Indian sitar maestro Ravi Shankar on European farewell tour
PARIS - Indian sitar maestro Ravi Shankar is all set for his last European performance in France but hopes this will not be his last concert there.
The 88-year-old musician is giving a masterclass at the Salle Pleyel in Paris on Tuesday evening.
As Shankar entered the stage to a standing ovation during a farewell concert on Monday, he said, "My dear friends in Paris. It is supposed to be my last concert here. I hope this is not the case!"
Shankar gave a stellar performance despite his poor health, which had delayed both performances for months.
The audience, made up of a mix of fifty-somethings and youngsters, listened intently as Shankar performed alongside his daughter Anoushka, a tabla drum player and two lute players.
Despite needing help to get on stage and not being able to sit cross-legged, Shankar proved to be a master musician, performing for 90 minutes over three different parts.
George Harrison's widow Olivia was in the audience, and so was Nicolas Godin from the French electric-pop band Air.
Shankar, a performer, composer, teacher, and writer, is credited with making Indian music popular in the West, where his eclectic sound is often mixed into pop songs. He will head to the United States in October for four more concerts.
Shankar is India's best-known musician and a three-time Grammy award winner.
His second daughter is the eight-time Grammy award winner Norah Jones, and is best known for her hit single "Don't Know Why".
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