Sounds of Indian classical music beckon at the Mushtari Begum Festival, at the Massey Theatre on September 25

Ghazal singer and tabla virtuoso Cassius Khan performs in venue’s first return to live events

The Mushtari Begum Festival of Indian Classical Music and Dance takes place at the Massey Theatre on September 25 at 7 pm.

ANCIENT MELODIES and rhythms are set to fill the air this weekend at the Massey Theatre, where the 10th annual Mushtari Begum Festival brings in local stars of Indian classical music.

On the roster is ghazal singer and tabla virtuoso Cassius Khan, the festival’s founder, alongside harmonium player Amika Kushwaha and violinist Kaushik Sivaramakrishnan.

Khan has performed in more than 20 countries around the world, alongside everyone from slide guitarists to jazz pianists. What makes his work remarkable is that he’s able to sing in the hypnotic Tarannum Ang Gayaki style while manoeuvring the demands of the tabla.

The fest marks to official reopening of the Massey to live audiences. Seating capacity at the 1,260 venue is at 50 percent with COVID protocols in place.

Articles

Indian Summer Festival unveils first 2026 programming, spanning comedy and music

Vidura Bandara Rajapaksa, Rashmeet Kaur, Julian Brave NoiseCat, and Modern Biology at event that runs July 9 to 19

Buena Vista Social Club’s Eliades Ochoa brings his never-ending tour to the Chan, May 9

At the age of 79, the veteran Cuban performer shows no signs of slowing down, declaring that “a troubadour never retires”

A Voynich Manifesto probes the unsolved mysteries of a medieval manuscript

In Terri Hron’s Vancouver New Music show, performers Mind of a Snail, SJ Kirsch, and Viviane Houle improvise on themes including nature and the roots of capitalism

Vancouver Bach Family of Choirs joins forces for SummerSing on May 10

Annual event kicks off the warmer months with performances of folk songs, highlighting the voices of choirs of all ages

Zeena Parkins and William Winant perform Modesty of the Magic Thing at Western Front, May 9

Album pays tribute to American visual artist Jay DeFeo’s 1989 series “The Seven Pillars of Wisdom”

Music review: Vancouver Opera’s La Bohème pours its heart into a classic production that lives up to expectations

With glowing garret windows, lush orchestrations, and powerhouse singing, season closer is everything you imagine when you think of Giacomo Puccini’s tragic masterpiece

Silent classic The Passion of Joan of Arc gave Beautiful Violence a sonic challenge

The musical duo of Simon Dobbs and Jon McGovern found scoring Carl Theodor Dreyer’s 1928 film a more daunting prospect than they anticipated

In experimental hyaline, x/o and gooie move between solids, liquids, and everything in between

Through music and movement, the pair explore nature, transformation, and the transitory nature of goo

Ahead of Vetta Chamber Music’s season finale, violist Hung-Wei Huang prepares to take the organization’s reins

Taiwanese-born artist reflects on learning the ropes from long-time artistic director Joan Blackman, and on performing as a soloist in upcoming concert Celebration