Passionate Voice: Hindustani Classical Music Beyond Borders

Supriyo Dutta is one of the more established classical vocalists of the younger generation, with a sizeable following in India as well as Europe, where he is known for performing at festivals and holding training workshops with musicians from other traditions. Presenting a very competent recital of the evening ‘Raga Bihag’, in the classical khayal format (a romantic, ornamented song style), he explores its overt romanticism in a slow-tempo alap (introduction) and finishes with a shorter, faster paced piece in that same raga. This is followed by ‘Raga Kedar’ in the tarana style, using Persian syllables in place of lyrics, and concludes with a dadra, a classical song in a lighter, folksy version of the ‘Raga Dhanasri’.

He is accompanied on tabla by Federico Sanesi, an Italian percussionist who has played the tabla for over 35 years – being among the first of non-Indian musicians to study the instrument. Sanesi, who has composed and performed with musicians from around the world, including many Indian maestros, shadows Dutta most ably, matching every vocal nuance in the different styles presented on this disc. The chemistry between them is particularly striking on ‘Raga Kerana’.