Performers
This concert explores twin ragas that differ by only a single swara, yet inhabit entirely different emotional worlds despite their near-identical scales. Presented side by side, the ragas reveal how one altered note reshapes melodic movement, how characteristic phrases diverge, and how the smallest shift in pitch can change a raga’s entire temperament.
Ragas, the concert suggests, are not merely scales but living personalities. The comparative listening invites the audience into the mindset of composer and performer alike, showcasing the subtle moments where two melodic lines converge before parting to chart their own paths: a quiet reminder of the poetry hidden in what might otherwise pass unnoticed.
Supported by:
Venue: Auditorium
Performers
Padmini Rao
Padmini Rao is an accomplished Hindustani classical vocalist and leading exponent of the Kirana Gharana. A senior disciple of the late Padma Vibhushan Dr. Prabha Atre, she was associated with her for over 38 years. She also underwent 11 years of rigorous voice-culture training under the late Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Khan Dagar, and began her vocal training with Pandit Manohar Otavkar. Her repertoire spans khayal, thumri and bhajan. With over three decades of performance experience, she has performed extensively across India and internationally, including at the Tansen Sangeet Samaroh and NCPA Mumbai. She has translated over 500 compositions of Dr. Prabha Atre into English, and is an empanelled artiste of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
Madhusudan Bhat
Born into a family of Yakshagana artistes, Madhusudan Bhat began his musical training in vocal music and harmonium under Pt. M.P. Hegde Padigere in Sirsi. He went on to receive advanced training in harmonium from Pt. Dr. Ravindra Katoti, one of the country’s renowned harmonium artistes, under whose guidance he continues to hone his craft. An Akashavani B-High graded artiste, Bhat has accompanied several renowned vocalists, including Pt. Parameshwar Hegde, Pt. Ramesh Narayan, Smt. Piu Sarkel and Sri Sridhar Kulkarni. He has also performed at several prestigious music festivals and on television channels.
Gurumurthy Vaidya
Born into a musically inclined family, Gurumurthy Vaidya hails from Yallapura, in the Western Ghats of Karnataka. At a tender age, he showed a keen interest in music, and remembers his childhood spent trying to understand the complex rhythmic patterns of Yakshagana. He started his musical journey at the age of 12, taking initial lessons in classical tabla from Pandit G.G. Hegde, Yallapura, before training further under Pandit Basavaraj Bendigere of Dharwad. He later became a disciple of legendary master Pandit Ravindra Yavagal and continues to take guidance from him. He has performed on several prestigious stages worldwide, and has accompanied eminent artists including Vidushi Ashwini Bhide Deshpande, Pt. Ulhas Kasalkar and Pandita N. Rajam.
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