Music @The Playhouse: GAAYATRI

Presented by Sierra Madre Playhouse

GAAYATRI, Hindustani vocalist

Sierra Madre Playhouse, a dynamic and intimate performing arts center noted for its eclectic programming, welcomes eminent Hindustani vocalist GAAYATRI in an unprecedented program showcasing the vocal music of the Rampur-Maihar Senia gharana on Saturday, August 31, 2024, 2:00 pm.

GAAYATRI performs selections from every major style of Hindustani music, including ancient Vedic-era Dhrupad and Dhammar, featuring Amol Ghode on the ancient pakhawaj double-sided barrel drum, later-era Khyaal repertoire accompanied by Neelamjit Dhillon on tabla and Makheer Singh on dilruba, and light classical pieces never-before-heard from the Maihar tradition.

While the Maihar tradition is renowned for its legacy of master instrumentalists, such as Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and Pandit Ravi Shankar, it also carries a rich tradition of vocal music dating at least to the 15th century. The last known pure vocalists of this tradition were Mian Tansen and his daughter Saraswati from the 15th century. Over time, the music has been stewarded by the great instrumentalists of the Maihar tradition and passed down from generation to generation. After seven generations, GAAYATRI is the first pure vocalist of the style, having trained with Ustad Ali Akbar Khan since the age of 4.

In addition to performing live, GAAYATRI, a first-generation Indian American based in Santa Monica who studied ethnomusicology at UCLA, has contributed original Indian-influenced music scores for film, television, and digital media.

Tickets ($12 - $35) are on sale now. For tickets and information, please call 626.355.4318 or visit www.sierramadreplayhouse.org. Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at 87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre, CA 91024.

Date:
Venue:
Sierra Madre Playhouse
Organization:
Sierra Madre Playhouse
Genres:
Classical,
World Music
Categories:
Live Event
City: Sierra Madre
Price Range:
$12 - $35
Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
626-355-4318
Buy Tickets
Visit Website

Program Items

Rampur-Maihar Senia gharana

Performers

GAAYATRI Vocals
Neelamjit Dhillon Tabla
Amol Ghode pakhawaj
Makheer Singh dilruba

Sierra Madre Playhouse

Sierra Madre Playhouse

87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard
Sierra Madre, CA 91024
United States

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Sierra Madre Playhouse, a vibrant Southern California cultural hub with a rich history spanning a century, energizes audiences and the community with distinctive theatrical productions and captivating live performances. 

 

Hailed as a “jewel” (Pasadena Weekly) and “a landmark theater” (ABC7 Los Angeles), it has garnered tremendous accolades for its varied repertoire and thought-provoking education and outreach programs curated with social impact in mind. The Los Angeles Times proclaims, “This is theater from the heart.” As one of San Gabriel Valley’s only performing arts center presenting a broad spectrum of performance genres, including theater, music, dance, film, comedy, and family-friendly productions featuring eminent local and national professional artists, the treasured artistic beacon draws audiences from across the Southland. 

 

The intimate 99-seat Sierra Madre Playhouse offers an up-close and personal connection to performances that resonate deeply, earning multiple Ovation Awards, NAACP Awards, and LA Times Critics' Choice honors. In 2023, Rep. Judy Chu named the Sierra Madre Playhouse as a leading ‘Nonprofit of the Year’ in the San Gabriel Valley. The playhouse was given the honor during the 2023 Congressional Leadership of the Year Awards, which recognizes the leadership and volunteerism in the cities making up California’s 28th Congressional District. It is nestled into a historic building on the inviting Main Street of Sierra Madre, a charming village in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. 

 

Retaining its distinctive movie theater façade and instantly recognizable marquee, the structure has undergone numerous transformations since opening in 1910, from furniture emporium to silent movie theatre to the artistic institution that now stands as a vibrant embodiment of the region’s rich cultural legacy. The Sierra Madre Playhouse fosters creativity that aspires to bridge divides and spark dialogue, all while celebrating the rich tapestry of the American experience and the enduring pursuit of shared understanding.