Atelier 111, on May 10th, is honored to present an extraordinary evening of Indian classical music. Immersion brings together two world-class musicians – Partho Sarothy (sarod) and Paul Livingstone (sitar) – in a rare live performance rooted in the sacred tradition of the Maihar Gharana, founded by the legendary Pandit Ravi Shankar.
Both Partho and Paul are direct disciples of Ravi Shankar and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, carrying forward a living legacy through their deeply emotive, improvisational duet style known as jugalbandi. Their music invites the audience into a space of profound stillness, rhythmic vitality, and spiritual resonance – where each note becomes a vessel of transmission from teacher to disciple, and now, from stage to listener.
This performance also honors a journey of resilience. Paul Livingstone continues to tour following the devastating loss of his home and studio in the Eaton Canyon Fire. His return to the stage, alongside his longtime collaborator, is a testament to the healing power of music and the endurance of lineage.
Paul Livingstone is an American sitarist, composer, and disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar. A leading voice in cross-cultural music, he has performed worldwide, recorded on two Grammy-winning albums, and leads the Arohi Ensemble. Paul also teaches Indian and world music at Glendale College and founded the Soul Force Project, blending music with social and spiritual vision.
Partho Sarothy is a globally acclaimed sarod maestro and senior disciple of both Ustad Dhyanesh Khan and Pandit Ravi Shankar. With over 50 years of performance experience, his music offers a profound expression of serenity, devotion, and Hindustani classical mastery—carrying forward a powerful musical lineage with grace and depth.
Pandit Ravi Shankar (1920 – 2012) was one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century – a master of the sitar, a visionary composer, and the most prominent ambassador of Indian classical music to the Western world. A disciple of Baba Allauddin Khan of the revered Maihar Gharana, Shankar revolutionized how global audiences understand and experience the ancient form of raga – melodic frameworks designed not merely for performance, but for spiritual and emotional transformation.
From collaborations with Western icons like George Harrison of The Beatles, Philip Glass, and Yehudi Menuhin to his historic performances at Woodstock and Carnegie Hall, Shankar bridged East and West with clarity, dignity, and depth. He was not just a performer, but a teacher, ensuring the continuity of a tradition that had been passed down orally for centuries.
His legacy lives on through his direct disciples – including Partho Sarothy and Paul Livingstone – who continue to carry the lineage of the Maihar Gharana into the present day. Their performance at Immersion is not only a musical offering, but a living extension of the sacred thread woven by Ravi Shankar himself.
C O N N E C T
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