Bengal Classical Music Fest begins with amazing performances
The 6th Edition of Bengal Classical Music Festival was launched at the in the capital on Tuesday.
The festival began at 7pm onwards on December 26 at the Abahoni Grounds in capital’s Dhanmondi area.
A large number of raga-loving people from across the world flocked in droves to the festival at its opening night.
This year’s festival was initiated with a soothing performance of Raga Abhogi, by L Subramaniam on the violin, with the sophisticated support of Sriram Murthy on mridangam, Pandit Tanmoy Bose on the tabla and Sathya Sai Ghantasala on the morsing.
This was elevated in a fury of notes by the Astana Symphony Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Berik Batyrkhan, as they performed a symphony by Tless Kazhgaliyev. They also performed parts of P Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake.
L Subramaniam returned to stage to perform his composed Shanti Priya. As he led with his violin, he was supported by Dhulipala on the mridangam, Bose on tabla, Ghantasala on the Kanjira, while Berik Batyrkhan conducted the Astana Symphony Philharmonic Orchestra.
After the performance, Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor and Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu handed over crests to the artistes.
The festival was officially inaugurated by Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, as the Chief Guest of the event at 10 pm.
Cultural Affairs minister Asaduzzaman Noor, Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla, President of Abahoni grounds Salman Rahman, Managing Director of Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd Tapan Chowdhury, and CEO and Managing Director of BRAC Bank Selim R F Hussain were present on the occasion as special guest.
After the inauguration, the audience hold one minute silence to commemorate late Annisul Huq, Vidushi Girija Devi and Kishori Amonkar.
After the inauguration ceremony Rajrupa Chowdhury graced the stage with her sarod for the next performance. She played Raga Anil Madhyam. Pt Avijit Bannerjee accompanied her during the performance with Tabla.
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque handed over the crest to
the artistes.
Vidushi Padma Talwalkar was the next performer of the night. Ankita Deole provided vocal support during her performance, while Sanjay Adhikary was on Tabla and Rupashree Bhattacharya was on harmonium.
She performed Raga Kedar. After that, she performed Tarana in Raga Desh, Meera Bhajan and Raga Bageshree.
Professor Dr Ahrar Ahmed, Director General of Gyantapas Abdur Razzaq Bidyapeeth handed over the crest to the artistes.
The following performance was done by Firoz Khan. Zakir Hossain accompanied him on Tabla. He performed Raga Jhinjhoti and Dhun.
Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya handed over the crest to the artistes.
Supriya Das, an exponent of Khayal was the penultimate performer of the show. She rendered Khayal in Raga Malkuans and Thumri in Raga Desh. Prashanta Bhowmik accompanied him on Tabla and Gourob Chatterjee was on Harmonium.
Abul Khair, Chairman of Bengal Foundation handed over the crest to the artiste.
The last performance of the 1st night of Bengal Classical Music Festival 2017 was a juganbandi by Rakesh Chaurasia on flute and Purbayan Chatterjee on Sitar.
Pt Abhijit Banerjee accompanied him them on Tabla. They performed Raga Lalit; Alap Jor Jhala and Gat. They also performed Bhairavi Dhun.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Administration Ministry Ashikur Rahman, MP handed over the crest to the artistes.
Keeping in mind about the immense urge among the people to witness the festival, Bengal Foundation has decided to open online registration from 10 am tomorrow. Registration can be done at https://bengalclassicalmusicfest.com/
The audience can enjoy quality food and beverages at the venue. A pictorial exhibition, featuring the lives of legendary music exponent of Bangladesh, is set up at the venue; another exhibition featuring works of Bengal Institute of Architecture, Landscape and Settlement is also there.
Bengal Digital, Bengal Express, Bengal Parampara Sangeetalay, Aranya, Bengal Visual Arts Program, Bengal Boi, BRAC Bank and Square Group have their distinctive stalls at the venue. Journalists should be pleased to find a Wi-Fi zone dedicated to them.
Square Group is presenting the Bengal Classical Music Festival as the title sponsor. BRAC Bank is supporting the event. Channel i is the broadcast partner, while ICE Business Times is the media partner. Pan Pacific Sonargaon is the hospitality partner of the event, and Square Hospital is the medical partner. Blues Communications is handling the event management part.
The festival is being presented in association with Bengal Digital, Bengal Parampara Sangeetalay. Perfect Harmony of Singapore is the strategic partner.
For the last five years, the Bengal Classical Music Festival has been the largest classical music event in the subcontinent showcasing performances from over two hundred classically trained singers and dancers. With the goal to popularise and perpetuate the practice of classical music, this festival will go on till December 30th.
The event this year is dedicated to eminent educationist, researcher and cultural exponent Professor Emeritus Dr Anisuzzaman.