Shanno Khurana (Vocal)

Attended a concert of Padmabhushan Dr. Shanno Khurana (Vocal) accompanied by Dr. Aneesh Pradhan (Tabla) and Sudhir Nayak (Harmonium) at 39th Sangeet Samrat Alladiyakhan music festival on 7th April 2016.

Shanno Khurana (Agra & Rampur-Sahaswan Gharana) hails from Delhi and is disciple of Utd. Mushtaq Husain Khan & Padmabhushan Thakur Jaideva Singh.

First Raag of the concert was a difficult Sankeerna (संकीर्ण) raag Kaushi Kanada (कौशी कानडा). This Raag can be sung in Bageshree ang (बागेश्री अंग) and Malkans ang (मालकंस अंग). She chose to sing it in Malkans ang. She presented a Bandish 'Rajan ke sirtaj (राजन  के सिरताज)'. She used sargams (सरगम) for the badhat (बढत) of Raag.

Then she presented a fast composition 'Kahe karat Mose barjori (काहे करत मोसे बरजोरी)' in drut Teen taal. There was a very big and long, deserved, applause when she concluded.

Second Raag of the concert was another Sankeerna (संकीर्ण) raag Sawni Bihag (सावनी बिहाग). First Bandish was 'Akal sab Jane (अकल सब जानें)' in Jhap taal. This composition gave a lot of joy to the performers and audience.

Then she presented a Bandish in Teen taal 'Nad ved aparampar (नाद वेद अपरंपार)'. It was her own composition. This composition and her presentation was so good that it still lingers in the mind even a day after the concert.

Then she presented a composition 'Mai ni Mora (माई नी मोरा)' composed by Utd. Mushtaq Hussein Khan, her Guru, of Rampur-Sahaswan Gharana.

Final presentation of the concert was a Tappa (टप्पा) in Raag Bhairavi. 'Aa ja gale lag ja (आ जा गले लग जा)' in Teen taal. It ended with Tarana and big applause.

This beautiful grand old lady captured the audience right from the beginning. She retained their interest and piqued it at the correct time. She was liked by the audience and she liked the audience in turn. Had there been time she was ready to sing even more. But it was already late and organizers indicated a closure.

Aneesh ji is one of the topTabalji in India. He is also a doctorate and had written book on Tabla. He played well and everyone liked it.

Sudhir ji's Harmonium was as usual excellent and he was appreciated by the singer. His understanding and excellent synchronization with Anish ji was evident. This pair always works wonders.

Sawal-Jawab between singer, Tabla and Harmonium were very pleasant. Audience applauded them again and again. It was the highlight of the concert.

Trivia: Organizers announced that Shanno ji, who is such a week known singer, was singing in Mumbai for the first time.

A beautiful and engrossing concert.

Entertainment rating 9.25/10.