The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Monsoon’s nuances in music at Barkha Ritu festival

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Saturday, Jul 26, 2008
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Monsoon’s nuances in music at Barkha Ritu festival

Staff Reporter

Vishwamohan Bhatt

Bangalore: The monsoon gives all music lovers a chance to soak in the delights of Indian classical music. Coming to Bangalore in the peak of monsoon after Mumbai is Barkha Ritu, organised by Banyan Tree Events, with stalwarts of Indian classical music playing at Chowdiah Memorial Hall on July 27 at 6.30 p.m. This time around, the annual Barkha Ritu concert, beckoning audiences to celebrate rains and celebrate life, features vocals by Devaki Pandit and Pt. Shivkumar Sharma on the santoor.

While the Delhi concert on July 26 will feature Grammy Award recipient Pt. Vishwamohan Bhatt and Salil Bhatt on the Mohan Veena, the Mumbai leg of Barkha Ritu on July 11 had Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ajay and Abhijit Pohankar playing to a packed house.

For the sixth year in a row, Barkha Ritu will deliver riveting performances to people of all ages. “Creating and organising festivals like Barkha Ritu is one of the ways in which we make Indian classical music popular and appealing to the common man, which is what our organisation stands for.

What makes this festival special is that you can listen to ragas based on the theme of the monsoon, which are not performed during the rest of the year,” says Mahesh Babu, Director of Banyan Tree Events. “Mostly, in Bangalore, those who attend the event are senior bureaucrats and people holding high positions in the corporate world,” adds Mr. Lalwani, senior manager, P.R. and Corporate Communications, Banyan Tree Events.

The two musicians performing this time are critically acclaimed. Ms. Pandit from Maharashtra is a renowned Hindustani classical singer and has performed all over the globe.

She is not only a playback singer but one who is recognised for her proficiency in classical music. Pt. Sharma, a master instrumentalist, has been playing the santoor for over five decades and has performed for audiences worldwide.

The concert is being held in association with the State Bank of Mysore. Donor passes, priced at Rs. 300 and Rs. 200, are available at Planet M, Brigade Road, Music World – Indiranagar and Jayanagar.

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