Sarodya Society, LearnQuest Academy of Music, and Sulekha.com presents
Shruti 2002 - A Festival of Classical Indian Music

Edward Pickman Hall, 27 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Saturday, September 28, 2002
7-11 pm.
Tickets: $40 (patron), $25 (general), $10 (student)
Purchase online at: http://www.Sulekha.com/Boston

This unique festival of Hindustani classical music will feature the world-renowned khayal singer "Padma Bhushan" Dr. Prabha Atre, santoor maestro Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya, and a rising star from Assam, sarod virtuoso Arnab Chakrabarty, a leading disciple of Pt. Buddhadev Dasgupta.

This festive evening of music will open with a sarod recital by Chakrabarty, who has recently won much acclaim for his innovative restructuring of the traditional sarod, and for inventing the "electric" sarod. Tarun Bhattacharya will then display his well-known virtuosity on the sarod. The grand finale will be a khayal vocal performance by Dr. Atre, who is a household name all over India.

Accompanists include the Bombay-based harmonium player Sunil Borgaonkar and his compatriot Aditya Kalyanpur, who is a disciple of the late Ustad Allarakha, as well as Sri Mayookh Bhaumik of Calcutta.

A little about the artistes:

Born in Bombay of Assamese parents, Arnab Chakrabarty grew up in India and was educated in the United States. He has successfully reaped the best of both worlds at an early age under the guidance of his guru, sarod maestro Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta. Chakrabarty began his performing career before he was fifteen, and at twenty-three, has carved an enviable niche for himself in the world of Indian classical music, having performed at a majority of India's leading music festivals, and in the United States, Europe and the British Isles. Chakrabarty divides his time between Bombay, Guwahati and New York and is a regularly featured broadcaster on All India Radio.

The redoubtable Tarun Bhattacharya is a highly-regarded member of the pantheon of contemporary Hindustani musucians. His powerful virtuosity and control over his instrument distinguish him from his peers. A widely traveled performer, Tarun is a disciple of Dulal Roy and Pandit Ravi Shankar. A "Top Grade" artist of All India Radio, Bhattacharya lives and works in Calcutta.

Prabha Atre is a household name in Maharashtra and most of India as a leading classical singer. She also specializes in Thumri, Dadra, Tappa, Chaiti, Ghazal and Bhajan singing. Dr. Prabha Atre was trained in the traditional "guru-shishya paramparaa" system by the late Sureshbabu Mane and his famous sister, Padmabhushan Hirabai Badodekar, both stalwarts of the Kirana gharaana and drew much inspiration from the styles of renowned maestros, Amir Khan and Bade Gulam Ali Khan. Prabha-ji has also published three books on Hindustani music in Marathi and English, and a book of Marathi poetry. A "Top Grade" performer of All India Radio, Prabha-ji was associated with AIR as its "Chief Producer of Music" for many years. In 2001, Prabha Atre was awarded Padma Bhushan by the President of India.

Benni Gausebeck (South Hadley, MA)
bgausebeck@yahoo.com
solomonsmith01002@yahoo.com

Related websites:
- Arnab Chakravarty
- Tarun Bhattacharya
- Dr. Prabha Atre