Fredagar på Sibbe: Evening of Indian Music
17.04.2026 19:00 – 20:20
Standard price 25€ +order fee (from 1,50 € + 0,65 % of the order)
Students/pensioners/children 20€ +order fee (from 1,50 € + 0,65 % of the order)
Sougata Roy Chowdhury, sarod, Debojyoti Sanyal, tabla
At the Fredagar på Sibbe concert, the Indian classical instrument sarod fills the concert hall with warm, hypnotic melodies, framed and animated by the rhythmic patterns of the tabla. This Indian classical music concert invites the listener into the world of ragas and into a moment of deep listening, where the music unfolds gradually, step by step.
Representing the Hindustani music tradition, Sougata Roy Chowdhury is a highly regarded sarod player and pedagogue and is considered to be one of the most gifted musicians of his generation. The concert is accompanied by the versatile tabla player Debojyoti Sanyal.
Sougata Roy Chowdhury, a distinguished Sarod performer and teacher, is celebrated as one of the most gifted musicians of his generation. Honored with the prestigious Aga Khan Music Awards in 2019, Sougata was born into a family deeply rooted in Bengali artistic traditions. His upbringing in Santiniketan provided a rich cultural environment that nurtured his musical talents from a young age. His father, Prof. Sarbari Roy Chowdhury, a celebrated sculptor and music aficionado, possessed one of the most extensive collections of Indian classical music in the country, and mother, Srimati Ajanta Roy Chowdhury, a distinguished Indian classical vocalist from the Agra Gharana, further instilled in him a deep appreciation for classical music.
Sougata’s musical journey began under Ustad Dhyanesh Khan, son of the legendary Padmavibhushan Ustad Ali Akbar Khan Sahab. After Ustad Dhyanesh Khan’s untimely demise, he continued his training under Ustad Aashish Khan. His interactions with Ustad Ali Akbar Khan Sahib during annual visits to Kolkata significantly enriched Sougata’s deep love and passion for the Sarod.
Additionally, he was under the tutelage of the Pandit Santosh Bandyopadhyay, a prominent Sitar and Surbahar maestro, who was highly respected and knowledgeable Guru for an extended period. More recently, he studied with Padmashree Pandit Rajeev Taranath, a renowned Sarod -player and esteemed Guru for several years, who greatly elevated Sougata’s artistry.
Sougata’s profound reverence for Ustad Ali Akbar Khan’s teachings guides his musical expression, embodying the Maestro’s deep musicality and spiritual connection to the art form. His commitment to preserving and perpetuating the -Maestro’s legacy reflects a profound respect for the traditions and teachings passed down by his esteemed respected Gurus.
Sougata is the co-founder of the ‘Sarbari Roy Chowdhury Foundation,’ an organization dedicated to honoring his father’s legacy. He, along with his family and friends, actively continues this legacy by sharing knowledge with his disciples and promoting ongoing research in the field. The ‘Sarbari Roy Chowdhury Foundation’ is committed to enhancing key aspects of cultural interactions both in India and globally, focusing on performing arts, visual arts, and fine arts.
Chowdhury has received numerous Indian and international awards and recognitions for his work in music. In addition to performing in his home country, he regularly appears and conducts workshops in Europe, the United States, and Canada.
Tabla player Debojyoti Sanyal from Kolkata, West Bengal received his initial training from his late father, Amelendu Sanyal, and later from legendary tabla maestros Pt. Anindo Chatterjee and Pandit Shankar Ghosh. He is currently a disciple of Pt. Shankar Ghosh.
In India, he regularly accompanies renowned classical musicians and in recent years he has also traveled internationally to give Indian classical concerts and classes and participate in various projects of World Music. He also has a variety of experience performing with African and Arabic musicians in the South of France where he is based part-time and also is a regular visitor to Ireland.