This July, virtuoso performer Aakash Odedra will take the stage at Sadler’s Wells East for his debut performances of Songs of the Bulbul, a breathtaking solo work set to an original score by innovative London-based composer Rushil Ranjan. Crafted in collaboration with esteemed Delhi-based Kathak choreographer Rani Khanam, this transcendent piece blends intricate movement and evocative music to captivate audiences. Following its acclaimed world premiere at the 2024 Edinburgh International Festival, where it earned glowing 4- and 5-star reviews and was named Best Show by The List, Songs of the Bulbul promises an unforgettable experience that showcases Odedra’s artistry at its finest.
Songs of the Bulbul lays bare Odedra’s personal and spiritual dance landscape on stage. Rani Khanam’s exquisite storytelling choreography features expressive hand gestures and flowing lines through space. Renowned for her intimate knowledge of Islamic and Sufi texts, Khanam has worked widely with Sufi musicians, singers and dancers from across the Islamic world.
Rushil Ranjan is renowned for his distinctive ability to bring together Indian classical and Western classical traditions. His original score is written for orchestra, Qawwali singers and other Indian classical musicians, played in a recording by the pioneering Manchester Camerata.
Together, Odedra, Ranjan and Khanam tell an ancient Sufi myth about the bulbul, a Persian nightingale, a symbol of the beauty of the natural world and the pursuit of religious enlightenment, which, when captured, sings a glorious tune. The song reaches an inexpressibly beautiful pitch in the moments before it perishes from despair.
Song of the Bulbul will be at Sadler’s Wells East Thursday 17 to Saturday 19 July at 7:30 pm. Tickets are on sale now from £15.00 at sadlerswells.com
