Sixth Bengal classical music Festival opens

[fallstuff]

Sixth Bengal classical music Festival opens

Curtains will go up today on the sixth edition of the Bengal Classical Music Festival, hailed as the biggest classical music festival in the world, at the Abahani grounds in the capital's Dhanmondi.

This is the first time the festival is being held at a new venue, as the Army Stadium --the venue for the last five editions -- was not allotted to Bengal Foundation, the organisers of the event. The decision prompted the cancellation of the originally-scheduled mega event, set to be held November 25-29, although it was later re-scheduled for December 26-30 at the new venue.

Like in previous years, the festival will continue from 7:00pm to 5:00am every day and feature the most prominent Eastern classical musicians in the world. This year's festival is dedicated to eminent litterateur Professor Emeritus Dr. Anisuzzaman.

At the opening ceremony tonight, Finance Minister AMA Muhith will inaugurate the festival, where cultural affairs minister Asaduzzaman Noor will be present as a special guest. Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Harshvardhan Shringla, Barrister Fazle Nur Taposh, Abahani Limited Chairman Salman F Rahman and Square Group Chairman Anjan Chowdhury will also be present.

The festival will open with a joint performance by Dr. L Subramaniam's Carnatic (South Indian classical) violin with the Astana Philharmonic Orchestra's western classical music.


The five night-long bonanza will see legends of Indian classical music perform, including Pandit Jasraj, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma, Dr. L Subramaniam, Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty, Ustad Rashid Khan and Vidyan Vikku Vinayakram, among many others performing a wide array of music and dance. Bangladeshi artistes including Firoz Khan, Gazi Abdul Hakim, students of Bengal Parampara Sangeetalay and Government Music College will also perform on the same stage.

The festival is presented by Square and organised by Bengal Foundation, with support from BRAC Bank. Channel i is the broadcast partner. Blues Communications will be the event management company, with cooperation from Perfect Harmony, Singapore.

http://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/sixth-bengal-classical-music-fest-opens-1510369

 

[bluesky]

The five night-long bonanza will see legends of Indian classical music perform, including Pandit Jasraj, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma, Dr. L Subramaniam, Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty, Ustad Rashid Khan and Vidyan Vikku Vinayakram, among many others performing a wide array of music and dance. Bangladeshi artistes including Firoz Khan, Gazi Abdul Hakim, students of Bengal Parampara Sangeetalay and Government Music College will also perform on the same stage.

I hope, you or some other will send us videos of their performances. Thanks in advance.

 

[fallstuff]

Schedule 2017

Day 1: Tuesday 26 December

• Dr L Subramaniam & Astana Symphony Philharmonic Orchestra
• Sarod by Rajrupa Chowdhury
• Khayal by Vidushi Padma Talwalkar
• Sitar by Firoz Khan
• Khayal by Supriya Das, Bengal Parampara Sangeetalay
• Flute by Rakesh Chaurasia and Sitar by Purbayan Chatterjee

Day 2: Wednesday, 27 December

• Kathak by Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company
• Tabla by Students of Bengal Parampara Sangeetalay,
• Santoor by Pandit Shivkumar Sharma
• Khayal by Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar
• Sitar by Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan

• Abhijit Banerjee
  Abhijit Banerjee is a renowned tabla artist from India. He began his training under the guidance of Tushar Kanti Bose and later from Manik Pal. He is currently a disciple of Pandit Jnan Prakash Ghosh. Banerjee is the founder of Tarang and a member of the raga jazz group, Arohi Ensemble. Apart from playing the tabla, he also trained as a vocalist and a violinist. Banerjee has performed with numerous top ranking musicians of Indian classical music, which includes Pandit Ravi Shankar, Pandit Nikhil Banerjee, Begum Parween Sultana, Pandit Jasraj, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, and Dr. Balamurali Krishna, to name a few. He is the recipient of many awards and has extensively toured in India and abroad. Banerjee is also the founder of Dhwani Academy of Percussion in Los Angeles, New York, Singapore and Kolkata.
  
  
• 
  Abir Hossain
  Abir Hossain is a notable sarod artist from India. His father, Gulam Emam, was his first mentor in music. He later trained under Pandit Buddhadev Das Gupta and Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty. Hossain has performed at shows in India and abroad. He was awarded with the National Scholarship of the Government of India, the gold medal at the ‘Sangeet Prabhakar’ examination, and the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Purskar. He is presently a teacher and performer at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy.
  
  
• 
  Aditi Mangaldas
  Aditi Mangaldas is a leading classical dancer and choreographer from India, an exponent of Kathak. She trained under the guidance of Kathak. She trained under the guidance of Kumudini Lakhia and Pandit Birju Maharaj. Unlike most popular Indian classical performers, Mangaldas does not hail from a family of musicians. Instead, as she explained, her desire to dance was born out of an atmosphere of freedom ¬– an ambience where ideas and imaginations were encouraged to flow. Apart from classical disciplines, Mangaldas’s is also known to work with contemporary styles. Her performances are marked by its artistry, technique, eloquence and energy. Mangaldas has toured in India and abroad, and her performances – solo and group ensembles – have received critical acclaim at prestigious shows around the world. She is presently the choreographer and principal dancer of The Drishtikon Dance Foundation.

• 
  Ajay Joglekar
  Ajay Joglekar is a notable harmonium artist from India. He received guidance from Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty and is currently training under Pandit Tulsidas Borkar. Joglekar has toured in India and overseas. He has performed with many renowned musicians and dancers including Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty, Pandit Jasraj, Vidushi Kishori Amonkar, Lata Mangeshkar, Ustad Rashid Khan, Ustad Ghulam Ali, Ustad Zakir Hussain, and Pandit Birju Maharaj. He is also an established music composer and arranger.
  
  
• 
  Ajoy Chakrabarty
  Ajoy Chakrabarty is a renowned vocalist from India. He began his training under the guidance of his father, Ajit Chakrabarty, who shaped his early style in North Indian vocal music. Chakrabarty later continued his training under many notable musicians such as Pandit Kanai Das Bairagi, Ustad Munawar Ali Khan (son of Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan) and Guru Jnan Prakash Ghosh, to name a few. Because of his extensive training, he is not only a doyen of the Patiala-Kasur style, but can also portray the key features of other major classical gharanas. Chakrabarty has been with ITC-Sangeet Research Academy since its inception, joining in 1978 as its first scholar. He later became one of the youngest gurus of the Academy – a post he still holds today – and is also a member of its Expert Committee. Chakrabarty’s list of awards and honours are monumental. He was awarded with the Padma Shree, the first musician to have received a Gold Medal from ITC-Sangeet Research Academy and the Kumar Gandharva Award for the ‘Best Musician of India under 45’, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Banga Bibhushan, and Alva’s Virasat Award, amongst many others.
  
  
• 
  Astana Symphony Philharmonic Orchestra
  Symphonic orchestra of the State Academic Philharmony of Astana, founded in the year of 2000, is considered to be one

 

[idune]

This event is the biggest annual invasion and infiltration of indians and indian culture. Indian ghotis who came to Bangladesh known to cheer lead for culture of their motherland. These ghoti and indian dalals should go to india to enjoy their cultural affinity.

 

[Bilal9]

This event is the biggest annual invasion and infiltration of indians and indian culture. Indian ghotis who came to Bangladesh known to cheer lead for culture of their motherland. These ghoti and indian dalals should go to india to enjoy their cultural affinity.

I agree.

No one I know dislikes a night of music - unless one is a complete nutcase, that is. Why put 'Bengal' on the event label only (and then have the Astana Philharmonic appear)? Doesn't make sense.

South Asia does not mean India only.

I guess we can,

1. Get rid of the 'Bengal' label for the event
2. Invite Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Saab and younger Qawwali and modern singers from Pakistan as well, that will downgrade the Ghoti label somewhat and diversify the audience.

For example we could ask Momina and Asim to appear - would that please you?

 

[Anubis]

I agree.

No one I know dislikes a night of music - unless one is a complete nutcase, that is. Why put 'Bengal' on the event label only (and then have the Astana Philharmonic appear)? Doesn't make sense.

South Asia does not mean India only.

I guess we can,

1. Get rid of the 'Bengal' label for the event
2. Invite Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Saab and younger Qawwali and modern singers from Pakistan as well, that will downgrade the Ghoti label somewhat and diversify the audience.

For example we could ask Momina and Asim to appear - would that please you?

A simple google search would have saved you from writing that post...its called Bengal Classical Music Fest because its held by Bengal Foundation...if lets say Square were to hold the same fest they would call it Square Classical Music FestI....I doubt anybody would be complaining about why the music wasn't square.

2.Its a classical Music fest...Qawali is devotional music not classical...you dont see baul songs or kirtan at the fest either....infact the fest is usually focussed on instrument performance not songs..

 

[Bilal9]

A simple google search would have saved you from writing that post...its called Bengal Classical Music Fest because its held by Bengal Foundation...if lets say Square were to hold the same fest they would call it Square Classical Music FestI....I doubt anybody would be complaining about why the music wasn't square.

2.Its a classical Music fest...Qawali is devotional music not classical...you dont see baul songs or kirtan at the fest either....infact the fest is usually focussed on instrument performance not songs..

Okay I have a question for you.

Why did they invite Astana Symphony Philharmonic Orchestra then?

What possible connection does Bengali classical music have with Kazakhstani classical music??

And if Kazakstani classical is relevant, what's wrong with Qawwali? Both are equally outlandish as far as relevance.

I know I have been accused of stupidity before, but even I couldn't fathom this one...

Maybe we shouldn't bring our petty prejudices to music, art forms which defy politics or nationalism.

Cultural indoctrination from the big neighbor is clearly the intent of the 'Bengal' foundation which has been going on for ages in Bangladesh. I will have to agree with iDune bhai here.

I'd be perfectly happy if there were Qawwal-fest going on in Dhaka routinely - but that wouldn't get the backing of AL of course.

 

[bluesky]

December 29, 2017 / LAST MODIFIED: 03:08 AM, December 29, 2017
Vinayakram livens up day-3 of Bengal Fest

Vidwan Vikku Vinayakram stirs up a storm on the ghatam, a Carnatic percussion instrument, on the third night of the Bengal Classical Music Festival on Abahani ground yesterday. Photo: Sheikh Mehedi Morshed

Fahmim Ferdous

Vidwan Thetakudi Harihara 'Vikku' Vinayakram and his ensemble brought the 6th Bengal Classical Music Festival to life on its third evening, with an astonishing display of Carnatic percussion.

People began pouring in on the weekend evening at the capital's Abahani ground, the festival's new venue, as students of Bengal Parampara Sengeetalay presented a sitar recital to set the evening in motion. The seven-member group presented a composition on Raga Kirwani, composed by their guru Pt Kushal Das.

South Asia's first Grammy nominee Vikku Vinayakram, his son Selvaganesh Vinayakram, grandson Swaminathan Selvaganesh along with A Ganesah took the stage next, performing Carnatic percussion on the ghatam (clay pot), kanjeera (frame hand drum) and a percussion set, kanjeera and konnakol (vocal 'bol') and morsing respectively. The quadrant shook the entire arena with their thundering beats in astonishing speed and complexity, performing pieces like “Shiva Thandava”, “Seven and a Half”, “Guru Vandana” and “Ganesha Thalam”, among others. Vikku Vinayakram sat with four ghatams, while Selvaganesh sat on a percussion kit consisting of cymbals of varying sizes, a snare, kanjeera and a kick pedal. Incorporating intense vocal bol, the group displayed a wide range of rhythms that swayed the audience from start to finish.

The next performers of the night were students of Government Music College who presented a khyal in Raga Malkauns. They were followed by accomplished sarodiya Abir Hussain, who gave a textbook classical presentation on Raga Abhogi. Bangladeshi flautist Gazi Abdul Hakim took stage before midnight, performing Raga Desh on the bansuri (bamboo flute).

With weekend coming up, the venue saw crowds swell as the night went on with dhrupad vocals by Pt Uday Bhawalkar, Carnatic violin by Vidushi Kala Ramnath and khyal vocals by veteran classical singer Pt Ajoy Chakrabarty still to come.

The Bengal Classical Music Fest is presented by Square and supported by Brac Bank Ltd. Blues Communications is in charge of event management, with support from Perfect Haromny, Singapore. This year's festival has been dedicated to eminent educationist and researcher Professor Emeritus Anisuzzaman.

 

[Homo Sapiens]

Too many dadababu on the list.Rather than sucking up our dadababu from across the border, we should promote our own classical music icons across the world.

 

[Homo Sapiens]

I agree.
For example we could ask Momina and Asim to appear - would that please you?

This girl is very cute and her smile is even cuter.

 

[Anubis]

Okay I have a question for you.

Why did they invite Astana Symphony Philharmonic Orchestra then?

What possible connection does Bengali classical music have with Kazakhstani classical music??

And if Kazakstani classical is relevant, what's wrong with Qawwali? Both are equally outlandish as far as relevance.

I know I have been accused of stupidity before, but even I couldn't fathom this one...

Maybe we shouldn't bring our petty prejudices to music, art forms which defy politics or nationalism.

Cultural indoctrination from the big neighbor is clearly the intent of the 'Bengal' foundation which has been going on for ages in Bangladesh. I will have to agree with iDune bhai here.

I'd be perfectly happy if there were Qawwal-fest going on in Dhaka routinely - but that wouldn't get the backing of AL of course.

Astana Orchestra performed a collaboration with an Indian musician...it was a fusion experiment between two CLASSICAL music cultures...Qawwali isn't classical...thats why it isn't a part of BCMF...but it is a part of Dhaka International Folk Fest...Nooran Sisters,Abida Parveen and Javed Bashir performed Qawalis there...Rahat Fateh Ali Khan performed in the Sufi Fest in 2015...it seem AL doesn't have a problem with Qawali afterall.

 

[Bilal9]

This girl is very cute and her smile is even cuter.

One of my favorite performers. A great talent and cute as well.

 

[Homo Sapiens]

One of my favorite performers. A great talent and cute as well.

Exactly, I like this song very much by her with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.Beauty with talent, perfect combination.