Utpola Borah performs at a concert. File picture

May 16: His roots lie in Germany, but it is in Indian classical music, especially the sitar, that he finds his spiritual succour.

She is, on the other hand, an Assamese, who has carved out a niche for herself in the highly revered portals of Hindustani classical music.

And it is the jugalbandhi of these two — sitarist Hans F. Utter and vocalist Utpola Borah — which is all set to mesmerise music connoisseurs at a classical soiree, christened Shades of Desire. The function will be held at the Vivekananda Kendra for Arts and Culture auditorium in Uzan Bazar on Sunday.

Ustad Ballu Khan Warsi and Pankaj Sarmah would accompany the masters on the tabla and harmonium respectively.

The event is an attempt by two city-based music promoters, Rishi Raj Sarmah and Bidyut Borbora, to acquaint the music connoisseurs with the best of Indian classical music.

“Both Borah and Utter are names to reckon with in Indian classical music. The evening has been designed to bring to light the various aspects of Indian classical music through some of the most talented names in the industry,” Sarmah said.

“The function is our first step forward to unite practitioners of classical music from various parts of the world under one platform,” Sarmah added.

Utter has studied sitar under Ustad Shujaat Khan, son of Ustad Vilayat Khan, for 10 years. He performs regularly in the US . He can play various other instruments like the oud, guitar, do-tar and keyboard.

A scholar of Hindustani music, he is currently working on his dissertation on contemporary performance practice in Hindustani music. His most recent research project concerns the connection between the do-tar of Assam and the different varieties of do-tar found in central Asia.

Borah, on the other hand, is a Hindustani (North Indian) classical vocalist and ethno-musicologist. She has learned classical vocal music under Gaanaprabha Prabha Atre and Malashri Prasad of the Kirana and Banaras gharanas (traditions) respectively. An All India Radio and Doordarshan artiste, she has widely performed the khayal, thumri, dadra, chaiti, kajri, sawan, jhula, barahamasa, bhajan and folk songs.

She is currently a researcher for the Archives and Research Centre for Ethnomusicology, American Institute of Indian Studies in India. She has done extensive study on the Bihu songs of Assam, which culminated in her book titled Bihu Festival of Assam — Music, Dance and Performance.

“Both Borah and Utter are special as far as Assamese music is concerned. Both are working and promoting Assamese music and trying to take it to the global platform. Thus, to see both performing together under one roof will definitely be a unique feat,” said city-based sarod player Tarun Chandra Kalita.