Exhilarating musical evening due

One of the most accomplished singers of India will be in Auckland next weekend to present a concert that promises to lift the bar on traditional Carnatic Music.

Gayatri Venkataraghavan, known in the music circles for her prowess in executing intricate ragas, will sing under the auspices of Sangeetha Bharathi Music School and Rasikas New Zealand at the Centenary Theatre of the Auckland Boys Grammar School, located on Mountain Road, Mt Eden on August 7.

The concert, beginning at 6 pm will include support artistes Akkarai Subhalakshmi (Violin) and Manoj Siva (Mridangam).

Ms Venkataraghavan has had the privilege of being trained, tested and acknowledged as a proficient singer by a number of masters in Carnatic Music. They include Rajalakshmi, Rukmani Ramani, V Subramaniam, Lakshmi Natarajan, ‘Acharya Choodamani’ the Late A Sundaresan. She is now under the guidance of K V Narayanaswamy, one of the most celebrated musicians of the modern era (He was honoured with the title, Bala Gana Kala Ratnam when he was 12 years old).

Dedicated to bringing out the purity of Carnatic Music, Ms Venkataraghavan is top artiste of All India Radio and Door Dharshan Television. Her mastery in the art has won her several prizes in regional and national competitions.

Says Sangeetha Bharathi Principal Padma Govardhan: “The forthcoming concert of Ms Venkataraghavan will not only be a feast to the ears of Carnatic music lovers but also a source of inspiration to students and aspiring artistes. We are happy that we have an opportunity to organise her concert jointly with Rasikas NZ in Auckland.”

Photo : Gayatri Venkataraghavan