'Tribute to Kishori Amonkar' celebrates her life, personality, genius

Remembering the vocalist Kishori Amonkar and her immense contribution to the Hindustani classical music, a soulful evening was dedicated to her where speakers from a diverse range of creative disciplines offered stories and assessments of the late singer.

Organised by the Raza Foundaion, the event titled 'Tribute to Kishori Amonkar,' was held at the Amphitheater of the India Habitat Center on Monday to celebrate the extraordinary life of the musician.

"Kishori's music has reason, debate and a story. To that end, she brought all her faculties to focus on the raga she sang at a particular moment. We should be indebted to her for the way she established the dignity of the 'rhythm," said noted journalist, author and television personality Mrinal Pande at the event.

"It's an end of an era of greatness in classical music. Such greatness is focused on a mix of imagination and the vocal talent for discovery. Kishori's sang intensely of separation, loneliness and loss in her unique style and created music of depth, existential angst and spiritual yearning," eminent Hindi poet Ashok Vajpeyi said.

Born in 1932, Amonkar breathed her last on April 3, 2017 at the age of 84.

--IANS

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