Lok Virsa auditorium starts breathing again

Islamabad
It was after a long time that I eagerly travelled to 'Lok Virsa' behind Shakarparian. The last time I was inside the small but very well equipped 'Lok Virsa Auditorium' was almost 15 years ago when the people running 'Shah Hussain Academy', patronised by the legendary poetess/writer and women rights activist, Ms Kishwar Nahid, arranged a live performance by Ustad Hamid Ali Bela.
Last evening (Saturday) I was attracted to return to Lok Virsa when I heard that a 'Reference Concert' is being arranged for two legendary figures of singing and music, Ustad Ghulam Hassan Shagan, the vocalist and Ustad Allah Rakha, the 'sarangi' player, who died one after the other early this year.
And I must say that I was not disappointed!
The almost 45-minute performance on 'Rabab' by Ustad Mazhar Hassan Shagan, son of Ustad Ghulam Hassan Shagan, was simply breathtaking. Or, maybe it felt like such because it was after a very long time that I, and quite a sizable crowd packing the Auditorium, had the opportunity to listen to one such live performance.
The 'Mausikaar', an NGO working for many years for protection, preservation and promotion of classical and semi-classical music, had also arranged one such function last month wherein Mazhar Shagan, Ustad Qadir Hassan Shagan, the eldest son of Ustad Ghulam Hassan Shagan and Muslim Shagan, the most promising grandson, performed alongside the legendary 'Sitar' player, Ustad Raees Khan.
But yesterday's performance of Mazhar Shagan simply eclipsed his previous one. Probably it was the better sound system, better lighting, and better and much greater (in numbers) audience. And it is a fact that the audience does inspire the performers!
The beauty of the performance by Mazhar Shagan was that since long he has been striving to introduce 'Rabab' as an instrument to play classical music.
"Bhai Mardana, the companion of Hazrat Baba Guru Nanak used to play classical ragas on 'Rabab'. It was more than 500 years ago. But then it disappeared from classical music. We are the descendants of Bhai Mardana. One day father (Ustad Ghulam Hassan Shagan late) told me to try and focus on playing classical ragas on 'Rabab'. I took his advice and leave it to your judgment as to how successful I had been in my efforts," Mazhar Shagan said modestly after the performance.
Mazhar Shagan played 'Raag Bageshri'. I am no connoisseur of music. Leave alone classical music. But I believe I have an ear for music. And what I heard was indeed very pleasing, soul lifting and exciting. Further proof of an excellent performance were the rounds of spontaneous applause from the audience.
Ustad Ajmal, country's one of the best 'tabla' player, matched Ustad Mazhar Shagan strum to strum of Rabab with thumps on table and the duo played to the best amusement and pleasure of the audience. There were times that the two turned the performance into a saber rattling of two different musical instruments! They challenged and complimented each other through their masterly handling of Rabab and Tabla! And they were rewarded with bursts of applause from the audience.
Before Mazhar Shagan, young Zohaib Hassan of Amritsari Gharana took to the stage and paid his tributes to late Ustad Allah Rakha, the 'Sarangi maestro. And it was an excellent presentation.
Accompanied by Ustad Ajmal on 'Tabla', Zohaib played raag Madhukauns, popularly known as 'raag Sultani' in Pakistan. It was a serene presentation, very soothing and nerve tingling. Before he put the bow to the strings of Sarangi he paid his respects to legendary Ustad Allah Rakha and recalled a few incidents which reflected the greatness and humility of character of the late Sarangi legend.
Young Zohaib Hassan belongs to a family of distinguished and highly respected classical musicians. Legendary Ustad Nathoo Khan was his grand uncle and the young fellow is striving match his skills.
Zohaib, who said that he recently has returned from the US where he has launched an album of his music, was focused and almost fused with his instrument once he fell in the rhythm after the buildup. Ustad Ajmal on table partnered with him in the performance very sweetly and the two seemed to be performing as one, something that comes after years of dedicated and devoted practice indeed.
Dr Fauzia Saeed, the Executive Director of Lok Virsa, spoke briefly to introduce the artists and to underscore the importance of the 'Reference Concert' for two late legends of classical singing and music.
She expressed great optimism as she said that today's function was just the beginning.
"I know this is a challenging task I have taken up. I am here for three years. And during these three years I have every intention to put the things on the right track for future. I am not letting the past to bog me down here. I know what I am here for and I know how to go about it. I have to revive this national institution and bring back its glory. It is for Pakistan and Pakistanis and not for pleasing a few sitting somewhere high in the seats of power," Dr Fauzia Saeed said while talking to 'The News'.
"Today's concert is just the beginning. I have every intention to promote classical music and give respect and honor to the classical singers and musicians. There will be more such functions to come at regular intervals. I am working on reviving the music library and dig deep the archives here to extract the gold that has got buried under dust of time here," the new Executive Director of Lok Virsa promised.
Earlier, Dr Taimur, a disciple of Ustad Allah Rakha also performed in the start of the function and duly paid his respects for his late teacher.