Lahore-(Special Correspondent/Webdesk): The Annemarie-Schimmel-Haus (German Cultural Centre) hosted a German Fusion Concert featuring the band ‘Berlin to Lahore’ on Monday in the garden of the cultural center in Lahore. The event attracted a diverse audience who praised the band’s performance.
The band consists of Ustad Ashraf Sharif Khan on sitar, Christoph Reuter on keyboard, and Thomas Rüdiger on percussion. All members reside in Germany and last visited Pakistan ten years ago for their debut concerts, performing to enthusiastic crowds in various cities. This year marks their 10th anniversary, and they are touring Pakistan’s three major cities: Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi.
Shehnaz Adnan, Deputy Director of Annemarie-Schimmel-Haus, shared details about the band with SAMAA Digital. Christoph Reuter, who plays piano and keys, studied jazz piano in Berlin and Leipzig, graduating under the tutelage of Prof. Richie Beirach from New York.
During the concert, Christoph introduced the audience to his album’s songs, performing captivating pieces such as “Shalimar Garden,” “50 Miles to Lahore,” “Lahore Funky,” and “Beginning of the Love.” He mentioned that his encounters with people and experiences in various places serve as inspiration for his music. After an audience request, the band performed “Shalimar Garden” again, receiving enthusiastic applause.
As a pianist, Christoph has performed not only in Germany but also in countries like France, Spain, Italy, Turkey, and Sweden. In addition to his solo performances, he serves as a musical director and accompanist for various artists and bands, having released several CDs. He is also a prolific composer, having written three piano concertos, four oratorios, and a variety of compositions for orchestras, choirs, an opera, and theater music. Christoph currently resides in Berlin.
The band members took the opportunity to explore Lahore’s cultural and historical sites, visiting the Masjid Wazir Khan and the Mughal-era Shahi Hamam located within the Delhi Gate of the Walled City.
Ashraf Sharif Khan, born in Lahore and the son of renowned sitar master Ustad Muhammad Sharif Khan Poonchwala, now lives in Germany. At 21, he received the Khwaja Khurshid Anwar Award and the Hazrat Amir Khusrau Award. He represented Pakistan at the International Sound Celebration Festival in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1992 and has performed extensively across the USA, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Thomas Rüdiger, who plays drums, has studied both piano and drums and works as a percussionist and drummer in various bands and theaters. His unique playing style blends a traditional drum set with world music sounds. He began studying tabla in 2000 under Sajal Karmakar in Calcutta and has made several study trips to India. Thomas also resides in Berlin.
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