Indian classical music & dance festival enthrals Kolkata audiences

Yasadu March 29, 2022 0Comments

The inaugural edition of Naad, a music and dance festival, was held at a city auditorium from March 25 to 27. Renowned personalities from the Indian classical music and dance industry across the country showcased their talent under one roof.

The festival, directed by percussionist Bickram Ghosh, is a collaboration between a charitable public trust and his late father’s foundation, with the support of the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The aim of the festival is to present Indian music and promote different genres in the coming years. In its first year, the focus was on classical music, but the festival plans to incorporate other genres going forward. Ghosh has curated the festival to appeal to all generations, particularly the youth.

One of the highlights of the festival was the jugalbandis, or duets, between artists from North or East India and artists from South India. Pt Debashish Bhattacharya performed with Vidwan Rajhesh Vaidhya, while Vidwan S Sekhar showcased his talent alongside Pt Anindo Chatterjee. Another captivating performance featured Rakesh Chaurasia, who played the classical flute alongside percussionist Anubrata Chatterjee.

Pt Tejendra Narayan Majmdar expressed his excitement about the festival, emphasizing its unique concept. After a long break, live shows are finally making a comeback in our lives, and being a part of Naad is a breath of fresh air for performing artists like himself. The opportunity to perform in front of a live audience after such a hiatus is rejuvenating and invigorating.

Int’l travel curbs eased, musicians upbeat about performing again on foreign shores

Yasadu March 10, 2022 0Comments

Indian classical musicians are rejoicing as regular international flights resume from India after a two-year hiatus. With the spring and fall concert seasons disrupted, musicians are now exploring new destinations and alternative routes for their performances. Some are opting for countries like Senegal and Borneo, while others are taking the Pacific route to the US to avoid flying over Europe.

Recently, Pt Tanmoy Bose and Pt Bickram Ghosh traveled to London to perform at the delayed Shankar 100 event, which celebrated Pt Ravi Shankar’s centenary. Anoushka Shankar, the sitar virtuoso, played a prominent role in the event.

Musicians are also busy planning their US tours. Pt Tarun Bhattacharya is set to fly to the US on March 23 for seven concerts. He will travel from Delhi to Tokyo before heading to Los Angeles, opting for the Pacific route instead of flying over Russia. He further mentioned his upcoming US tour in July and September for the Banga Sammelan.

Foreign audiences have begun returning to Indian classical concerts, according to Bhattacharya. However, strict protocols are in place, requiring artists and audience members to undergo an RT-PCR test before the shows. Entry is only allowed when favorable results are received on their phones.

Pt Debashish Bhattacharya is heading to Borneo in Java for the Rainforest Festival in June, along with his daughter Anandi. Additionally, he has two concerts lined up in Canada. However, Bhattacharya expressed concerns about the current situation, as many organizers do not have sufficient budgets. This poses the risk of performers not receiving their proper fees, which also affects young musicians’ ability to ask for their deserved compensation.

Pt Anindo Chatterjee is planning performances in the US and Europe in October, while his son Anubrata is scheduled to perform with Ustad Rashid Khan in Dubai next week. Anubrata will also be heading to Senegal in May for the Taal-India with Lions of Africa project. The percussion project aims to bring together artists from Kerala, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan to collaborate with local drummers in Senegal, with Anubrata’s tabla acting as a bridge between them. He has also signed on to The Koto Tabla Project, where he will perform alongside Japanese Koto player Kumi Kurosawa in San Diego on December 22nd.