A master of the violin in the Carnatic classical music tradition, L. Subramaniam has spent a lifetime exploring the versatility of his instrument. His work as a prolific composer, performer, and collaborator has brought global attention to the sound of the violin in the music of South Asia, with its distinctive slides, drones, and controlled oscillations between two notes. Subramaniam’s acclaimed scores for films by Mira Nair and Bernardo Bertolucci furthered his reputation as one of India’s most accomplished and multifaceted artists.

In the acoustically pristine Baldwin Auditorium, two other Carnatic musicians join Subramaniam: his son Ambi Subramaniam, also on violin, and Mahesh Krishnamurthy, on mridangam — a traditional barrel-shaped Carnatic drum. Renowned violinist Yehudi Menuhin once said, “I find nothing more inspiring than the music-making of my very great colleague Subramaniam. Each time I listen to him, I am carried away in wonderment.”