the lyrical beauty of this hammered dulcimer-like instrument. Photo courtesy of Yuba-Sutter Arts & Culture

This performance offers audiences not just a concert, but an immersive experience in India’s classical heritage, two masters in dialogue, creating a tapestry of sound that transcends boundaries and speaks directly to the soul. Plenty of free parking is available on the adjoining streets and in the parking lots.

Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide arts programming, education, advocacy, assistance and service to artists, organizations and residents of Yuba and Sutter Counties. The local affiliate for Yuba and Sutter of the California Arts Council, its programs include Arts in Education, Veterans Initiatives in the Arts, Arts in Corrections, Center Stage Youth Performing Arts, Convergence Theater Co., the Yuba Sutter Youth Choir, the Yuba Sutter Big Band and many more.