Brilliant stars of the winter music season 2024-25

Winters usher in the hectic music season in Kolkata with the arrival of NRI musicians and their admirers from all over the globe.

- MEENA BANERJEE

FUTURE PERFECT

Out of all these 'arrived' performers, the most effectively visible was Kirana-Indore exponent Supriyo Dutta, who, after carving a niche for himself abroad, has entered the inner circle of classical music back home. He was comfortable in a noon session at Chaudhury House (raga Bhimpalasi), exceptionally brilliant on his gharana's hunting ground in an early evening session at Uttarpara Sangeet Chakra (raga Marwa), very restrained in the devotion-charged ambience of Sree Satyananda Devayatan (raga Malkauns and compositions of the Divine Mother Archana Puri), and at night in the 11th Annual Classical Music Conference at Genex Valley, Joka (raga Jog and dadra). The jawari of his baritone is a gift from above, but his diligence and resilience were visible in his edited silsila of raga elaborations according to the time slot and zone, tuneful taans even at breakneck speed and well-balanced technique and emotions.

Sandip Bhattacharya has emerged as a winner after all the hardships he had to go through as a student on both personal and professional levels. Apart from soulful singing, he is a successful organiser of classical events under the aegis of his 'Swar Darbar' and straddles his career here in India and abroad as well. At a recent Swar Darbar event, held at Uttam Mancha, he presented a quartet formed by Sandip Bhattacharya (vocalist), Ghosh (tabla), Sen (harmonium) and Mishra (sarengi)! This unique idea was amusing to start with, but very soon, all proved their mettle while accompanying the dexterous singing of Bhattacharya.