Vocalist Balakrishna Behera performs at the Bhubaneswar Music Circle programme at Rabindra Mandap. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, July 22: A soiree of Hindustani classical music dedicated to the monsoon regaled the city audience.

The rain left residents on the streets drenched, while inside the Rabindra Mandap auditorium, the audience enjoyed showers of musical ragas at the event Barsha, organised by the Bhubaneswar Music Circle.

Hindustani classical instrumental as well as vocals were performed at the concert.

Established musicians from all over the state presented an assortment of ragas and compositions based on various moods during the monsoon.

Strings of Sandip Raut’s sarod began with a slow-paced alaap, an intricate jor and a vivid jhala or the fast-paced rhythm. Biswaranjan Nanda, who presented laykari on tabla, accompanied him. Raut played raga Megh malhar to suit the rainy season.

Balakrushna Behera, a senior artiste, performed a moving solo vocal recital.

The vocalist first rendered a couple of spiritual songs, including Bhakti saint Meera Bai’s composition Chalo man ganga yamuna.

After the renditions, Behera also sang old compositions wherein a lover sometimes celebrates the romantic elements of the monsoon and also laments for being far from the beloved during the rain. Tabla player Biswaranjan Nanda and Ajay Dash on harmonium accompanied the vocalist.

Following the solo instrumental and solo vocal recital, there was a mixed vocal and instrumental ensemble by well-known flautist Jawahar Mishra and singer Kshitiprakash Mohapatra, Ajay Dash on harmonium and Sandip Raut on tabla.

The team created a brilliant musical symphony and the jugalbandi among various instruments was a highlight of the concert.

The music lovers present at the auditorium enjoyed every bit of it and applauded the performance.

“It is a pleasure to enjoy music when it is raining outside. Listening to music and songs celebrating the magic of monsoon is really a special experience,” said Chittaranjan Pani, well-known singer who was a guest.

Khirod Patnaik, general secretary of the Bhubaneswar Music Circle said there would be more such events in the coming month for connoisseurs of music in the city.