Delhi Classical Music Festival

The Delhi Government’s art and cultural wing, Sahitya Kala Parishad, is bringing back the three-day Delhi Classical Music Festival, which will take place from February 10 to 12 at Kamani Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, Mandi House, New Delhi, starting at 6:30 p.m.

With a line-up of legendary performers like Amaan Ali & Ayaan Ali Bangash, Pt. Ronu Majumdar along with other prominent names, this musical event will symbolize the beautiful journey of Indian classical music. The inauguration ceremony of the festival would be attended by Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi.

Talking about the festival, Sisodia said, “I am delighted that the Delhi Classical Music festival is back after the few years break and it is being held at such a grand scale. Music holds the power to transform our minds, to help us find peace and forget the stress of everyday life. I am sure that the people of Delhi will enjoy listening to some of the greatest artists of our times.”

On the first day, the evening will witness some mesmerizing performances by the very renowned Indian classical vocalist Sumitra Guha. She is known for her expertise in the Carnatic and Hindustani schools of classical music. She was honored with Padma Shri in 2010.

Later in the evening, the melodious Pt. Ronu Majumdar will also present his flute composition. Pt Majumdar’s music is rooted in the Maihar gharana which has musicians of eminence like Pt Ravi Shankar and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan to its credit.

The third performance of the day will be by Mohan brothers Lakshay Mohan and Aayush Mohan. Aayush began performing in 2009 as a soloist and in duets with his brother sitarist Lakshay Mohan. After listening to the Jugalbandi of Aayush Mohan & Lakshay Mohan in 2012, Pandit Ravi Shankar decided to launch them in the USA under his foundation. Sitarist Lakshay Mohan and Sarod player Aayush Mohan are the first Indians to be invited to perform at the Grammy Museum, Los Angeles, for the opening of the exhibition ‘Ravi Shankar: A Life in Music’.

On the second day of the festival, the festival will have talented artists like Sudha Raghuraman. Born and groomed in a family steeped in the traditions of Carnatic music, Sudha was trained in vocal music initially by her father late OS Sridhar and a year after by her illustrious grandfather Sangeetha Bhushanam OV Subramaniam from whom she learnt the nuances of the art form in a detailed manner. She was also trained in violin by late guru V Janaki Raman.

This will be followed by performance by Tantri Samrat Pandit Salil Bhatt. Disciple and son of Grammy award winner, Pt Viswa Mohan Bhatt, Bhatt is the creator of the Satvik Veena, and heir to a 500-year-old musical legacy. He has performed in India and 40 other countries in a career spanning more than 3 decades. Through solo concerts, international collaborations, exotic jugalbandis and global fusion, he has marvelled audiences the world over. He is the first ever musician to perform inside the Parliament of Germany and the first Indian musician to be awarded an artiste’s residency in Taiwan. Prestigious titles like Tantri Samrat, Sangeet Ratan, Swami Haridas Sangeet Samman and a Canadian Grammy nomination have been bestowed upon him.

The evening will culminate with the performance by Rajkumar Majumdar. Born in a family of musicians, Rajkumar Majumdar is one of the versatile Santoor players among the upcoming artists of the country. Known for a unique style of performance and sound quality, he is highly appreciated and loved by all the music lovers specially for his superb skill of playing Santoor by playing both his arms in a jubilant style.

The last day of the festival will witness the performance of renowned artists like Pt Anuradha Pal. Pal is a Tabla virtuoso, multi-percussionist and music composer who is acclaimed as the first professional female Tabla player in the world. Her performance will be followed by another famous brother duo Amaan Ali Bangash & Ayaan Ali Bangash, who represent the seventh generation of a musical lineage known as the Senia Bangash School. Disciples of their father the great sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan, both were initiated into the fine art of sarod playing from an early age, with each brother giving their first public performances at the age of eight. They have performed across the globe, including appearances at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center in the USA, Royal Festival Hall, Symphony Hall and Barbican Centre in the UK, Konzerthaus Vienna, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Esplanade Singapore and Sydney Opera house. They have also appeared at festivals including WOMAD, Edinburgh International Festival and World Beat in Brisbane.

The festival will come to an end with a great performance by Hindustani classical vocalist and Tabla artist Nitin Sharma. Nitin started his initial training of north Indian classical vocal music under the guidance of guru Pandit Krishna Kant Jha from the age of six in his home town Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. After completing a six-year diploma in Hindustani vocal and Tabla and lots of basic Taleem and Manners of Music, Nitin went to Mumbai for learning from Pandit Ajay Pohankar in 2004.

When: February 10 – 12 at 6:30 pm

Where: Kamani Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, Mandi House, New Delhi