Hailing from Istanbul and Mumbai respectively, this remarkable duo fuses traditional Anatolian forms, Sufi rhythms and Indian melodies
Hailing from Istanbul and Mumbai respectively, Melisa Yıldırım and Sawrupa Ananth share a belief that a life in music entails a call to listen deeply, collaborate, and build connections across boundaries.
Their remarkable duo fuses traditional Anatolian forms, Sufi rhythms and Indian melodies. Rooted in traditional musical languages and shaped by their shared contemporary vision, every performance is spontaneous, exploratory, and deeply emotional.
Presenting Hues of Imagination, this concert is an unfolding encounter. Without a predetermined score, they enter the performance with deep listening as their compass, allowing improvisation to reveal a music that belongs entirely to the present moment.
“Hues of Imagination is quite a testament to the power of improvised music in the hands of masterful players.” — Songlines Magazine
“Hypnotic…melodies told me of folk tales and memories, resonant drones and attacked strings brought tension and majesty to her mesmerizing performance.” — Truth & Lies Magazine
Melisa Yıldırım is a talented and soulful kamancha player from Istanbul, Turkey, now based in Helsinki, Finland. Melisa studied at the state Conservatory of Turkish Music in Istanbul Technical University (ITU) where she graduated with first class honours. She released her first percussive composition, ‘Dreamer’, in 2017. She won first prize in the “kemane” category in the ‘Teke Region of Folk Instruments Competition’ in Turkiye. She participated in the ‘Making Tracks’ project as a performer in October 2019, in which they had musical residency and musical tour all around the UK. In 2021, Melisa released an instrumental duo album (anatolian kamancha & fretless guitar) ‘Taluş’ with Gilad Weiss. Melisa works with professional artists around the world, composing music close to traditional Anatolian forms, with influences ranging from spiritual and Anatolian folk to Persian genres and contemporary world music
Swarupa Ananth is a bold Indian percussionist and producer. She is ranked in the ‘Forbes India 30 Under 30’ list. She has been a prolific entertainer from a young age, under the mentorship of Ustad Allarakha & Ustad Zakir Hussain. As a performer and producer, Swarupa has performed at venues and festivals around the world including Glastonbury Festival (UK), Kala Ghoda Festival (Mumbai), NMACC (Mumbai), Alchemy Festival (Southbank Centre, London), Wassermusik Festival (Berlin), Morgenland Festival (Germany), Festival Imaterial (Portugal), and the Skoll World Forum (Oxford). Swarupa is the founder of Women Who Drum, India’s first all-women percussion community, fostering collaboration and empowerment, among women percussionists across the country. She also runs an online music school, Tablanaari’s School Of Music. Swarupa has been consistently producing and releasing music over the years, most recently her debut solo album ‘Recomeçar’, available on all digital platforms.
Program
Sepia Earth
Tinted Water
Vivid Fire
Two Tone Air
Tickets
Early Bird Tickets available until Friday 13 November 2026
$67.50 Adult
$58.50 Concession
$49.50 Under 30s
Standard Tickets
$75 Adult
$65 Concession
$60 Members
$55 Under 30s
Bundle & Save
Save up to $20 per ticket, when you purchase tickets to 3 or more concertsAll tickets include entry to the Art Museum and the Homestead & Arthur Boyd Studio
Note
Duration: 75 minutes
Strictly No BYO
Dates & Times
10 April 2027
3pm
Location
Bundanon Art Museum
170 Riversdale Road, Illaroo NSW 2540
