Article Contributed by Sacks and Company
Published on January 26, 2026
Schirmer Theatrical, part of Wise Music Group, presents a new concert production introducing The Ravi Shankar Ensemble—a multi-generational collective of world-class musicians curated by Anoushka and Sukanya Shankar. The ensemble is dedicated to the masterful compositions and enduring legacy of sitarist Ravi Shankar whose innovative artistry brought Indian classical music to the world.
For the ensemble’s 14-city Spring 2026 debut tour, Ravi’s wife Sukanya Shankar and their daughter, musician Anoushka Shankar, have curated a thoughtful collection of Ravi Shankar’s repertoire for the six-piece ensemble. The program will focus on the maestro’s notable devotion to both tradition and creativity while building understanding and love of Indian classical music with audiences worldwide. The concert weaves together elegantly designed visuals, featuring rare audio and video materials from the Ravi Shankar archives alongside a dynamic selection of Shankar’s soul-stirring music.
The debut tour kicks off March 16 at The Egg in Albany, NY, with stops at Chicago Symphony Presents, New York City’s The Town Hall, and more. A full list of tour dates appears below.
The Ravi Shankar Ensemble features Shubhendra Rao (Sitar), Anubrata Chatterjee (Tabla), B C Manjunath (Mridangam), Ravichandra Kulur (Flute), Padma Shankar (Violin, Vocals), and Aayush Mohan (Sarod). The ensemble will be rehearsing in New Delhi during February, with a preview performance set to take place February 13 at The Ravi Shankar Centre.
Sukanya Shankar says, “Ravi Shankar—the Indian Sun—continues to shine on. Raviji’s influence extends beyond music, encompassing cultural exchange, spiritual exploration, and his role as a global ambassador for India. I am so happy and deeply touched that through this tour of the Ravi Shankar Ensemble with young virtuosic musicians, his legacy continues to inspire and influence generations to come.”
Anoushka Shankar says, “Curating this concert program alongside my mother has been a profound way to reconnect with my father’s music – not just as his daughter, but as his student and a fellow musician perpetually learning from his vast body of work. Although it’s virtually impossible, I wanted to showcase the breadth of what made him the incomparable musician he was: beyond a performer and sitar player but also a composer, innovator and pioneer. The pieces we’ve chosen carry so many shades: complexity and lightness, discipline and abandon. I’m so excited to share this living, breathing celebration of his artistry with new audiences, brought to life by truly incredible musicians who understand the depth of what it means to play his music.”
“The Ravi Shankar Ensemble represents a deeply meaningful collaboration of musical legacy and living tradition,” adds Betsey Perlmutter, Vice President & Creative Director of Schirmer Theatrical. “It is an absolute honor to work alongside Sukanya and Anoushka on this project which not only honors Ravi Shankar’s profound impact on the musical and cultural landscape but also provides audiences with a multi-generational bridge to his music.”
The Ravi Shankar Ensemble project is produced by Schirmer Theatrical (part of Wise Music Group). Concert bookings by outer/most agency.
In a career that spanned decades and continents, Maestro Ravi Shankar made an indelible imprint on global music history and culture. A virtuosic Indian musician and composer known for his mastery of the sitar, Shankar was a leading cultural figure of the 20th century and a major figure in the Hindustani music tradition, reshaping the centuries-old form into what it is now recognized as today and introducing Western audiences to the classical tradition of Indian Ragas.
He popularized Indian classical music globally through his teaching, performances and collaborations with Western musicians like Yehudi Menuhin, Philip Glass and George Harrison. His compositions for sitar and orchestra bridged the gap between Eastern and Western music. Shankar received the Bharat Ratna (India’s highest civilian honor), France’s Legion D’Honneur, a Knighthood from Queen Elizabeth, Sweden’s Polar Music Prize, Japan’s Praemium Imperiale, the Ramon Magsaysay Award, eighteen honorary doctorates and five Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Schirmer Theatrical (part of Wise Music Group) is a creative producer at the intersection of music, theater, and technology—where legacy meets reinvention—shaping and transforming iconic artist catalogues into immersive, contemporary performance experiences for international stages. With a focus on multidisciplinary creation, we develop new symphonic experiences, theatrical concerts, and experiential productions that expand how audiences encounter music.
Our creative projects are rooted in collaboration, bringing together top performers, composers, choreographers, directors, visual artists, orchestras, movie studios, and creative partners. We honor artistic legacy while pushing performance forward, resulting in globally scalable productions that redefine musical storytelling as immersive, collaborative, and alive.
Pandit Shubhendra Rao (Sitar) is an internationally acclaimed performer, composer, cultural entrepreneur and music educator. A protégé of Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar, Shubhendra Rao’s relentless service in promoting Indian music has made him a highly respected figure in the field of music and education across the world. As a composer, he pushes the boundaries of classical music across cultures, composing and collaborating with Chinese Pipa maestro Gao Hong, American Jazz Guitarist Freddie Bryant, Japanese legendary singer Ryoko Moriyama, Bilbao Symphony Orchestra, Brazilian Symphony Orchestra, and the Chinese National Orchestra, amongst others.
Anubrata Chatterjee (Tabla) is one of the leading tabla artists of his generation. He is the son and disciple of the world-renowned tabla maestro, Pandit Anindo Chatterjee. Anubrata’s creative approach toward his music includes the traditional Farrukhabad Gharana and Lucknow styles of tabla as well as a modern touch in the presentation of his art.
B C Manjunath (Mridangam) revealed an innate musical talent from a young age and later expanded his musical perspective under renowned teachers. His work spans classical, fusion, solo, and ensemble performances with artists across India and the world.
Ravichandra Kulur (Flute) is an internationally acclaimed flute virtuoso who has performed over 1,200 concerts in 34 countries, blending Carnatic classical, world music, and fusion jazz.
Padma Shankar (Violin, Vocals) is an acclaimed performer, composer, and educator, known for her evocative artistry and deep-rooted training in the South Indian classical tradition.
Aayush Mohan (Sarod) is one of the most acclaimed Sarod players on the global stage and a proud grand-disciple of Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar.
March 16 — Albany, NY — The Egg
March 17 — Ridgefield, CT — Ridgefield Playhouse
March 18 — Princeton, NJ — McCarter Theatre Center
March 19 — North Bethesda, MD — The Music Center at Strathmore
March 20 — New York, NY — The Town Hall
March 22 — Chicago, IL — Chicago Symphony Center
March 24 — Richardson, TX — Eisemann Center
March 27 — Mesa, AZ — Mesa Arts Center
March 29 — San Diego, CA — The Baker-Baum Concert Hall
March 31 — Los Angeles, CA — The Alex Theatre
April 2 — San Luis Obispo, CA — Harold Miossi Hall
April 3 — Livermore, CA — Bankhead Theater at Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center
April 4 — San Francisco, CA — SFJAZZ at Herbst Theatre
April 6 — Seattle, WA — Moore Theatre
