Noted musician Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt feels that audiences abroad are more disciplined and this makes it more comfortable for artists to perform.\n\u201cAudiences abroad understand the value of time and are very punctual. They have patience, maintain decorum inside the auditorium and they listen to the whole programme. Nobody uses mobiles. And they come to attend the event with some knowledge about the artists.
\n\u201cIn India, audiences often attend events without any prior knowledge and information, without even knowing why they are attending that event,\u201d Bhatt, who was named for the Padma Bhushan, India\u2019s third highest civilian award, in this year\u2019s Republic Day honours list, told to IANS in an interview.
\nBhatt, who recently performed at the Taalbelia music festival held at Mandawa in Rajasthan, pointed that classical music is appreciated and highly regarded in abroad because of its improvisation.
\n\u201cClassical music is given lot of respect abroad. Audiences there are really amazed to see artists playing for hours without any break or rehearsals. This appeals to them,\u201d Bhatt added.
\nThe musician was awarded the Padma Shri in 2002. He received his first Grammy award in 1994 for his album \u201cA Meeting by the River\u201d along with Ry Cooder and was also nominated in 1997.
\nBhatt plays his own invention, the Mohan Veena (slide guitar), a highly modified concord archtop which he rests on his lape. He also has patents on two instruments — the Mohan Veena and the Vishwa Veena.
\nFor him, having knowledge about classical music is not necessary for listening to it or attending concerts. He believes \u201cmusic has neither language nor barriers\u201d, and anybody, who doesn\u2019t have any knowledge of classical music can still understand if the ragas are performed perfectly.
\n\u201cSur aur taal agar saath mein ho to koi bhi sangeet samajh sakta hai (If the tone and rhythm are balanced, then anybody can understand music),\u201d he pointed out.
\n\u201cArt is like a mirror. Once you are on stage, everything is exposed. You cannot fake on stage while performing. If you are not honest towards your music it reflects during your performance,\u201d he added.
\nGiven this, how would he respond to criticism about the government sending junior artists to represent India at cultural festivals or events held abroad without consulting senior artists.
\n\u201cOften, senior artists are not able to give time when approached by the government and then artists who are not so experienced are sent. These decisions are often not intentional,\u201d he commented.
\nOn his future plans Bhatt said that he is keen on collaborating with legendary singers Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhonsle.
\n\u201cI also hope to create an album or play together with (guitarist) John Mclaughlin some day. I have plans for some albums. I will be travelling to many countries as well. I also have plans for experimenting with music and will continue reach out to every place so that Indian classical music is spread,\u201d the musician concluded.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"