A Jasrangi jugalbandi between vocalists Sanjeev Abhyankar and Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande, performances by flautist Praveen Godkhindi and veteran violinist R Kumaresh, sitar recital by Ustad Nishat Khan and tabla by Anindo Chatterjee will offer a rich fare of Indian classical music at the 61st Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav festival which will begin at Raman Baug Prashala grounds in Narayan Peth on December 12.
The jugalbandi has two vocalists singing two different ragas at the same time on two different scales. For the first time, the prestigious annual event will present nine artistes including Madhukar Dhumal (shehnai), Reva Natu, Wasim Ahmad Khan, Harish Tiwari, Indrani Mukherjee, Gulam Niyaz Khan (vocalists), Jayanthi Kumaresh (veena in Carnatic style), Mira Prasad (sitar) and Rajiv Taranath (sarod).
The four-day event will comprise meet-the-artistes sessions and screening of documentaries on the classical performing arts, Shreeniwas Joshi, executive president of Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal that organises the festival, told reporters on Wednesday. Dhumal will open the festival and Natu, a Gwalior gharana vocalist, will perform after him followed by Abhyankar and Bhide-Deshpande. Khan and Chatterjee will perform next followed by eminent vocalist Pandit Jasraj. On the second day, Agra gharana singer Wasim Ahmad Khan, santoor artiste Ulhas Bapat, who would be playing at the festival after two decades, veteran Kathak dancer Shovana Narayan will perform. The day will conclude with a performance by vocalist Begum Parveen Sultana. Vocal recital by Tiwari from Delhi, Mukherjee from Kolkata and Raja Kale, a joint performance by Godkhindi and Kumaresh will mark the third day's performances which will close with a vocal recital by veteran Malini Rajukar.
On the last day, two sessions, one in the morning and the other in the evening, will feature both new and seasoned artistes. The morning session will begin with a vocal recital by Upendra Bhat, followed by Jayanti Kumresh. The session will end with Patiala gharana exponent Ajay Chakrabarty's vocal performance. Sitar player Mira Prasad will open the evening session, followed by singer Gulam Niyaz Khan. Vocalist Arshad Ali Khan, who had won the hearts of many enthusiasts as a five-year old years ago, will take stage. Kaushiki Chakrabarty, who will perform here after 2006, will be followed by sarod player Rajiv Taranath - a student of Ali Akbar Khan. Kirana gharana doyen Prabha Atre will bring the festival to an end.
