New York City, October 25: Suromurchhana, the New York and India–based non-profit arts organization, hosted a packed auditorium on Saturday night to honor the 80th birth year of tabla legend **Padma Shri Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri**. The evening unfolded as a moving celebration of Indian classical music, featuring performances that paid tribute to both the living maestro and the lineage of teachers who inspired generations of artists.
The centerpiece of the concert was an exquisite performance featuring Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri himself on tabla, joining Pt. Sanjoy Banerjee, vocalist and founder of Suromurchhana, and Pt. Kedar Naphade on harmonium. The trio’s collaboration was a blend of technical brilliance and emotional depth that captivated listeners from the opening note to the final applause.
The evening also served as a homage to Suromurchhana’s revered gurus — the Late Sangeet Vidushi Malabika Kanan and the Late Pandit A. Kanan — whose musical legacy continues to guide the organization’s mission.
Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri, recipient of the Padma Shri and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, is celebrated globally for his artistry and for pioneering the introduction of Hindustani classical music and tabla to Western audiences.
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In a highlight moment of the evening, the maestro lauded Pt. Sanjoy Banerjee’s soulful rendition, remarking that he envisions Banerjee “taking his place among the leaders of Hindustani vocal music” in the years to come.
The concert opened with a serene and invigorating recital by Smt. Namami Karmakar, a Suromurchhana faculty member, accompanied by Sri Dibyarka Chatterjee on tabla and Sri Anirban Chakraborty on harmonium. Her performance set a deeply contemplative tone that carried through the night.
The event not only marked a milestone in Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri’s illustrious life but also reaffirmed Suromurchhana’s enduring commitment to nurturing and presenting Indian classical music at the highest level.