Representing Bangladeshi music worldwide
Four renowned Bangladeshi singers -- Rezwana Choudhury Bannya, Laisa Ahmed Lisa, Shama Rahman and Luva Nahid Choudhury -- are taking part in the South Asian Music Festival to be held from September 21-24, 2017 at MasterCard Theatres, Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. For the first time, Bangladesh artistes are sharing the prestigious stage with the legendary classical music maestros -- Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pt. Shivkumar Sharma, Pt. Birju Maharaj, Dr. L Subramaniam, Vidushi Bombay Jayashri and others. Blues Communications in association with Perfect Harmony Global are organising the grand festival as part of their vision to spread classical music beyond borders.
In a recent conversation with The Daily Star, the artistes have shared their visions of taking Bangla songs to the world stage.
Rezwana Choudhury Bannya said, “I am fortunate that I am going to perform in the festival where I'll have the opportunity to listen to the music of world famous Pandits. I have planned to perform all types of songs like classical themed, folk and popular songs of Tagore. The use of raga in Tagore songs is of Bard's own. I would also like to demonstrate the specific use of ragas like 'Yaman', 'Bhopali' and 'Behag' into my performance. Besides, I will perform kirttan and Baul songs. I hope to give the best into my performance. All's well that ends well. I am thankful to the organiser.”
Laisa Ahmed Lisa said: “It is a great pleasure to be performing with world famous maestros. My Guru Waheedul Haq would always inspire me saying that when you are set to perform abroad, try to make the performance world standard. I have that confidence in me. The words and melodies of Tagore songs evoke diverse feelings that constitute the aesthetic pieces of art. I have planned to present dhrupad, khayal and tappa-ang songs along with the Baul and melodious numbers.”
Shama Rahman said, “It's a prestigious music festival where we'll represent Bangladesh through our music. Tagore songs are inseparable part of our life. It's a way of prayer for me. I hope to showcase the shades of classical melodies by the Bard. Apart from this, I will perform Baul, romantic and Prakriti-Parjaya Rabindra Sangeet. Bangladeshi instrumentalists will accompany us. I am proud and optimistic about the festival.”
Luva Nahid Choudhury, also the DG of Bengal Foundation, said: “It's a breakthrough event where Bangladeshi artistes will perform Bangla songs in the same stage where Indian maestros will present classical music. I hope many Bangladeshi artistes will have the opportunity to perform Bangla songs worldwide as Blues Communications, a Bangladeshi event organiser, are significantly creating platforms for us. I have planned to perform songs of three poets (Atul Prasad Sen, DL Roy and Rajanikanta Sen), and of our National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.”
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