Symphony of Bansuri at Artscape: A Night of Music That Crossed Borders and Touched Hearts

On Saturday, 2 August 2025, I found myself stepping into the elegant Artscape Opera House, wrapped in the excitement of an evening I had been looking forward to for weeks. The moment I took my seat, I could feel a quiet buzz ripple through the audience the kind of anticipation that says something special is about to happen.

I had heard the bansuri before in recordings, but never live, and certainly never paired with a full symphony orchestra. I didn’t quite know what to expect. What I experienced was far beyond anything I imagined.

The Gentle Power of the Bansuri

At the heart of it all was Rakesh Chaurasia, a true master of the bansuri. Watching him play was like watching a conversation unfold between musician and instrument, the music felt alive, breathing with every note. The purity of the bansuri’s tone, sometimes soft and haunting, other times bright and playful, filled every corner of the hall.

In that moment, I understood why the bansuri is often described as a spiritual instrument. There was a simplicity in its form, just bamboo and breath, yet the emotional depth it carried was immense.

A Journey in Two Acts

The performance opened with a traditional Indian classical segment. The intricate ragas and tabla rhythms slowed the pace of the evening, drawing me in as though time had loosened its grip. It felt meditative and grounding, as if the music itself was creating space to breathe.

After the interval, the stage transformed. The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, under the guidance of conductor Damian Philander, joined Rakesh for a second half that fused Eastern melodic traditions with the full power and colour of a Western symphony. It was breathtaking to hear the bansuri dance in conversation with sweeping strings, bold brass, and delicate woodwinds.

The Moment That Stayed With Me

There was one moment in particular that has stayed with me. The orchestra had built to a powerful swell, and then, almost like a whispered secret, the bansuri emerged above it all a single, floating note that felt like it was speaking directly to my heart. I glanced around and saw others sitting completely still, caught in the same spell. It was a shared moment of awe.

Why Symphony of Bansuri Felt So Important

What struck me most was how the performance didn’t just mix two musical traditions for the sake of novelty. It felt like a genuine conversation that honoured both traditions and allowed them to meet on equal footing. It reminded me that music, at its best, has the power to connect us across cultures, histories, and experiences.

A Night Worth Remembering

As the final note faded and the hall erupted into applause, I realised I didn’t want the evening to end. Walking out of Artscape into the cool Cape Town night, I carried with me a sense of peace and wonder that I can still feel as I write this.

If Symphony of Bansuri returns to Cape Town, I know I’ll be there and I’d encourage anyone, whether you love Indian classical music, orchestral works, or simply beautiful storytelling through sound, to experience it for yourself.