Lucknow: Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt delivered a soulful performance on the opening day of the two-day Awadh Region conference organized by the Prabha Khaitan Foundation at a city hotel on Wednesday.A Hindustani classical instrumentalist, Bhatt is known for inventing and playing the modified Mohan Veena (slide guitar). He has received major honors including the Grammy Award, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.The recital drew art patrons and music enthusiasts, who listened intently as he explored intricate ragas and improvisations. “I am an exponent of Hindustani classical music, a 5000-year-old tradition, known for its spiritual connection. The beauty of Indian classical music is momentum and a musician has the responsibility of playing it out with creativity and keeping in mind its legacy,” he said.He opened the recital with raag Shyam Kalyan, followed by a high-energy jhala. His Grammy-winning composition, ‘A Meeting By The River’ was the high point of the evening. Thereafter, he regaled the audience with his vocal recital, starting with ‘Aaj jaane ki zid na karo’ and also including some famous ghazals of his friend Jagjit Singh. The evening came to an end with the soulful rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’.Metaphor Litfest founder Kanak Rekha Chauhan said, “His music touches something very personal.” Attendee Sukriti Acharya added, “There was a purity in the performance that is hard to find. It was not just music, it was an experience.”
