The Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival will run through Sunday, April 7 at the Waetjen Auditorium of Cleveland State University. This event is the largest Indian classical music and dance festival outside of India. This year, visitors can expect to see a line-up of over 100 performances of Indian classical music and dance by some of the biggest and brightest stars in the field.
The festival was first celebrated in Cleveland in 1978. Today, it has evolved into a celebration spanning 11 days with more than 8,000 attendees from all over the world, 2,000 of which show up for opening day.
Because 2013 marks the bicentennial of famed Indian composer Maharaja Swathi Thirunal, this year’s festival is dedicated to his memory. Several programs in this year’s celebration highlight his contribution to Carnatic music. Other performances to look out for include “A Carnatic Symphony,” presented by Musiguru and conducted by Professor Leo Coach of CSU, a concert by the torch bearers of the Cleveland Festival, and a fascinating and eye catching dance competition.
For a complete schedule of events and more information on the Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival, please visit www.aradhana.org.
