Violins charm Bengal classical fest

Dhaka's love affair with classical music continued last night, as the audience braved heavy traffic to swarm the Army Stadium, at the fourth Bengal Classical Music Festival.

Violin maestro N Rajam gave a memorable maiden performance at the stage, along with her daughter Sangeeta Shankar and granddaughters Ragini and Nandini Shankar. In her signature gayaki-ang (vocal style) violin playing, Rajam and her family ensemble opened with Raga Bageshri, and then presented a Banarasi thumri in Raga Khamaj, before treating the audience to a violin recital of Nazrul Sangeet “Brojogopi Khele Hori”. She also explained her playing style with examples.

Dancer-choreographer Warda Rihab opened the day's proceedings with a burst of colour of vibrancy as she and her group presented a beautiful Manipuri dance titled “Leichan”. Some 22 dancers and four pung-cholam (mridangam) musicians brought out a piece of Manipur in the 35-minute production.

Another Bangladeshi artiste, Yousuf Khan, presented Raga Kirwani on the sarod next, with Iftekharul Alam Pradhan on table. The dhrupad vocal performance of Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar followed, who presented the melancholic Raga Behag, a composition on Raga Shankara and a short piece on Raga Sohni.

Vidushi Shruti Sadolikar took the stage around midnight, and began her recital with a khayal set on Raga Nand (Anandi Kalyan). Yet to come on the night were the much-anticipated mridangam ensemble led by Guru Karaikudi Mani, and Vidushi Shubha Mudgal's khayal presentation.