Venkat Raman
The divinity of music and the ability of an artiste to lift human souls to a state of bliss were evident at the Vishwa Mohan Bhatt ‘Mohana Veena’ Concert held at Dorothy Winstone Centre, Auckland Girls Grammar School on July 8, 2017.
There was nothing imperfect, nothing incomplete in the three-hour programme that included performances of our own artistes who brought pride and joy to an audience of varied ethnicity.
Organised by Sargam Fusion, the Programme was presented by Old Fort Restaurant based in the Chancery, Auckland Central.
Traditional items
Beginning his performance with Raag ‘Sham Kalyan’ in traditional Alaap, Jod and Jhala, Pandit Bhatt presented two compositions set in slow teen taal and fast teen taal.
‘Aaj Jane Ki Zid Na Karo,’ a Nazm (part of Urdu poetry) written by Pakistani poet Fayyaz Hashmi is an immortal composition. Pandit Bhatt sang this composition, moving the audience to ecstasy.
He played a condensed version of his Grammy winning song ‘Meeting by the River’ and ended the Concert with ‘Vande Mataram.’
Sargam Fusion
The ensemble of Sargam Fusion comprised Ahi Karunaharan (Piano), Akhilesh Madhur (Tabla), Ashish Ramakrishnan (Male Vocal), Basant Madhur (Tabla), Krissy Jackson (Fiddle), Saketh Vishnubhotla (Veena, Mandolin and Ghatam), Seetha Jandhyala (Female Vocal), Ravi Nyayapati (Percussion), Ratna Venkat (Dance), Rob Mita (Guitar) and Swap Gomez (Drums).
Their performances included ‘The Joyous Beginning, a classical Tarana, ‘A Call of Love,’ a Ghazal blended with a 1980s Hollywood Classic, ‘Melodious Bird,’ a classical instrumental masterpiece, ‘Bahubali’s Hymns,’ a dance number by Ratna Venkat – ‘Shiva Thandavam,’ ‘Soul Journey,’ a fusion of Hindi film songs in Yaman Raag, ‘Meeting by the River,’ a Grammy winning song, ‘Pure Joy,’ a master piece by Pandit Bhatt and ‘Vande Mataram,’ a peppy pompous fusion.
The memory of a great Concert will linger under the Master returns to New Zealand, hopefully sooner than expected.
Photo :
Vishwa Mohan Bhatt in concert with Basant and Akhil Madhur on the Tabla, and Ashish Ramakrishnan and Seetha Jandhyala (Vocal support).
