Musical symphony by 2,600 vocalists in Pune
Sunday 10 January 2010

Bangalore, Jan 10 (IANS) About 2,600 Hindustani classical vocalists will converge in Pune Tuesday (Jan 12) for a historic concert to be graced by India's noted seer Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

Titled 'Antarnaad', the grand three-hour long classical music symphony, being organised by the Art of Living Foundation, will showcase the repertoire of Hindustani classical music and provide a platform to the exponents of the ancient Indian art at the S.P. College grounds.

"Among the unique things India can offer the world, spirituality and music are definitive. The aim is to nurture the talent of exponents of classical music," the seer said in a statement here Sunday.

The music will be based on evening melodies from ancient tunes (raagas) in the Gandharva Veda such as Shree, Purya Dhanashree, Des, Basant Bahar, Chandrakaus, Shankara, Kalavati, Janasammohini and Bhoop.

Renowned musicians, including pandits Rajan and Sajan Misra, Shankar Mahadevan and Chitra Roy will be part of the ensemble that will have classical singers from across the states.

The seer will also felicitate Indian top Hindustani classical singer Bharat Ratna Bhimsen Joshi on the occasion.

A mammoth 27,000-square feet wooden stage has been built, with a 20-feet high backdrop for the concert. Roger Drego of Electrocraft will handle sound and light, the statement said.

The Art of Living entered the Guinness World Records with 1,200 Mohiniyattam dancers performing together at its silver jubilee celebrations in Bangalore in 2006.

The Foundation also held a historic sitar concert titled 'Brahmnaad' at New Delhi in 2008, in which about 1,000 sitarists participated in aid of Bihar relief and rehabilitation.