Goethe-Zentrum to Host Tabla Jugalbandi in Tribute to Zakir Hussain

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 30,2025 : The Goethe-Zentrum, the German cultural centre, will organize a special tabla jugalbandi performance as a tribute to the legendary tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain. The event will take place at the Goethe Amphitheatre in the city on February 6, starting at 6:30 PM. This performance aims to celebrate Ustad Zakir Hussain’s immense contribution to the world of music and his profound impact on Indian classical music.

The tabla jugalbandi will bring together renowned tabla artists Florian Schiertz from Germany and Prafulla Athalye from India, along with the eminent sarangi maestro and Hindustani singer Dilshad Khan. The trio will join forces to deliver a rare and powerful musical tribute to the late maestro. Ustad Zakir Hussain, widely regarded as one of the most influential percussionists in history, passed away in December 2024, leaving behind an incredible legacy that continues to inspire musicians worldwide.

Florian Schiertz, based in Singen, Germany, is a disciple of prominent Indian music legends such as Pandit Ravi Shankar, Udai Mazumdar, and Pandit Ashutosh Bhattacharya. A well-known artist in Europe, Florian has performed alongside celebrated musicians like Pandit Budhaditya Mukherjee and Rakesh Chaurasia, and has toured globally, including performances in India. He also co-developed a tabla and percussion project with German classical percussionist Wolfram Winkel, which was broadcast on German television BR Klassik, described as an “Encounter of music cultures of breathtaking energy.” Florian is also an educator at the Jazz and Rock School in Konstanz, Germany.

Dilshad Khan, hailing from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, is the tenth generation of his family to play the sarangi. Trained under his uncle, the late Ustad Sultan Khan, Dilshad has a profound command over the instrument and has collaborated with Ustad Zakir Hussain on the Grammy Award-winning Global Drum Project. In addition, Dilshad has contributed to more than 500 Hindi film soundtracks.

Prafulla Athalye, an ‘A’ grade artist of All India Radio, is a senior disciple of the legendary Ustad Allarakha. His international performances with notable artists such as Ustad Zakir Hussain, Pt. Jasraj, and Pt. Birju Maharaj have cemented his reputation as a global ambassador for tabla music.