SHIMLA, May 22: It was a rare occasion for a connoisseur of music in the town, a rare feast when sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan performed in the Convention Hall of the Peter Hoff at a concert organised by the CII on the eve of consumer fair here last evening.Ustad Amjad Ali Khan started his recital with a dhunon sarod specially composed by him to pay musical tribute to a close friend - late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Yesterday was the seventh anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi's death.
Accompanying the Ustad on tabla was Bose and the two drew a big applause from the audience present in the hall.
Ustad Amjad Ali also presented raag pahari mixed with folk dhun and concluded the recital with raag durga, a favourite of Ustad.
In a brief chat with the mediamen Ustad Amjad Ali lamented the poor maintenance of historic Gaiety Theatre on the Mall, where he had performed in 1986. He said either the state government was indifferent towards the theatre, a mini structure of Albert Hall of London, or the people lacked a feeling of appreciation towards fine arts and Indian classical music.
The Ustad said Shimla needed a big auditorium where about 500 people could attend and enjoy similar evenings with other artists also. He hoped the state government would pay attention towards this historic building.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
