Ranjani and Gayatri are among the most preeminent musicians in the South Indian Carnatic tradition today. Hosted by HKUST Composer-in-Residence Ilari Kaila, and preceding the vocal duo’s exclusive Hong Kong appearance at the Cosmopolis Festival (7:30 PM, Shaw Auditorium), this round-table event delves into the intricacies of Indian classical music.
The event is free and open to the public.
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Bios
Sister duo Ranjani and Gayatri Balasubramanian are world-renowned performers of South Indian classical Carnatic music. They have performed in prestigious venues and festivals, including the Kennedy Centre in Washington, D.C., Southbank Centre in London, Ravenna Music Festival in Italy, Cross Culture Festival in Warsaw, Poland, Bengal Music Festival in Dhaka, and Esplanade Theatre in Singapore, to name a few. In addition to performances in India and around the globe, they regularly release studio recordings, appear on television and radio, give lecture-demonstrations, and work as composers, educators, and ambassadors of Indian classical music.
They started their joint career as a violin duo, having studied the instrument under the tutelage of Sri T. S. Krishnaswami Iyer, and learned singing from Sri PS Narayanaswamy. Their parents, Sri N. Balasubramanian and Shrimati Meenakshi, have also guided them throughout their musical journey.
Ranjani and Gayatri’s concerts take the listener into a world of color, beauty, and transcendental bliss. Their performances are a testament to the conservation of an ancient tradition through innovation, imagination, and originality, which has inspired many musicians to follow their style.