When you perform on the stage, you’re an entertainer: Amjad Ali Khan at Naad Safar launch

Music connects the world. It is a blessing to have music in our lives,” noted sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan during his address at a baithak in the capital on Tuesday.

The baithak commenced with musical renditions by Naadvistaar’s acharyas. “Many singers say that they sing for themselves. But, when you perform on the
stage, you’re an entertainer – you perform for your listeners. Just be careful that you never humiliate music aur dhyaan rakhiye ke raag naraaz na ho jaye,” continued the maestro, who was at the event to inaugurate Naad Safar, a mobile music school and recording studio for generational musicians led by Delhi-based conservatory Naadvistaar Foundation in partnership with Manzil Mystics Foundation, supported by BookAChange.

Sharing an anecdote from the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize Concert, Khan recalled, “I was given only five minutes to perform. Initially, I wondered what could be presented in such a brief span. But I accepted the challenge and realised that in those five minutes, the whole world was listening.” After his address, Amjad Ali Khan presented a melodic interpretation of raag Darbari for the gathering.

"In the age of social media, the concept of sonic diversity is somewhere missing. Amjad Sahab's anecdotes were like an oral training in music. His words, 'Each melody has its own soul', resonate with me quite a lot," says Dhruv Sangari from Naadvistaar.