The Story of Maya

Sunday 23 November 2025, 4:30pm

CBSO Centre, Birmingham

Tickets: General £18, Student £9, under 12s FREE with a paying adult

Pre-Concert Talk at 3:30pm

Born in the monsoon, cradled by rivers, raised on song... Maya is every daughter of Bangladesh.

The Story of Maya, written and created by Bangladeshi musician Neel Kamrul, is presented as part of BCMG’s ongoing Music in Dialogue series. Music in Dialogue forges new pathways, bringing together music from different traditions in new compositions and on stage.

Bangladesh, the largest river delta in the world, offers a unique musical landscape shaped by its people and their lifecycle that revolves around the rivers. The country is crisscrossed by hundreds of waterways that once created isolated communities, leading to a kaleidoscope of unique musical genres.

This new composition for voice, traditional Bangladeshi instruments and chamber orchestra takes us on a journey through this landscape, told through the eyes of an imagined female protagonist, Maya. The daughter of a fisherman, she was born in the monsoon month of July and grew up listening to her mother’s songs and lullabies. Experiencing love, heartbreak, marriage and motherhood, Maya’s life mirrors the journey of Bangladesh from birth and innocence to struggle and independence.

The concert will conclude with an improvised work inspired by the music of The Story of Maya, performed by Neel Kamrul, Shanta Islam and musicians from BCMG.

Neel Kamrul - Voice and percussion

Shanta Islam - Voice

Mayukhjit Chakraborty - Bashi

Mohammed Abdus Saeed Fahim - Dhol

Birmingham Contemporary Music Group

Robert Reid Allan Composing & Arrangement Support

Improvisation - Three Songs Without Sheet Music, c. 15'

Neel Kamrul (b. 1986) - The Story of Maya (2025), 40' - World Premiere

The Story of Maya is part of BCMG's ongoing Music in Dialogue series. It was commissioned by BCMG with support from the British Council’s Connections Through Culture Programme. It is delivered in partnership with BADA (Bangladeshi Artist Development Agency) and Legacy West Midlands as part of Bangla Month 2025.

Special reduced-rate tickets are available for BADA members and previous Bangla Month attendees. Please contact Legacy West Midlands for more details.

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Event details

Where

CBSO Centre, Berkley Street, BIRMINGHAM, B1 2LF

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When

Start: 23^rd November, 2025 at 4:30pm

End: 23^rd November, 2025 at 6:30pm

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