Review: BBC PROMS, ANOUSHKA SHANKAR-'CHAPTERS', Royal Albert Hall

It's 20 years since Anoushka Shankar made her Proms debut, along with her father Ravi Shakar. Since then she has eclipsed even his enduring reputation as a world-renowned sitarist. Now a multi-Grammy-nominated artist, a sitar virtuoso and prolific composer, Shankar makes a triumphant return to the Royal Albert Hall for her fifth Prom: the world-premiere performance of her deeply personal ‘Chapters’ trilogy of albums.

"Three chapters, three geographies" is what Shankar has based the albums upon, with an idea of a cycle from morning until night in three places she calls home. The Prom was played straight through, presented with new arrangements by Robert Ames, Ian Anderson and CHAINES. Ames also conducted the London Contemporary Orchestra. The concept was born in 2022 in London, where she begins from a place of pain (Shankar has spoken out about sexual abuse she suffered as a child). This moves to healing, safety and then a return to light, joy and power.

Entitled Chapter I: Forever, For Now is an exploration of that pain and of the short life span of joy. There was a definite link to classical Indian sounds here, with peaceful yet deeply poignant moments where the sitar gave in to a yearning, almost melancholy sound. Ending with "Sleeping Flowers (Awaken Every Spring)", there was a hopeful brightness as the orchestra and sitar lift as one.

Moving to California, where she went to school for Chapter II: How Dark It I Before Dawn where the concerns of the daytime fade into the evening. Here there was a peaceful, quiet beginning; reflective yet moving forward. This section culminated in the electrifying "New Dawn" which grew in positivity and warmth as the tempo built and the soaring strings supported the sitar's increasing persistence and drive. 

India where Shankar's family's roots are, but also where she indulged in a party lifestyle that is the basis of Chapter III: We Return To Light. The result is a wash of energy, hope and vitality. The section began with "Daybreak", the sitar expressing the shards of light coming through the trees of the Goan forest. There was a renewed pace, an vital energy and a stark reminder that the listener is probably totally unaware of just what the sitar can do in the right hands.

"Dancing on Scorched Earth" sounded and felt expansive and almost filmic, with a rave-like and funk-influenced groove that built to a euphoric high, with incredibly lush strings that became more intense and "We Burn So Brightly" was another highlight; almost psychedelic in its trance-like sound and insistent drum beats. Shankar's playing here was manic, yet controlled, expressing freedom, liberation and emancipation.

Conductor Robert Ames had a thorough and knowledgable grip on the music and deftly guided the London Contemporary Orchestra through the material, teetering precariously close to the edge of the podium at points, such was his enthusiasm. The orchestra itself was on top form; showing an understanding of the ebb and flow, the high octane energy and the reflective poignancy. Percussion and strings were particularly effective. The three diverse albums work beautifully as one piece and the lack of interval was a excellent decision.

Shankar appeared at the hall earlier in the year as a highlight of WOW at 15, speaking about her survival of childhood abuse and her journey to recovery. You can almost read the contents of her soul through the notes of her music. Every instrument can be played expressively, but Shankar's mastery of the sitar makes the instrument appear as an extension of her own being. There is storytelling, emotion and expression in every note. A spinetingling performance.

Mystical, magical and mesmerising; this may be Shankar's fifth Prom, but let's hope there are many, many more to come.

Listen to the prom here. It will also be broadcast on BBC Four on Friday 14 August at 20.00

The BBC Proms is at the Royal Albert Hall until 13 September