Ex Cathedra is this month and next presenting an Indian classical and choral music festival. Titled Unending Love, the festival is spread over two weekends at Birmingham Town Hall.

Calcutta on 24 April sees Indian classical vocalist Debipriya Sircar, sitar player Jonathan Mayer and counter tenor Hugh Cutting perform alongside Ensemble Tempus Fugit.

By 1780, the East India Company had transformed Calcutta into a small English city. Musicians travelled from London to India, bringing the music of Corelli and Handel with them. Others played their harpsichords with Indian classical musicians.

In this unique concert, Ensemble Tempus Fugit will meld a combination of period music and Indian song with shadow puppetry, dance and drama to tell a story of a traveller making his way to the musical heart of the City of Palaces.

The Traveller on 1 May features Ex Cathedra Choir & Academy of Vocal Music, Britten Sinfonia and students from Lordswood Girls School. Jeffrey Skidmore conducts whilst Vayu Naidu narrates. Mark Padmore (tenor) and Philippe Honoré (violin) also star.

In this performance, the shared ground between Indian classical and choral music culminates with a meditation on the cycle of life with texts curated by Vikram Seth and music by Alec Roth.

The programme for The Traveller comprises Roxanna Panufnik's Child of Heaven, Alec Roth's Earth & Sky and The Traveller and Roxanna Panufnik's Unending Love.

In a pre-concert talk at 2.45pm, Roxanna Panufnik will outline her approach to melding musical styles.

A weekend of associated drop-in family activities will take place at the CBSO Centre on Sunday 24 April. All events are FREE and no booking or prior musical experience is necessary. Just turn up and enjoy!

For further information, visit excathedra.co.uk