Philharmonia Orchestra / Nishat Khan
Undeniably the foremost virtuoso of the sitar, Nishat Khan transcends all musical barriers with his provocative emotional expression and supreme technical mastery.
Heir to the 400-year old tradition of India’s most renowned musical family, Khan flawlessly integrates the discipline and technique of his ancestors with his own distinctive musical approach. The explosive passion of Khan’s playing envelops the mind and the soul in blissful harmony. Having performed since the tender age of 7, his extraordinary command of the instrument is unequalled.In modern contexts Nishat Khan’s virtuosity has been compared to such luminaries as “Jimi Hendrix” (Chicago Times) and “Bach” (Washington Times) because of the ingenious, very personal interpretation of his musical heritage. The potential of Khan’s artistic vision is limitless; his extraordinary creativity refuses to be circumscribed by conservative orthodoxy. He has conquered not only the North Indian classical idiom but also realms as diverse as Gregorian chant, Western classical music, abstract jazz, and Flamenco. His sensitive phrasing and remarkable intuition of various musical cultures provide him with a great sense of freedom and flexibility. This unique cosmopolitan insight has led to collaborations with the world's leading performers and composers such as John McLaughlin, Philip Glass, Paco Peña, Evelyn Glennie, and Django Bates.
In April 2002, Nishat received an award for his inspiration and dedication to humanity from a foundation linked to the United Nations (past recipients included Sting and Nelson Mandela). In August 2002, he was invited to perform at the Japanese Parliament DIET in Tokyo where his concert marked the 50th Anniversary of Indo-Japanese diplomatic relations. In January 2004, the President of Croatia received Nishat in Zagreb, where he performed Meeting of Angels with Gregorian chants. Later that year, Khan was invited to perform alongside Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Jeff Beck, John McLaughlin and others at the Crossroads Festival in Dallas, Texas. Most recently, Khan was honored with a U.S. Congressional Award for Contribution to Culture and Community in August 2005. He also received an award for his dedication and musical excellence from the Pacific Asia Museum in Los Angeles, October 2004. Nishat Khan’s mesmerising personality and devotion to spreading his musical tradition have led to his appointment as visiting professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. He has also held many successful master classes internationally.
