Grammy Winner L. Shankar and Local Virtuosos Reopen Istana Budaya with ‘Beyond Words’ Istana Budaya resounded with music once again as BEYOND WORDS, International Mastery Meets Malaysian Artistry brought Grammy-winning legend L. Shankar together with an ensemble of Malaysian virtuosos for a landmark celebration of cultural exchange.
Presented by E2R Ventures with the support of Solara Group of Companies, the one-night-only concert marked the first international performance at Istana Budaya following its reopening signalling a renewed chapter for Malaysia’s premier performing arts venue.
A Shared Spotlight of Creative Equals
Rather than a traditional format featuring an international headliner backed by local session musicians, BEYOND WORDS brought artists to the stage as creative equals. Double-violinist, vocalist, and composer L. Shankar performed alongside top Malaysian instrumentalists, composers, and arrangers.
“BEYOND WORDS was never intended to be an international artist coming to Malaysia with Malaysian musicians playing behind him. We wanted to create a stage where extraordinary musicians could meet as equals,” said James Isidore, Executive Producer of the concert.
Malaysian Virtuosos Take Centre Stage
The performance seamlessly blended Indian classical traditions, Malaysian musical textures, jazz, rock, and contemporary sounds. The lineup of Malaysian talent featured:
- Samuel J. Dass: Sitar master and President of SWARA Community Arts Center.
- Prakash Kandasamy: Tabla player providing intricate rhythmic framing.
- Muhardiman Ismail: Performing on the seruling (bamboo flute).
- Shawalnaz Hussin: Keyboardist, composer, and arranger.
- Hadi Maswardi: Bassist and composer.
- Paavendran Langkadran: Percussionist and programmer.
- Eliezer Enan: Guitarist and composer.
- Marco Alonso: Guitarist and multi-instrumentalist.
The setlist featured international compositions like Last Chance, New Day, and Malaysia Dream, alongside distinct local pieces including KampungKu (composed by Samuel J. Dass) and Lenggang Dara (composed by Muhardiman Ismail).
Reopening a Cultural Icon
The evening drew high-profile dignitaries, including Dato’ Shaharuddin bin Abu Sohot, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC); Datuk Surrendren Sathasivam, Deputy Secretary-General (Management) of MOTAC; Senator Puan Saraswathy Kandasami; and Hitesh Rajpal, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the High Commission of India in Malaysia.
As Istana Budaya enters its renewed era, BEYOND WORDS set a new benchmark for cross cultural collaborations proving that international legends and local masters can comfortably share the exact same stage.