News
East meets West at Polish embassy music event
The Embassy of the Republic of Poland hosted a spectacular musical evening at the Serena Hotel presenting a fusion of the music of the East and West with renowned performers Karolina Cicha and Ustad Shafqat Aki Khan.
The Poland-Pakistan Music without Borders was the second event of its kind where the fusion of the two cultures through music was presented. The Polish Ambassador, Dr. Andrzej Ananicz, said that, “This fusion is a glorious end of the year celebration for us as music brings our people closer. It is also a pleasure for us at the Embassy to bring Polish artists who are keen to experience, learn and incorporate Pakistani music into their own art.” He also took the opportunity to thank the many organizations and people who had made the event possible, from the Serena Hotel where the artists were staying and the event was organized to Emirates Airline which flew the Polish artists in.
Karolina Cicha sang both Polish songs and attempted an Urdu one in fusion with Ustad Shafqat. Her voice was awe-inspiring in depth and range while Ustad Shafqat sang lovely thumris which were familiar to much of the local audience. The fusion segment was truly fascinating as unusual instruments combined to create flights of fancy for the audience. In a glowing tribute, Ustad Shafqat said, “What Karolina has done in singing today, and singing a song in Urdu is impossible for me to comprehend. It took me 35 years to reach the place she aspired to in a few days!”
Dure Najaf Zaidi said, “It was an extraordinary performance by both of them. I must admit that she has an excellent voice and the also the Polish and Pakistani combination was outstanding – unexpected though the union of the Subcontinent and Eastern Europe is.” Said Hindam, Ambassador of Egypt, said of Karolina, “She was an excellent singer, with an excellent command of her voice that made the fusion of music and songs with the Pakistani traditional songs, not only a possibility but a success.”
Dr. Makarevic, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said, “This event is exactly what Pakistan needs. Music bridges people from different regions and cultures and acts as an instant icebreaker. The musicians of Pakistan that represent the humanist and pluralistic culture of the land have become increasingly isolated in their work due to security threats and an influx of religious extremism within Pakistan. Showcasing the best of Pakistani culture through music is a huge achievement both for the individual musicians involved, who would be able to perform their art while connecting and interacting with their international counterparts; and for the secular society of Pakistan at large by promoting and strengthening the humanist and pluralistic values of the country. This kind of interaction as in this case with Poland not only promotes mutual sharing but also gives an opportunity for friendship and collaborations.” Aziz Boolani, CEO of Serena, said, “Serena Hotels believes in working with various communities to promote music, art and culture. While today’s initiative was also to provide entertainment to the residents of Islamabad through the musical performances under the banner of Serena Hotel’s Cultural Diplomacy, the ultimate goal is to promote art and culture. The performance by Ustad Shafqat Salamat Ali and Karolina Cicha, was par excellence who energized the audience throughout their performances.” Asma Rashid Khan, Director of Satrang Gallery, said, “I felt charged up for hours after the event. When I spoke to the performers about the immense energy they exuded, they said that they drew their energy from the audience, which was a great compliment to the crowd that attended the event!”
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk