Padmasree Pandit Ajay Chakraborty one of the greatest male Indian classical voices of the 20- 21st Century regaled his audience at a soirée at the FUSE Roc Centre recently held in Manchester ….reports Asian Lite News.
The concert was organised by Nrityakunj, a dance & art organisation from Manchester, who once again produced a thoroughly mesmerising and entertaining evening. Starting with Raga Poorvi, the audience were treated to a Dhrupad that explored all the complicated and technically difficult nuances of this form.
Through the two hour recital he sang his way through Thumris, Khayals in various ragas. What made it especially memorable for the audience was the dialogue that Panditji initiated, explaining little known, esoteric gems of information. The thumri ” Ab Chhor chaley Nakhlaw nagariya” written by Nawab Wajid Ali Shah as he prepared to leave for exile in Kolkata – had it’s bittersweet message exquisitely rendered by the maestro.
Panditji also sang in Raga Hamsadhwani a Ganapati Kriti composed by the great Muthuswami Dikshitar – Vatapi Ganapatim bhajeham” delighting the ecstatic audience.
And ofcourse the finale was a Shyamasangeet composed and written by Kazi Nazrul Islam – it was the Poet’s Birth Anniversary and this was Panditji’s heartfelt tribute.
The audience left replete after nearly 2 and a half hours with a full heart after hearing the heavenly music that only Pandit Ajay Chakrabarty can bring forth.