The Hindu : New Delhi News : A treat for classical music lovers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 11, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

A treat for classical music lovers

Madhur Tankha

NEW DELHI: There is a treat in store for classical music connoisseurs at the two-day annual festival, Gunidas Sangeet Sammelan, opening at Kamani Auditorium on Copernicus Marg here this Saturday.

Organised by the global financial services company Citigroup, the internationally-acclaimed musical extravaganza, now in its 29th year, will this time feature a galaxy of Indian classical artistes including Pandit Satish Vyas on santoor and M. S. Gopalakrishnan with Narmadha on violin. Besides the performances by these two instrumentalists, Parveen Sultan will give a vocal rendition, while Ashwini Bhide Deshpande's melodious voice will enthral the audience.

The Gunidas Sangeet Sammelan was first presented under the aegis of Maharashtra Lalit Kala Nidhi way back in 1977 by the legendary Hindustani classical vocalist Pandit C. R. Vyas in memory of the famed classical music doyen of the Agra gharana, Pandit Jagganathbuwa Purohit.

Commenting on the Sammelan, santoor maestro and organiser of the event, Pandit Satish Vyas, says: ``It is indeed a great sense of achievement to reach this stage -- 29 years of

Gunidas Sangeet Sammelan. Today the sammelan is one of the rare events that brings together exponents of Indian classical music both vocal and instrumental from various gharanas on the same platform. To be invited to perform at the sammelan is like a dream come true for many upcoming artistes."

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