Melodies in Slow Motion

A powerful evening of music, sound design and storytelling from acclaimed sarod virtuoso Soumik Datta. A show exploring themes of memory, migration and the climate crisis through rich sonic landscapes, field recordings and deeply emotive compositions. 

‘One of the biggest music talents in Britain’ (Vogue) 

Soumik Datta’s performance is the headline event in a new festival of South Asian music by Music at Oxford: ‘Music and Dance: the culture of South Asia’. 

Winner of the Aga Khan Music Award, Soumik Datta merges his 19-stringed sarod with the hidden rhythms of the earth, decoding the secret languages of the natural world. From the choir of cicadas to underground mycelial networks, this show translates microscopic biological movements into a cinematic, slow-motion journey, underscored by a band of virtuosos on violin, mridangam, and tabla beats. 

This urgent, colourful performance bridges the divide between human art and biological intelligence. Drawing on his role as an Earth Day Network Ambassador, Soumik’s work serves as a powerful reflection of our place within the living world, driven by deep climate action. 

In partnership with Asian Arts Agency and the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development, Somerville College, University of Oxford.

Ticket Information

• General Admission: £55, £42, £30, £18
• Concessions: £27.50, £21, £15, £9
• Start Time: 8pm
• Suitable for ages 6+
• Running time of 1 hour 20 minutes with no interval.
• Latecomers permitted at a suitable break in performance. Prompt arrival is highly recommended.
• For ticketing queries, call 01865 244806