KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7 — Grammy-winning singer, composer and Carnatic music legend L. Shankar is set to hold a special concert at the prestigious Istana Budaya later this month.
Organised by E2Rventures, the Beyond Words concert, scheduled for Aug 22, will also feature Malaysia’s “Sultan of Sitar” Samuel J. Dass as part of the ensemble. The concert will mark the first international performance staged at Istana Budaya following its reopening.
For those unfamiliar with L. Shankar, the 76-year-old is a world-renowned double violinist, vocalist and the inventor of the 10-string Double Violin, who has collaborated with global music icons such as Korn frontman Jonathan Davis, Frank Zappa, Phil Collins and Bruce Springsteen.
Apart from Shankar and Samuel, the Beyond Words ensemble also features Malaysian musical talents including Prakash Kandasamy (tabla virtuoso), Shawalnaz Hussin (composer, arranger and keyboardist), Muhardiman Ismail (seruling maestro), Hadi Maswardi (bassist and composer), Paavendran Langkadran (percussionist and programmer), and guitarists Eliezer Enan and Marco Alonso.
Sharing how Beyond Words came about, Samuel said he was approached by Shankar following his Swarasia – The Malaysian Wave performance at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (DFP) in 2024.
He added that he never imagined approaching the legendary musician for a joint concert and was in awe when Shankar offered him the opportunity.
“Somebody asked me, ‘How did you approach Mr Shankar to have a show with you?’ And my response to that question was, ‘Do you think I dare ask him to have a show with me?’” Samuel said during the Beyond Words press conference in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
“I never imagined, even in my wildest dreams, that I would get to meet him when we live on opposite sides of the world.
“I am deeply thankful to Shankar-ji for granting us this opportunity. As Malaysians, it is a true honour to stand on stage with him,” he said.
Samuel added that Shankar was his main inspiration in creating fusion music and had also inspired his first album, Sitarasa.
Meanwhile, Shankar said he was impressed by Samuel’s dedication to preserving the art form through his grassroots academy, the Swara Community Arts Centre, adding that the concert was also aimed at inspiring the younger generation of musicians.
“This is just the beginning — music is constantly evolving.
“We need to look to the future and engage the younger generation who will carry it forward.
“By bringing these musicians together, this project aims to push the art form to new heights and build a foundation for what comes next,” Shankar said.
E2Rventures executive producer James Isidore said the concert was initially planned for 2025 but was postponed due to Istana Budaya’s ongoing renovations.
He added that the organisers are also looking to introduce a special masterclass series featuring Shankar and the ensemble in the near future.
The Beyond Words concert also aims to raise funds to support the Swara Community Arts Centre.
Tickets are available online, priced between RM150 and RM650.
