Sangat sets the tone as Napa’s theatre,music festival commences

Karachi 

Continuing its efforts for Karachi’s cultural uplift, the National Academy of Performing Arts (Napa) inaugurated its annual International Theatre and Music Festival at the academy premises on Sunday evening with a performance by the US-Pakistan student group, Sangat. 

The group of artistes from Napa and University of Texas, Austin put up a great show for an audience that had all age groups. Their raga based fusion was lauded by listeners who enjoyed different compositions contributed by musicians from both the sides, including Ustaad Nafees Ahmed, Stephen Slawek, Arsalan Pareyal, Russel Pinkston, Muhammad Ahsan Shabbir and Muhammad Waqas Gulab.

The artistes playing tabla, cello, drums, flute, and piano among other instruments produced a mesmerising performance as they brought together melodies of the east and west. 

Speaking about the collaboration between Napa and UT Ausitn, Kamran Asdar Ali said that the partnership would pave way for young musicians to learn new and modern musical techniques. 

“The programme is bringing together musicians and faculty from across the world. For the shows, they have come up with original scores that have been very well received,” said Kamran, who is an anthropologist and director of the South Asia Institute at UT Austin. 

The festival will continue till April 3 and artistes from the United States of America, India, Germany and Austria would be performing over the course of the event.