In one-of-its kind performance on Day 8, Pt Shivkumar Sharma elevated the concert to the plains of nostalgia
“Sweet memories of having played with Pt Ravi Shankar at various festivals are upon my mind,” said legendary musician
Pt Shivkumar Sharma, a musician in a class of his own, who performed at Saptak on Day 8.
Shivkumarji, recipient of Cultural Ambassador Award by World Bank and the Padma Vibhushan and Tansen Samman Awards elevated the concert to the plains of nostalgia as emotions played a muse for him.
“It was Ravi Shankarji who presented me to global audience in 1968 at Festival of India that he organised in the US. This concert enabled me to bring Santoor from the valley of Kashmir to international platform. Today the memoirs of having played at that concert that he organised are upon my mind and heart,” he said emotively, gripped in a rare nostalgic mood.
“Memories of Raviji will be my inspiration especially for tonight’s performance at one of the longest and most prestigious music festival of our country which is aptly dedicated to him. His contribution to the world of classical music is so immense that we can never repay what he did. He lived for promoting our music tradition,” said Shivji who is a living legend and creator of the modern-day santoor, for he re-shaped the long-lost ancient music instrument ‘shata-tantri veena’ (the veena with 100 strings) into a new, 91-string form.
Synchronised singing of Ritesh and Rajnish Mishra pleased crowds
The duo rendered raag Jog and Gawati on Sapatak Day 8
They are famous for keeping alive a 350-year-old style of khayal singing. Ritesh and Rajnish Mishra, son of iconic vocalists Rajan and Sajan Mishra began their performance with raag Jog in the third session of Day 8 at Saptak.
While sustaining harmony is a dream that entire humanity aspires to attain but can rarely achieve, Ritesh and Rajnish Mishra’s synchronised singing proved that harmony is the soul of their art.
‘Mishra Bandhu’ Ritesh-Rajnish are carrying forwards a musical legacy of sixth generation and in the most aesthetic way, singing together like their father and uncle Rajan and Sajanji who are renowned duet singing vocalists.
Commenting on Pt Ravi Shankarji, Ritesh said, “Ravi Shankarji was an ambassador to Hindustani classical music. We were invited by him to perform for one of Raviji’s music album Rise in which he sang 3rd track “Mahadeva” which is composed by him. And working under his guidance was so fruitful that Rise was nominated for the prestigious ‘Grammy Awards’ in 2006.”
