It is set to be the best ensemble of art and talent in the realm of classical music, as some of the most revered music maestros of Indian classical tradition will come together for a five-day festival to offer a glimpse into the Indian musical art.
From vocalists of multiple traditions, to exponents of sarod, sitar, mridangam and violin – the Delhi Classical Music Festival, presented by the Department of Art, Culture & Languages, and organised by the Punjabi Academy, will offer an enriching experience of culture to the connoisseurs of art in Delhi.
The festival, beginning from October 6 onwards will be held at the Kamani Auditorium where masters of classical music like Pandit Jasraj, Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan, Ustad Shahid Pervez, Pt Ulhas Kashalkar, and the Gundecha brothers, among others will perform every evening.
Continuing the tradition to inaugurate a programme of music with the oldest form of Indian classical music – Dhrupad, the leading Dhrupad singers from Madhya Pradesh Umakant Gundecha and Ramakant Gundecha will strike the first note of the festival. Their performance will be followed by Hindustani classical music vocalist Pt Ulhas Kashalkar.
“There is immense depth and talent in the field of Hindustani classical music. At a time, when some people are concerned about modern pop culture overshadowing the Indian classical, we have numerous examples of young Indians who have taken to different genres of Indian classical music and enriched it with their contributions,” says S S Yadav, secretary, Department of Art, Culture & Languages, Delhi Government.
Underlining the importance of celebrating “India’s classical musical forms” and “take them to the younger generations”, he said “This will not only keep our art forms alive but also encourage the younger generation to absorb and adopt these traditions.”
The second day of the festival will see performances by two vocalists from two different classical gharanas of north India – Pt Ajay Pohankar from the Kirana gharana and Ustad Rashid Khan from the Rampur Sahaswan gharana.
Meanwhile, Bhuvanesh Komkali, the grandson of late Kumar Gandharva, will perform on the third day of the festival. Music lovers of Delhi will also get a chance to listen to the renowned veteran of khayal, dhrupad and thumri – the 105-year-old Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan.
The fourth day will have Annupriya Deotale on the Violin with Prem Kumar and P Vetri Boopathy performing on the mridangam, and Ustad Shahid Parvez on the sitar.
Narender Nath Dhar, of the Etawah gharana, the disciple of Pt Radhika Mohan Moitra, who is travelling especially from the US, will perform the traditional sarod baaj, while Pt Jasraj, the iconic vocalist, will bring the festival to an end on October 8.
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