Scintillating performances mark 2-day Vyas music fest

Nagpur: Two day Pt C R Vyas Sangeet Mahotsav ended with scintillating vocal and instrumental performances on Sunday. The event is organized by Maharashtra Lalit Kala Nidhi, Mumbai, and is coordinated by santoor maestro Pt Satish Vyas, in memory of his father, whose last performance was in Nagpur before he passed away in Kolkata in 2002.
Organized in collaboration with Saptak, the music fest held at Kavi Kulguru Kalidas auditorium at Persistent Systems Ltd. opened with a sarod performance by Sarang Kulkarni from Pune. Kulkarni has learnt sarod from his father Pt Rajan Kulkarni and is the fourth in line to wield the instrument in his family.

Starting off with the exhilarating raag Vachaspati, associated more with the Carnatic form, Kulkarni was in total control and moved deftly from high to low notes reaching a crescendo and then lowering the pitch to almost a whisper. Accompanying him on tabla was Aashey Kulkarni, an equally accomplished artist who matched the tone with fast and robust and soft and subtle beats. Sarang had the attention of the audience with his intense aalaap and jod, with the jhala being a work of a master. He ended the recital with a bhajan, payo ji maine Ram ratan dhan payo.

Taking the stage next was Ramakant Gaikwad, a young upcoming singer of Kirana and Patiala gharanas who has won numerous awards. He began his performance with a khayal in raag Bageshwari. Accompanying him on tabla was Nilesh Khode.

Day 2 of the fest had Canadian santoor artist Jonathan Voyer take the stage in the presence of his guru Pt Satish Vyas. An academician and a musician, Voyer holds a doctorate in music from Quebec University. For the evening, he picked up raag Madhuwanti. Accompanying him on tabla was Aashey Kulkarni.

The last performance of the music fest was by vocalist Ruchira Kedar. Disciple of Alka Deo Marulkar of Jaipur gharana, Ruchira has earned her laurels for her distinctive aalaaps, bol-vistar and taans which were all visible this evening. Picking up three bandishes in raag Kedar, Ruchira’s presentation stood out for its fluidity. One of the presentations was a bandish by Pt C R Vyas whose book Raag Sarita has been re-released recently.

But the true mettle of the vocalist emerged as she presented a thumri -Deewana kiyo Shyam in her melodious and free flowing voice. Having honed her skills in semi-classical genre under the tutelage of Vidushi Girija Devi at the ITC SRA Kolkata, the presentation was sublime as Ruchira laced it with an element of poignancy — another hallmark of her singing — and proceeded to present a hori composed by Bindadin Maharaj.