Sun 4th Sept 2011 KHAYAL - Solo Sitar by Kumar Karthigesu

6.00 pm Shantanand Auditorium The Temple of Fine Arts

The power of sitar music derives from its root of inspiration and classicism that has evolved through the exquisite touch and marvellous imagination of the masters past and present. They revealed its wonder from root to trunk to branch and leaf and blossom and, in the ripeness of time, offer its sweetness as ragas of many colours and flavours. Taste the fruit of the imagination and perhaps, catch a glimpse of the timelessness of... music.

KHAYAL: Kumar Karthigesu
Kumar began his music education by learning Carnatic vocal, mridangam and violin from the early age of six with the blessings and continual encouragement of his spiritual guru, Swami Shantanand Saraswathi.
Having had his first taste of learning the sitar under Pandit Dharambhir Singh, a disciple of the world renowned Ustad Vilayat Khan in the UK in 1983, Kumar later underwent further lessons from Shri Orme Maheswaran, disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar, in Malaysia, before meeting and joining his lifelong guru, Ustad Usman Khan in 1991.
From as early as 1985, Kumar has continually won awards in sitar, such as the ‘Musician of the Year’ award in London, as well as ‘National Musician of the Year’ award organized by the Brent Competition UK. In Feb 2009, Kumar was awarded the Anugerah Seni Negara (Karyawan Seni) by the Government of Malaysia.
After gaining a Masters degree in Performing Arts at the Middlesex University, UK, in 2001, Kumar now teaches sitar at The Temple of Fine Arts Kuala Lumpur and Penang, as well as in ASWARA, (National Academy for Arts and Heritage) and serves as a part time lecturer in ICOM (International College of Music).
Today, Kumar is a member of AkashA, the popular fusion music outfit, as well as a principal artist for the Malaysian Traditional Orchestra, a guest artist for the RTM Orchestra, and the National Symphony Orchestra. He has taken part in and helped to compose and produce for several of TFA’s productions over the years.
Having performed extensively throughout the world in various capacities, Kumar now returns to his roots, to Kuala Lumpur, to perform his first public solo classical concert for audiences here.
Khayal is his thought, his story.

Invitation by donations at TFA 603-22743709