Pune, June 20, 2023: The eagerly awaited eighth edition of the SwaraMalhar Music Festival, organized by the Violin Academy and Oerlikon Balzers in Pune, is set to enthrall music lovers once again. The festival will be held at Ganesh Kala Krida Manch from June 30th to July 2nd, with performances scheduled from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM each day. Pandit Atul Kumar Upadhye, the Founder of the Violin Academy, announced the dates during a press conference held in the city today. Tejas and Rajas Upadhye, prominent figures in the music industry, were also present at the event.
The eighth edition of the SwaraMalhar Music Festival is being supported by esteemed sponsors, including Badhekar Group, Vilas Javdekar Developers, Lokmanya Multipurpose Cooperative Society, and Wilo, who have recognized the festival’s significance and contributed to its success.
Speaking about the festival, Pandit Upadhye said, “As the monsoon season descends upon us, so does the power of the rain gods, enveloping us in a beautiful and divine atmosphere that resonates with our hearts—the Malhar season. At SwaraMalhar this year, we will witness powerful and captivating concerts encompassing poetry, semi-classical and classical vocal performances, instrumental duets, tabla solos, kathak dances, and a mesmerizing Padmashri duet as the grand finale. This festival serves as a grand celebration of the arrival of the monsoon and its artistic significance.”
The first day of the SwaraMalhar Music Festival will commence with a specially curated program titled “Malhar Dhun – Shades of Rain Story Tana Riri with Raag Sangeet and Poetry.” It will feature performances by Vidhushi Devki Pandit, acclaimed poet Vaibhav Joshi, and renowned flute player Ashwin Srinivasan. Prashant Pandav on tabla, Abhinay Ravande on harmonium, Omkar Dalvi on pakhawaj, and Susmirata Dawalkar on vocals will accompany the main artists. Dr. Sameera Joshi-Gujar will be the anchor for this program.
The second day of the festival will begin with a captivating Kathak performance by Nidhi Prabhu, accompanied by Pandit Mukundraj Dev on tabla, Shrirang Tembe on harmonium and vocals, and Zubair Shaikh on sitar. The audience will then be treated to the soulful melodies of veteran violinist Pandit Atul Kumar Upadhye, accompanied by Tejas and Rajas Upadhye on the violin, and Pandit Kumar Bose on tabla. The day’s final performances will feature Pandit Ajay Pohankar, a senior vocalist from the Kirana Gharana, and Abhijit Pohankar.
On the festival’s third and final day, national award-winning artist Rahul Deshpande will captivate the audience with his classical vocal performance. This will be followed by a mesmerizing tabla solo by Pandit Kumar Bose, a celebrated tabla artist from the Banaras Gharana. The festival will culminate with a joint performance by Ustad Shahid Parvez on sitar and Pandit Vijay Ghate on tabla, leaving the audience spellbound.
Tickets for the SwaraMalhar Music Festival are available for purchase on classicalevents.in and bookmyshow.com, providing music enthusiasts with the opportunity to witness this remarkable musical extravaganza.
