Morning classical concerts in capital soon

New Delhi, Sep 18 (UNI) The denizens of the capital will hear enchanting morning ragas as a part of a series of early hours concerts to popularise Indian classical programmes.

Chairman and Managing Director of India Tourism Development Corporation Pervez Dewan today said the ITDC in collaboration with Saregama HMV will organise early morning concerts in the capital ''Under the Bodhi Tree'' as part of a Golden Jubilee celebrations of Hotel Ashok here, to popularise classical music among the people.

Mr Dewan said music is something which all of us like and said organising such events is required to promote traditional Indian classical music.

Managing Director of HMV Saregama Subroto Chattopadhyay said the company alongwith the Ashok group will undertake such programmes to attract the younger generation to classical music.

Renowned musicians including Sufiana Qalaam expert Madan Mohan Singh, Sarangi player Kamal Sabri, Sitar player Shubhendra Rao, Hindustani vocalist Sunanda Sharma and flutist Rajendra Prasanna will perform at the event.

The events which will begin from September 24 and continue till October 29, is to be held on Sundays and it will begin at 0630 hrs.

Speaking on the timings, Mr Dewan and Mr Chattopadhyay said morning ragas should be ideally enjoyed in the mornings, the time when sunrise takes place.

Raga, the soul of Indian classical music, is based on a series of notes and the fall and rise in it makes it correspond to a particular time of the day which is expressive of the mood of the moment and this is why certain ragas are classified as morning, evening, afternoon, noon and night ragas.

Sitar player Pt Shubhendra Rao said the concept of musicians singing and playing ragas according to their stipulated time is desirable and added such programmes are required to take place more often.

On being asked if the events will be replicated in other parts of the country, Mr Dewan said if the event is successful in here, then the ITDC will try to organise such programmes all over India.

He added the ITDC has hotels across the country and said the Ashok Hotel would be providing its lawns free of cost to HMV Saregama for hosting the concerts.

UNI PA RP RAI1956