The Hindu : Front Page : Friday Review November Fest launched

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Saturday, Nov 10, 2007
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Friday Review November Fest launched

Divya Kumar

Eclectic mix of programmes lined up for third edition of the event in Chennai

— Photos: V. Ganesan

The season is on: Nityashree Mahadevan’s recital at the inauguration of The Hindu Friday Review November Fest in Chennai on Friday.

Chennai: The third edition of The Hindu Friday Review November Fest clearly promises to be more eclectic than the previous two editions, said N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu.

Speaking at the launch event of the festival here on Friday evening, he said the seven upcoming concerts would “cater to a wide range of musical tastes.” He added that “the Fest traverses countries, gharanas and styles.”

The aim of the November Fest, he said, was to bring to Chennai genres of music that are refreshing, different and to some extent new.

“The Hindu’s November Fest modestly attempts to fill a gap we identified — a platform for musical genres that do not receive much attention during the main season,” he said. This year, those genres include Hindustani classical, contemporary classical fusion, thematic music, ghazal bandhi, Korean crossover and Indian fusion.

Ustad Fateh Ali Khan and Rustam Fateh Ali Khan at the event.

There will also be allied activities designed to help people connect with the festival on a more personal basis, he said. On November 13, there will be a symposium titled ‘My Guru,’ which will bring together musicians and music lovers to discuss issues relating to the dissemination of musical knowledge. There will also be four free walk-in concerts by young and up-coming musicians in the city on November 14.

The highlight of the evening’s event was a short but sweet performance by Nityashree Mahadevan. In keeping with the eclectic theme of the November Fest, she began with Carnatic classical, but then also treated the audience to a Meera bhajan and a Tamil devotional song at the end.

Accompanying her ably on the violin was Porur Sri M.A. Krishnaswamy, I. Shivakumar on the mridangam and Tiruchi Sri Murali on ghatam.

Ustad Fateh Ali Khan and his son Rustam Fateh Ali Khan, who will give the inaugural concert on November 10, and Anil Srinivasan, who will perform on November 11, were present at the launch, and they were warmly welcomed by Mr. Ram.

“This is the third year that Taj Connemara, the Grand Old Lady of Chennai, has been associated with the Fest,” said Dinaz Madhukar, general manager of the hotel. “Chennai has really made space for this event in its itinerary and we couldn’t be happier to be a part of it.”

A gathering of musicians and music lovers were present for the launch, after which the Taj Connemara laid out an extensive theme South Indian dinner.

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