Bangladesh's tribute to Ravi Shankar at Royal Albert Hall

Luva Nahid Choudhury

Ravi Shankar, the classical maestro who paid a massive role in popularizing classical music of the East to the world, held a close connection to Bangladesh. His father, Shyam Shankar hailed from Narail. And at the biggest crisis moment of this land, he convinced a musical global phenomenon, George Harrison, to organise the legendary “Concert for Bangladesh”. 

Now, Bangladeshi events company Blues Communication is paying a tribute to 'the godfather of world music' (a name given by Harrison), through a concert at the iconic Royal Albert Hall in London.

The concert, to be held on May 22, will feature some of the biggest names of Indian classical music – bamboo flute legend Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, santoor maestro Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma, and Carnatic violin virtuoso L Subramaniam, along with Ravi Shankar's daughter and genius sitarist Anoushka Shankar. Sharing the stage with them will be two Bangladeshi singers of repute – Adity Mohsin and Luva Nahid Choudhury, singing songs of Pancha-Kobi.

Adity Mohsin

“I think it's wonderful how the event is visualised,” Luva Nahid Choudhury told The Daily Star. “Alongside classical music by the maestros, to have songs in Bangla at the same concert, I think, is a beautiful idea. And because it's being organised by a Bangladeshi company, the idea of Bangla songs stems from there. It's a privilege to be performing at such a prestigious event.”

The artiste informed that she will be presenting songs of Nazrul, Atulprasad, DL Roy and Rajanikanta. Adity Mohsin is expected to perform Rabindra Sangeet.

Ravi Shankar had had a long history with the Royal Albert Hall, one of the most famous concert venues in the world. He performed at the venue on 17 occasions, spanning four decades. His first performance came on October 21, 1969, at one of the earliest events of Indian music at the venue. His final performance there was for the BBC Proms in 2005, where Anoushka performed alongside him.

With this concert, Blues Communications becomes the first Bangladeshi company to organise a concert at the Royal Albert Hall. The event will be held in association with Perfect Harmony Productions Ltd UK.