Utzon Music 2024 Qais Essar

27 October 2024

In the Utzon Room

Classical Music

Rabab master and composer Qais Essar fuses ancient Indian and Afghan folk and classical music with the music of today in a breathtaking performance in the Utzon Room.

This is timeless, spellbinding music that wraps itself around you, and won’t let go.

Sydney Morning Herald

Useful information:

Journey through a musical time portal

Award-winning contemporary Afghan composer, instrumentalist and producer Qais Essar is renowned for his spell-binding performances and fusion of diverse musical influences and styles.

A virtuoso on the rabab, the lute-like national instrument of Afghanistan, Essar has delved deep into the world of Indian and Afghan folk and classical music, as well as drawing on musical styles from film and television music to American folk and contemporary rock.

In only his second tour to Australia, Essar is joined in the Utzon Room by Murtaza Damoon on tabla for a sonic time portal from the ancient Hindu Kush to the modern era, in a program featuring Indian classical raga alongside folk songs from across Afghanistan. 

I’m looking forward to bringing the Afghan rabab to the Sydney Opera House. This is a beautiful opportunity to hear Afghan folk and Indian classical music performed on this ancient instrument.

Qais Essar

Artist information

Qais Essar
Afghan rabab

Murtaza Damoon
Tabla

Plan your visit

You may also like

Simone Young conducts Siegfried

13 & 16 Nov 2025

  • Classical Music
  • Sydney Symphony Orchestra
graphic showing a firey circle with a sharp dagger pointing towards a stone superimposed over gloomy clouds

Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody

15 Feb 2026

  • Classical Music
  • Australian Chamber Orchestra
A women standing on a dark street at night, wearing black, with an instrument case over her shoulder.

Celebrating the Australian Chamber Orchestra

21 Nov 2025

  • Classical Music
  • Australian Chamber Orchestra

Checking availability