If there is one thing that I envy the people of Delhi, it would have to be the city’s vibrant cultural scene. There are always music recitals, plays, experimental theatre, something or the other is always going on.

And at the India Habitat Center it is no different this July; in a schedule packed with theatre and dance recitals, talks on several different subjects and even film screenings and discussions, there are some Indian Classical Music recitals which will be a treat for connoisseurs in awe of the old masters such as Pandit Ravi Shankar, Pandit Jasraj, Ustad Vilayat Khan and Pt. Rajan & Sajan Mishra.

In a unique array of recitals by the disciples of the maestros, who are themselves accomplished and established artistes in their own right, the India Habitat Centre will be staging music recitals featuring the famous pupils of their even more famous gurus on 3rd and 4th July.

3 July 7.30 PM Barkha Ritu - Rains & Ragas:

Sitar recital by Ustad Shujaat Khan

Shujaat Khan, son of legendary sitar exponent Ustad Vilayat Khan had proved to be a creative and versatile musician when he came out with a vocal/sitar album years back called ‘Lajo Lajo’ in which he played the sitar as well as sang. Even in a live recital I went to some years back, the sitarist, who manages to establish an excellent rapport with his audience explained certain bandishes by singing them.

Hindustani Vocal recital by Sanjeev Abhyankar

Sanjeev Abhyankar is perhaps Pandit Jasraj’s most well known shishya, and has done his guru proud and is a very gifted exponent of the Mewati Gharana. He displays great vocal virtuosity and interprets Raags independently as against other disciples of well known Gurus who tend to follow their teachers slavishly, and end up singing khayals exactly like them.

4 July 7.30 PM

Sitar recital by Shubhendra Rao

Shubhendra Rao has trained under sitar maestro Ravi Shankar for as long as 30 years; but has nevertheless managed to develope his own individual style and is known to invest his recitals with a high degree of aesthetic appeal.

Hindustani Vocal recital by Sarathi Chatterji.

Sarathi Chatterji is the disciple of Pt Rajan Mishra who is one of the duo of the Mishra brothers, arguably the most impressive duo on the Indian classical music firmament. Though I have not personally heard Sarathi Chatterji, I have had the good fortune of listening to Pt. Rajan and Sajan Mishra several times and have been enthralled by their high energy vocal dexterity and the power or their strong voices.

So these may be some recitals that connoisseurs may not want to miss.