“Delhi to Damascus” is a celebration of the historical and cultural ties between India and Syria. The two countries have a deep connection that dates back to when they were integral to the legendary Silk Road. This connection facilitated a vibrant cultural, linguistic and musical exchange as witnessed in their common Sufi music tradition and the ancient Indo-Iranian and Indo-European Sanskrit language that originated from Syria and traveled to India. This shared heritage inspired Tabla maestro Sandeep Das to create “The Delhi to Damascus” project.

For this concert he will bring in Syrian oud master Issam Rafea joined by Indian vocalist and sarangi player, Suhail Yusuf Khan, and sitarist Rajib Karmakar. All of these musicians are master performers and audiences will hear Indian and Syrian music, many for the first time. Equally important is the concept behind the HUM project – Harmony and Universality through Music. In Sandeep’s own words: “Having performed and composed for Yo Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble and having had the added experience of performing for 20 years with the best artists that India has produced, I felt it was time I did something to carry forward Yo Yo Ma’s idea of connecting the world’s neighborhoods again – through music and other art forms. I strongly believe that in current times one cannot live insulated lives anymore and the more we care about and share one another’s treasures, the better it is.”