Midnight Ragas with Kala Ramnath & Jayanthi Kumaresh

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Silk Street
London, EC2Y 8DS United Kingdom
31 October 2026
11:55 pm

Hindustani violin and Carnatic veena in a midnight jugalbandi across India’s two classical traditions 

At the stroke of twelve, two of India’s foremost string players meet on stage for a jugalbandi, a duet form where musicians from different traditions improvise together, responding to each other in real time. Halloween night in London has just become a reason to go out and enjoy a fascinating, Darbar’s first ever late night performance.

Kala Ramnath, a Hindustani violinist known for phrases that move between yearning and stillness, draws ragas with her bow in long, expressive arcs. Beside her, Jayanthi Kumaresh plays the Saraswati veena, rooted in the Carnatic tradition — its plucked strings producing a quality entirely different from Ramnath’s bowed lines.

Sukhvinder Singh Pinky (tabla) and Sai Giridhar (mridangam) anchor the North and South Indian rhythmic systems respectively. The result is a conversation between two musical languages happening in the room, improvised and unrepeatable.

 

Performers:

Kala Ramnath – violin

Jayanthi Kumaresh – Carnatic veena 

Sukhvinder Singh Pinky – tabla

Sai Giridhar – mridangam

Location: Barbican Hall 

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Artists

Kala Ramnath Jayanthi Kumaresh Sukhvinder Singh Sai Giridhar

Location
Within walking distance of a number of London Underground and Elizabeth Line stations, the closest being Barbican, St Paul’s, Farringdon and Moorgate

Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS

Public Transport
Barbican: 4 min walk; Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Circle lines
Moorgate: 7 min walk; Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Circle, Northern lines, Elizabeth Line (use the Moorgate exit for Liverpool St stop)
Farringdon: 8 min walk; Elizabeth line
St Paul’s: 11 min walk; Central line
The nearest tube station served by the Night Tube (Friday and Saturday) is St Paul’s on the Central line.

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Kala Ramnath | Raag Darbari

Kala Ramnath | Raag Darbari

Recorded at St Martins In The Fields on 24th March 2024. Musicians: - Kala Ramnath (violin) - Gurdain Rayatt (tabla) Raag Darbari; Thaat: Asavari; Samay: Midnight As the soft glow of candlelight illuminates the stage, enchanting melodies of the violin and tabla intertwine, weaving a tapestry of musical enchantment. In this intimate setting, we invite you to embark on a journey of soul-stirring rhythms and transcendent melodies, guided by the masterful artistry of Kala Ramnath on the violin and Gurdain Rayatt on the tabla. Drawing from centuries-old traditions yet imbued with a contemporary spirit, their collaboration promises to transport you to realms of profound musical bliss. Join us for an evening of sublime harmony and poetic expression, as we celebrate the timeless beauty of Indian classical music in a mesmerising candlelit concert. Kala Ramnath Renowned as one of India’s foremost violinists, Kala Ramnath mesmerises audiences with her distinctive vocalistic style, effortlessly gliding across the fretboard. Born into a family steeped in musical heritage in Chennai, her lineage includes esteemed Carnatic violinists TN Krishnan and N Rajam. Despite her South Indian roots, Kala’s musical journey has been deeply influenced by North Indian Hindustani classical music. For over 15 years, she honed her craft under the tutelage of Pandit Jasraj, the legendary exponent of the Mewati gharana. “Like an angel in human form. Just to watch her play is an extraordinary thing. She has this tremendously relaxed, sublime way of playing that draws you in immediately. She’s known for her incredibly lyrical playing...She’s one of the greatest musicians on the planet.” - Terry Riley, Composer Recognised as one of Europe’s most accomplished young tabla virtuosos, Gurdain Rayatt’s musical journey embodies a fusion of tradition and innovation. Rooted in the UK yet drawing inspiration from the rich legacies of the Punjab, Benares, and Farukhabad gharanas, Gurdain’s eclectic style reflects a harmonious blend of diverse tabla traditions. His musical foundation was meticulously laid by his father, Harkirat, and his grandfather, Bhai Gurmeet Singh Ji Virdee, whose legacy inspired the founding of Darbar. Subscribe to the Darbar Player to access the full, uncut performance.