Thyagaraja aradhana to showcase great singers

Good news for the ardent fans of Indian classical music. A city-based music academy is hosting a three-day grand music carnival here starting Friday. A La Thyagaraja Aradhana, the annual Carnatic music fest organized in memory of noted musician Tyagaraja at Thiruvaiyaru, N R Mohalla Sangeetha Sabha will hosting its annual festival of Sri Thyagaraja and Purandaradasa aradhana celebrations. The N RMohalla Sangeetha Sabha, which organizes musical events every month to entertainthe connoisseurs of music has been hosting the Thyagaraja Purandaradasa aradhanafor 12 years now. Says Sabha treasurer Rani Vinod: "Inspired by the aradhanathat happens in Thiruvaiyuru, we have been hosting a grand scale aradhana everyyear, for the last 12 years in Mysore. As part of the event, we will host a masssinging of Thyagaraja pancharathna kritis and other kritis of both Purandaradasaand Thyagaraja by noted singers from Mysore. We will also felicitate threeveteran musicians, who have dedicated their lives for music on the occasion," headded. The event that attracts a huge crowd every year involves concerts by the best of singers in Mysore city. This year, singers such as Koviladi Kala, Neeraha and H K Narasimha Murthy will be part of the celebrations. The event will commence with solo music concerts onFriday and will conclude with the aradhana celebrations of February 27. "Our aimis to make sure, more people take interest and involve in the aradhana, whichnot just creates awareness about classical music, but also popularizes how greatthese singers are, Thyagaraja and Purandaradasa were." Saying theyare quite successful in their endeavour, Rani says: "The event is becomingpopular by the year, with more people taking part each season. Hope it continuesthe same way," she added.ItineraryFeb 25: Inaugurationand concert by S Shankar, 6.30 pmFeb 26: Music concert by Ranjiniand Gayathri, 6.30 pmFeb 27: Thyagaraja and Purandaradasa aradhana;felicitation to veteran musicians H K Narasimha Murthy, M K Saraswathi andHimamshu, 9.30 am; recital of pancharatna kritis by Thyagaraja, 12 pm;valedictory, 1 pm