(Re)Sounding India: Keval Shah Performs Reena Esmail

As part of (Re)Sounding India, curated by Guest Curator Keval Shah, Shah performs the complete solo piano works of Reena Esmail, including the UK premiere of works written especially for him. Blending Hindustani and Western classical traditions, Esmail’s music – with its reimagined ragas, lyrical textures and contemporary harmonies – offers a compelling reflection of layered identities and heritage found across cultures.

As part of Origins Unwrapped 2027, Kings Place’s series exploring origins, identity and cultural inheritance, guest curator Keval Shah presents a performance of the complete solo piano works of acclaimed composer Reena Esmail.

Part of Shah’s four-event series (Re)Sounding India, this programme explores how Esmail and Shah, as artists of the South Asian diaspora, draw on, transform and reimagine elements of Indian culture within a contemporary musical practice.

Born in the United States to Indian parents, Esmail has become one of the leading voices exploring the meeting points between Hindustani and Western classical traditions, creating music that reflects life between cultures. Across a rich and varied collection of works, Esmail’s distinctive musical language unfolds through reimagined ragas, lyrical melodies and vibrant contemporary harmonies. Her piano music, much of written for Keval Shah, reflects both artists’ heritage and diverse cultural inheritances, revealing how traditions evolve as they travel across generations and continents.

As both performer and curator, Keval Shah brings a unique perspective to this music, illuminating the artistic and personal questions at the heart of Esmail’s work.

Following the performance, an artist conversation offers further insight into the ideas, influences and cultural connections that shape this remarkable body of music.

Price: £22.50