On Friday, Sept. 27, the MIT community will have a chance to see and hear Ali Akbar Khan, considered by many to be one of the world's greatest living musicians, when he performs at 7:30 p.m. in Kresge Auditorium. He gave concerts here in 1996 and 1999.
Khan is an Indian classical musician most responsible for bringing worldwide attention to the sarod, a stringed instrument from India. He is touring the United States as part of his 80th birthday celebration and will perform with Zakir Hussain on tabla. The event is co-sponsored by MITHAS (MIT Heritage of South Asia) and Sulekha, a web site for the Indian community worldwide.
Considered a national treasure in India, Khan has been praised by concert violinist Yehudi Menuhin as "an absolute genius - the greatest musician in the world." The Times of London wrote that he is "as rich in artistic imagination as technical mastery."
Hussain, recently voted "the sexiest man in India" by female readers of Gentleman, is one of the world's most respected percussionists, having accompanied India's best-known musicians and dancers to great acclaim. He has received numerous awards including Grammys and the Padma Shri award from the Indian government.
Tickets are available here; prices are $100, $50, $30 and $20. For more information, call 258-7971.
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on September 25, 2002.
