THE EXTRAVAGANZA RETURNS

Photo: Ridwan Adid Rupon

Five nights. Fifty-five hours. One hundred and sixty artistes. The biggest classical music festival in the world is back.

Anticipation had been in the air for a few weeks now; connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike of classical music, many of them christened to the art forms as recently as the last two years, had been searching for news on when the big classical music festival was going to be held this year. Bengal Foundation, the organisation that had been presenting the festival of colossal scale for the last two years, finally made it official yesterday at a press conference at the Hotel Sonargaon in the capital: The Bengal Classical Music Festival -- Bangladesh 2014 will be held from November 27 to December 1, at the Army Stadium, and will be dedicated to Polli Kobi Jasimuddin.

“Often, an event is seen in isolation; this festival is so much beyond that. It has been 25 years of endeavours of Bengal Foundation that has culminated into this festival, and the best part is – people of Bangladesh are making it happen. All our sponsors and partners are Bangladeshi entities; Bangladesh truly owns this festival,” opened Director General of Bengal Foundation Luva Nahid Chowdhury, who anchored the press conference.  She also gave out the outline of the festival, including the major visiting artistes and Bangladeshi artistes, and Bengal Foundation's past, present and future activities surrounding the development of classical music, particularly the school that is scheduled to open mid-November.

Sadya Afreen Mallick, Editor, Star Arts & Entertainment, represented The Daily Star, one of the strategic partners of the event, at the press conference.  She said from the beginning of time, mankind has sought to harness the melodies of nature – the vibration of the bow of the hunter, the chirping of birds, the sounds of pouring rain or a flowing stream, and those who have captured that essence in their music, have been recognized as true maestros. She also thanked Bengal Foundation for proving that there are still a good number of listeners of classical music in Bangladesh.

Sajjad Sharif, Managing Editor of the Daily Prothom Alo, representing the other strategic partner, said what seemed like a crazy idea on Bengal Foundation's behalf two years ago, has transformed into a craze among people, to enjoy classical music at such a festival every year.

Mahbubur Rahman, CEO of BRAC Bank, one of the sponsors of the event, termed the festival a dream come true for all art connoisseurs of Bangladesh to be experiencing so many greats on one stage, adding that he is looking forward to five sleepless nights.

Fahim Munaim, CEO of Maasranga Television – the broadcast partner of the event, said what is great to see is that the festival is growing and moving in forward direction every year, in terms of participation and grandeur. He also lauded the efficient registration process and management of the organizers at the festival.

Anjan Chowdhury, Managing Director of Square Group, the major sponsor of the event, said Square Group was founded in Pabna that has a rich cultural background, and the group has always supported tasteful cultural initiatives.

Abul Khair, Chairman of Bengal Foundation, spoke last. He spoke about his vision behind initiating the festival. “All those who introduced Indian Classical Music to the world were from Bengal, but that glory had waned over time. I wanted to revive classical music, and I knew if I had to do it, it would have to be a big bang. No one believed it could be done, but we did it. In Bangladesh, it is easy to start something, but much more difficult to continue. I am grateful to the sponsors and the partners who have been at our side in our whole journey.”

This year's festival line-up will see celebrated classical vocalist Vidushi Kishori Amonkar and world-renowned sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan perform for the first time at the festival. Other  first-time artistes include Malavika Sarrukai (Bharatnatyam), Karaikudi Mani (Carnatic percussion), Umakanta and Ramakanta Gundecha, known better as Gundecha brothers (dhrupad, vocals duo), Manjusha Patil (kheyal, vocals), Kushal Das (sitar), Aman and Ayan Ali Bangash (sarod duo), Ganesh Rajagopalan (Carnatic violin), Ashwini Bhide Deshpande (kheyal, vocals) and Debashish Bhattacharya (slide guitar). Apart from them, stalwarts Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma (santoor), Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (flute), Pandit Rajan and Sajan Mishra (kheyal, vocals duo), Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty (vocals),  Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan (sitar), Vidushi Girija Devi (kheyal and thumri, vocals), Pandit Tejendra Narayan Mazumdar (sarod), Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar (kheyal, vocals), Vidushi Aruna Sairam (Carnatic vocals), Vishal Krishna (Katthak), Kaushiki Chakrabarty (kheyal, vocals), among many others. Jugalbandi of different styles of classical music will also be on offering, with Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty performing vocals with young slide guitar artiste Debasish Bhattacharya and Pandit Tejendra Narayan Mazumdar performing sitar with Carnatic violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan.

Bangladeshi artistes performing solos at the festival are: Mohammad Moniruzzaman (flute), Swarup Hossain (tabla), Dr. Asit Roy (dhrupad, vocals), Amit Chowdhury (Bharatnatyam), Nishit Dey (sitar) and Supriya Das (vocals). Apart from them, a Bangladeshi tabla quartet of Enamul Haque Omar, Goutam Sarkar, Mohammad Zakir Hossain and Bishwajit Natta, will perform at the festival, alongside a chorus classical performance of a group of 16 young vocalists who have been primarily selected for Bengal Foundation's classical music school Parampara.

To showcase the opulence of Bangla music, the opening and closing days' sessions will be opened by a 40-strong chorus of eminent Bangladeshi singers, singing three Bangla songs. Noted music director Foad Nasser Babu has arranged music for the presentation.

Registration for the festival, which is free of cost, is expected to begin on November 3, online on the Bengal Foundation web site. Off-line registration will also open at various outlets of Bengal Foundation, and at the venue. Transport buses to and from the festival venue will be increased this year, along with more audience entrances, expanded food court and restroom facilities.

Square Group is presenting the festival, with support from BRAC Bank. The Daily Star and the Daily Prothom Alo are strategic partners, Maasranga TV is the broadcast partner, Ice Today is the media partner and ABC Radio will be radio partner. Amari Dhaka is the hospitality partner for the event, which will be managed by Blues Communications.