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ShareBangalore: A spectacular start to a great Music Festival 2009, it had all the ingredients to satiate the music lover's appetite. Serving as an appetiser, the inaugural ceremony was an indication of the sumptuous main course that is to come in the next four days.
A lobby concert of Carnatic vocal recital by Meghana Murthy Balnad, whose renditions of "raagalaapanas" and composition "Balagopala" in strong guttural vocals set the tone for the evening.
Soon after, the junior concert commenced with Omkarnath Havaldar of the Kirana Gharana, who was accompanied by his brother Kedarnath Havaldar on the tabla. His rendition of "Raag Puryadhanasri" progressed from slow and mellifluous to strong and astounding, inspiring the audiences to break into applause every now and then. He concluded with Purandaradasa's "Devaranama, Raama raama yenniro".
Suma Sudhindra, president of Chowdiah Memorial Hall, in her welcome speech said, "This is a landmark festival in the country, as every year, we celebrate the spirit of music. We are happy to be carrying forward the tradition of music through this festival." She said that the KK Murthy award, presented in memory of the man behind the construction of Chowdaiah hall, will be presented to Padma Shri Kadri Gopalnath, saxophone player and Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan Balamuralikrishna.
The event was inaugurated by Kadri Gopalnath.
The concert for the evening began with a performance by Unnikrishnan. Before commencing the recital, he said, "This is a great pillar of strength that preserves and serves this great tradition of classical art. Hope it grows at the national and international level to serve musicians."
What's happening today!
The evening lobby concert will begin at 4.30pm with a rendition from Sangeetha S. The junior veena recital will be presented by V Gopal and party. The main concert will be presented by RK Padmanabha, who will be accompanied by Srikanth V (violin), Srimushnam Raja Rao (mridangam) and Giridhar Udupa (ghatam).
