The Benaras Gharana by Sunanda Sharma | Darbar Festival

Inside the tradition where classical technique and emotional truth are inseparable 

Sunanda Sharma is a senior disciple of the legendary Girija Devi and one of the foremost practitioners of the Banaras gharana style of khayal singing. In this masterclass, she opens up the tradition from the inside: how the gharana’s approach to raga differs from other schools, where the line between technical discipline and emotional expression dissolves, and why the Banaras style has always carried a distinctive intimacy. 

This is part demonstration, part conversation — Sharma sings to illustrate her points, showing how specific melodic phrases and rhythmic choices carry meaning that theory alone can’t convey. 

The hour talk is followed by a 30-minute Q&A with the audience. 

Location: Auditorium 1, Barbican Centre