East Marries West…Sitar – Cello Concert

Prasanthi witnessed a rare musical serenade with East – West couple, Pundit Shubendra Rao and Ms Saskia Rao presenting a scintillating Sitar – Cello concert today in Prasanthi Nilayam.

Presenting a rare blend of Eastern music with the Western music with the Western, renowned musical couple Pundit Shubendra Rao and Saskia Rao – de Haans presented a scintillating musical offering this evening, on the 4th day of the ongoing 87th Birthday celebrations, here in Prasanthi Nilayam.

Pundit Shubendra Rao, a direct disciple of Pt Ravi Shankar is an exponent of Indian Classical Sitar and Saskia Rao of The Netherlands is credited with introducing the Cello to Indian Music.

The concert entitled ‘East Marries West’ was a perfect blend of Hindustani Classical of India with the Western Music.

Live and vibrant, with cent percent involvement, the ‘East-West’ couple played with perfect accord, resonance and harmony producing gems of musical delight, well received by the capacity audience in this blessed November twilight.

Playing non-stop for fifty minutes, they drifted into some familiar tunes, playing Raghupathi Raghava Rajaram…followed by Vaishnava Janato…. The couple was accompanied by their little son Ishaan on Tanpura along with Tabla accompaniment.

At the end of the presentation the artistes were felicitated and prasadam was distributed. Bhajans that continued after the programme ended with Bhagawan singing “Madhura Madhura Muraligana Shyama…”

Mangala Arathi was offered at 1810 hrs.

Tomorrow is the XXXI Convocation Of SSSIHL. The Convocation function will commence at 1100 hrs. and will conclude with Divine Valedictory Address followed by National Anthem. Dr Anil Kakodkar, Bhabha Chair Professor, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and former Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission of India will deliver the Convocation Address.

II Samasta Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II