Bengal Music Fest to bring artistes from India, Bangladesh for grand show

Dhaka, Dec 25: The sixth edition of the five-day long Bengal Classical Music Festival will begin here on Tuesday, wherein music maestros from India, including the likes of violinist L Subramaniam, Santoor exponent Pandit Shivkumar Sharma and renowned Hindustani classical vocalist Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar will perform.

The great musical extravaganza is being organised by Dhaka-based Bengal Foundation, a public trust, which is committed to the belief that exposure to the art and culture can help conserve tradition and allow diversity to bloom.
Bangladesh Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith and Cultural Affairs minister Asaduzzaman Noor will be present in the inaugural ceremony, organisers said here. 
High Commissioner of India in Bangladesh Harsh Vardhan Shringla is also likely to attend the function as one of special invitees. 
After the inaugural ceremony, a magnificent musical experience will be unfolded at the spacious Dhanmondi's Abahani Playground. Among others, legendary violinist L Subramaniam will set the ball rolling for a grand musical experience.
The performance by Symphonic orchestra of the State Academic Philharmony of Astana under the guidance of distinguished conductors will be a major highlight of the inaugural show.
Similarly, attractive will be the show by Bangladesh's popular sitar artiste Firoz Khan.
There will be also a flawless flute rendition by Rakesh Chaurasia and also equally attractive presentations by Khayal artistes like Supriya Das and Vidushi Padma Talwalkar.
On the inaugural evening, the musical bonanza will also be graced by Rajrupa Chowdhury, one of the few female Sarod players in India.
Kolkata-based Purbayan Chatterjee will also entertain the musical lovers with his skills on Sitar. He is noted for amalgamating traditional Indian classical music with contemporary world music genres.
During the five-day spectacle, other artistes who will perform include Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan (Sitar), Avijiit Kundu (Dhrupad), Abir Hossain (Sarod) and Gazi Abdul Hakim (Flute). 
Bengal Foundation has been organising the fest since 2012 aiming to revive the lost heritage of the rich classical music.
"There can be no better means of ensuring a bonding of people and of bringing them together, than through cultural exchange," says Abul Kair, chairman of Bengal Foundation. UNI