An Evening with Rushil Ranjan, CBSO, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 27 November, 5☆☆☆☆☆. Review: Dan Auluk.
An Evening with Rushil Ranjan, CBSO, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 27 November,
5☆☆☆☆☆. Review: Dan Auluk.
“Certainly a reminder that music’s power is in the connection and humanity it offers.”
Rushil Ranjan is the first Collaborative Artist for the CBSO. This landmark partnership represents a bold evolution of CBSO’s mission to connect with audiences through collaboration, community and creativity. The Orchestral Qawwali Project, created by Rushil features the unforgettable vocals of Abi Sampa, is a genre-defying fusion of Sufi poetry, Indian classical traditions, and symphonic scale. With original orchestral arrangements performed by the CBSO. This partnership aligns with the orchestra’s 2025–26 season vision of a “future-facing orchestra” – shaped by new diverse voices and grounded in the cultural richness of the West Midlands. This is exciting and a few more steps forwards to engage with new diverse audiences, create new fusion of sounds and challenging perceptions and skills of all.
The opening sublime Bombay Theme by A. R. Rahman was beautiful and showcased, once again why the CBSO are brilliant and one of the best in the world. The cultural fusion was already generating excitement by just seeing all the South Asian musical instruments and musicians on stage. From the opening we know we are in safe hands with brilliant conductor Melvin Tay. Tay’s connection and synchronicity with the overall sound was incredibly delivered with care and compassion throughout. Simply world class.
We are greeted by Ranjan, on stage to explain that the concert will be in two parts. Just from hearing his voice, you can tell just how grateful and how much tonight matters to him, from a personal achievement and showcasing the potential of collaborative music making. He explains the first half will be music and composers who have influenced and helped him on his journey and the second half, a World premiere of his Western and Indian classical collaboration, revealing to us how they connect. This was certainly achieved.
We are then transported to the past and the haunting and beautiful music from Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002), Across the Stars. The evening just gets better and by the end of the second half you can see how these great composers have influenced Ranjan’s World premiere.
The audiences are treated to more, we have A. R. Rahman, with Raga Dance, Mascagni, Chris Cara and the beautifully rich and heartfelt voice of Malathy Nithiyananthan performing Mychael Danna Lullabby from the film The Life Of Pi (2012). Oh, there are other treats, and this is just the first half. We witness a passionate, beautiful, emotional dance performance by Aakash Odedra, my first time seeing them, what a treat – mesmerising! The music flowed within them and from them, taking us on a journey throughout exploring connection, the feeling of being trapped, loss and freedom through dance; I found this a moving emotional experience.
Ranjan, then welcomes the one and only Nitin Sawhney, who have been following on socials this year and is truly inspirational. Sawhney delights us with a sublime piano performance with the CBSO and Indian classical sounds; that showcased the power of connection and harmony. To finish the first half, you are left with the beautiful performance from the lead solo violinist Jonathan Martindale and the incredible Symphony No. 5: Allegro molto by Sibelius. The call and response of music in the first was subtle but preparing us for a second half finale!
This is only my second time seeing a live orchestral concert in 20 years, so I am still trying to understand the musical styles in this fusion concert and learning about music. This was also my first time listening to Qawwali music live, but already the rhythmic nature of the South Asian performers with the CBSO was a delight. The musical styles complimented each other richly to offer an evocative and emotionally charged clarity.
After the interval I was literally emotionally overwhelmed with opening and World premiere of Ranjan’s Safar, to me a love letter of sorts, of new beginnings in his life. A twenty-five-minute musical odyssey that captured hope, a sense of belonging, of discovery and the state of unknowing. It was like experiencing a soundtrack from a dramatic and compelling end scene of a film; combined with the haunting, beautiful, defiant voice of Abi Sampa. Sampa’s voice and movement is one to watch; it was remarkable how her voice and performance matched the intensity of the CBSO and she definitely called, and they responded. All the South Asian performers and of course the heartfelt dance performance from Odedra was an experience I will never forget.
The finale was Ranjan’s Ruhaniyat, which was a twenty-minute energised, synchronicity of Western and South Asian influences. The music, the hand clapping from us all, the tempo, and performances were all simply mesmerizing, defiant and exciting. I am excited about what future fusion collaborations will happen in 2026. Bravo to all!
Certainly a reminder that music’s power is in the connection and humanity it offers.
Melvin Tay, Conductor
Rushil Ranjan, Composer, Arranger, Piano
Nitin Sawhney CBE, Composer, Piano
Abi Sampa, Vocalist
Aakash Odedra, Dancer
Praveen Prathapan, Bansuri
Janan Sathiendran, Tabla and Percussion
Janathan Karunakaran, Drum Kit
Sanjuran Keerthikumar, Ghatam
Jonathan Martindale, Violin
Malathy Nithiyananthan, Vocalist
A. R. Rahman, Bombay Theme, 5mins
John Williams, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones: Across the Stars, 6mins
A. R. Rahman, Raga Dance, 6mins
Mascagni, Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo, 4mins
Chris Cara (orch. M. Guthrie), Tephra, 7mins
Mychael Danna, Life of Pi: Pi's Lullaby, 5mins
Nitin Sawhney, Breathing Light, 5mins
Nitin Sawhney, Heart Suite - II: Morphine & Memories, 5mins
Sibelius, Symphony No.5: Allegro molto, 9mins
Interval
Rushil Ranjan, Safar (CBSO Commission, World Premiere), 25mins
Rushil Ranjan, Ruhaniyat, 20mins