Baluji Shrivastav OBE (HF 2022)

BALUJI SHRIVASTAV OBE – virtuoso multi-instrumentalist -The Times

“intoxicating”-Vogue Runway

“Convention-defying Indian composition that you will want to play over and over again”-Songlines

“blind musician takes the stage with a bold vision excels in sitar, surbahar, dilruba, pakhavaj and tabla”- Times of India

Baluji Shrivastav OBE is an Indian multi-instrumentalist who was blinded at 8 months old and has become one of the worlds leading composers and sitar players. He has performed and recorded with some of the greatest tabla accompanists such as Anindo Chatterji and Ustad Fayaz Khan. He has worked with a wide variety of artists including Stevie Wonder, Massive Attack, Madness, Shakira, Malu, Boy George, Doves.

His latest stunning multi media composition – Antardrishti-Inner Vision, funded by an international commission from Unlimited and featuring his Inner Vision Orchestra of blind musicians, dancers and audio-visual artists Addictive TV was performed to great reception at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre in Sept 2018, followed by Delhi and at the Mumbai Opera House in collaboration with the British Council. 

Baluji has an extraordinary life story which translates into intense charisma on stage. Born in Uttar Pradesh, Baluji undertook his first musical training at Ajmers Blind School on instruments including the sitar, dilruba, surbahar, pakhavaj and tabla. He graduated from University of Lucknow with a BA in Vocal Studies and Sitar, followed by a BA in Tabla and an MA in Sitar from Alahabad University.

Baluji signed to world and folk music record label ARC Music after moving to London and has gone on to release many albums including: Indian Classical Interactions, Seasons of India, Classical Indian Sitar & Surbahar Ragas, Classical Indian Ragas  Shadow of the Lotus and Baluji Shrivastav Re-Orient – Indian World Music Fusion – featuring Host Ramzy and Best of Baluji Shrivastav OBE 2017 with a track on British Airways inflight entertainment.

His compositions feature in a wide spectrum of films, theatre and television including a series of commissioned works such as Portraits of the Dark, Sitar-Guitar Suites,Indian in London and the worlds only Urdu opera called Sohini and Mahival which he composed together with Golden Globe and Oscar Winner Dario Marianelli. Baluji’s music has featured in Disneys 2014 MillionDollar Arm, 20th Century Foxs New Girl as well as multiple episodes of NBCs Outsourced.

Committed to improving the lives of blind and visually impaired people, Baluji and his wife, musician and writer Linda Shanson, established the Baluji Music Foundation in 2008 to recognises and support blind musicians. The Baluji Music Foundation welcomes the participation of disabled people in music, and founded The Inner Vision Orchestra of blind and visually impaired musicians.

2016 Baluji was awarded GG2 award for Overcoming Adversity. For his services to music and as founder of Inner Vision Orchestra Baluji was awarded the OBE in the Queens 90th Birthday Honours List. In 2017, Times Group India awarded him the accolade of Non-Resident Indian -NRI of the year for Art and Culture. In 2019 Baluji  received the prestigious Hind Rattan Award-Jewel of India- from the Indian Government

For further information about Baluji Music Foundation www.balujimusicfoundation.org

This event is supported by The Arts Council.

If you require a Free carers/ companion ticket please contact us via chris@harwichfestival