Ravi Shankar

On May 22, one of the world’s most acclaimed classical musicians presented two full-length concerts on a single day to sold-out audiences of more than 4,000 appreciative Angelenos. Each program was composed of different works from the classical repertoire, featured more than two hours of nonstop virtuoso solo and ensemble playing and offered sublime cadenzas that took the full measure of a master’s half-century musical career.

Perhaps in the best of all possible multicultural worlds, the fact that the musical traditions of the performers were not European, but Indian, and the fact that the renowned soloist was not Yehudi Menuhin or Alfred Brendel, but Ravi Shankar, would not have made a difference in quality of the event’s coverage by the local paper of record (“Shankar Brings East to West in Pasadena,” May 24).

But The Times reviewer could only characterize this profound musical experience as a “jam session” and belittled part of the audience, dismissing them as “old, ex- and current hippies.” The particulars of the review are only important in that they betray a writer unfamiliar with a complex and immensely rich body of music that is part of the cultural heritage of hundreds of millions of people. It seems odd that in such a culturally diverse metropolitan area its leading paper is not equipped to review non-European classical music.

HARIHAR RAO

JAN McELWEE

Music Circle

Pasadena

Rao is president and co-founder, with Shankar, of concert presenter Music Circle, for which McElwee is a consultant and board vice president.