Classical music night

Begum Parveen Sultana and Ustad Dilshad Khan are dubbed the king and queen of Indian classical music. You'll know if that's true when they perform here in Dubai on June 21.

Accompanied by Mukund Raj Deo on the tabla, Shrinivas Gopinath on the harmonium and with Shadaab Sultana Khan and Rahima Sultana Khan on tampuras, the husband-and wife team will regale audiences at Centrepoint Theatre, Ductac, Mall of the Emirates, from 8-10.30pm.

Begum Parveen Sultana

Begum Parveen Sultana is one of the foremost classical vocalists in India. A child prodigy, she was the youngest artist to receive the Padmashri award, in 1972, from the Government of India.

She received her early training from her father Ikramul Majid and her grandfather Mohammad Najeef Khan. Parveen Sultana subsequently found the guru who further laid down a much deeper foundation — Ustad Dilshad Khan, her husband.

Ustad Dilshad Khan

Ustad Dilshad Khan revealed his brilliance in music from early childhood. Fortunately for the music world, he gave up a lucrative career as a marine engineer to dedicate his life to the cause of Indian classical music.

Born in a family blessed with musical talent, Dilshad began learning how to play the tabla from his father at the age of 4. He then took up singing under the guidance of stalwarts such as N. C. Chakravorty, Hidan Banarjee and Gyan Prakash Ghosh. He was however, influenced greatly by Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan of the Patiala Gharana (school of music) and has followed his style till today. In 1967, he became the disciple of Fayyaz Ahmad Khan and his brother Ustad Hiaz Ahmad Khan of the Kirana Gharana.

Ustad Dlishad Khan does not like being tied down to a particular gharana but is constantly working on developments.