Anoushka Shankar Forges Her Own Path
Anoushka Shankar, photo by Pamela Springstein
"It could have gone so may different ways, but it went in a really good way. Musically, it was an amazing experience" Shankar told DCist in a recent interview, describing the collaboration. But she also called the tour "bittersweet" because much of it took place in the aftermath of the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India.
After a hectic winter, which included performances with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and with her own group, the Anoushka Shankar Project, she is now on a brief tour with her father, legendary sitarist Ravi Shankar, arguably the most celebrated Indian musician in the world. The duo returns to the Kennedy Center on Saturday, after having last visited the District in 2007.
For this performance, Shankar will return to her roots, which lie in the ancient traditions of Hindustani classical music. While the word "classical" scares many listeners away, Shankar finds the opposite to be true when it comes to performing with her father.
"First of all, it’s beyond desi and non-desi. We have a really strong international following," Shankar explained. "It's important not to be intimidated. People think you have to understand it to appreciate it, but it's really not necessary."
One might expect Shankar to feel pressure to live up to her father's storied career, but she has managed to keep everything in perspective.
"He’s always been up there and it's something I came to terms with a long time ago," she said. "When it comes to being a musician, I’m not here to continue a legacy. It’s not a lineage. It’s not royalty."
This outlook affects Shankar's career as well, a search in which the young artist strives to balance tradition with progress.
"I’m still feeling really curious," Shankar said. "There’s so much about this art form that’s immense and there’s so much I want to explore within that. I see tradition as being something that evolves rather than stays static."
The Washington Performing Arts Society presents Ravi and Anoushka Shankar in concert at the Kennedy Center on Saturday, April 25 at 4 p.m. Tickets are sold out, but it's worth contacting the box office for last minute cancellations. are available through the WPAS website. $50-$77