Kala Sagar: Music of North and South India

Festival 2012! brings both new and familiar musical sounds and the fascinating rhythms of India’s great Hindustani and Carnatic classical traditions into one occasion that also celebrates the founding of the Music Circle and the birthday of its musical director, Harihar Rao. Numerous artists entertain at this four-concert event. Over two days, the deeply traditional and spiritual vocal style of dhrupad performed by the Gundecha brothers will be heard along with the contrasting vocal style of South India, executed by the young Toronto brothers, Ashwin and Rohin Iyer. The contemporary sounds of the Divine Strings orchestra that merges traditional South Indian artists with western musicians both preserves and promotes the dynamic nature of the art. The beautiful tapestries of the classical ragas are featured on the sarod by Partho Sarothy and the violin under the virtuosities of Aishu Venkataraman, and Arun Ramamurthy accompanied by exciting rhythms on the tabla or mridangam. At the performance interludes, food, celebration and other activities continue the theme of Indian festivals.