Critically Acclaimed Songs of the Bulbul Premieres in England – Tour Begins April 2025

Aakash Odedra Company, in collaboration with Manchester Camerata, has announced the English premiere and UK tour of Songs of the Bulbul, a solo dance performance by Aakash Odedra. The tour commences at Birmingham Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio from 8 to 10 April 2025. Notably, the performance at The Lowry in Salford on 6 May will feature live orchestral accompaniment by Manchester Camerata, along with vocalists Abi Sampa and Sarthak Kalyani.

Songs of the Bulbul is a collaboration between Odedra and Delhi-based Kathak choreographer Rani Khanam. The piece draws inspiration from an ancient Sufi myth about the bulbul, a Persian nightingale that sings a profoundly beautiful song before succumbing to despair in captivity.

The performance integrates elements of Sufi Kathak dance, music, and poetry, aiming to explore themes of beauty, loss, and the quest for spiritual enlightenment.

Composer Rushil Ranjan has developed an original score that blends Indian classical and Western classical traditions. At the Salford performance, this score will be rendered live by a 35-piece orchestra from Manchester Camerata, accompanied by Qawwali singers.

Following its world premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2024, “Songs of the Bulbul” received critical acclaim, including our own five-star review, “There’s a graceful fury to every move, steeped in classical Sufi Kathak dance, but laced with a wild, accessible romanticism.” My recommendation then was to pick up tickets if any were to be had – advice I am happy to give once again!

Other Images: Angela Grabowska

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For more information on the Aakash Odedra Company, click here.

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