Sitar Concert by Sazed Ul Alam

Find a spot among the palms at Hort dels Pontos, an old Elche orchard garden, and let Sazed Ul Alam do the rest. The sitar is one of those instruments that fills a quiet evening completely. Long, drifting notes, the buzz of sympathetic strings, the slow build of a raga as the light fades. No words, no need to follow along, just sit back and listen.

The setting does a lot of the work here. Elche is famous for its palm groves, and an open-air concert under them on a July night is a fine way to spend a couple of hours. It is a small affair rather than a big show, so the mood stays calm and unhurried. Bring a light layer for when the sun goes down, and turn up a little early to settle in.