The renowned ghazal maestro of Pakistan, the great Ustad Ghulam Ali Khan, will perform his last concert, Hearts in Harmony, in Dubai Opera, accompanied by his son Aamir Ghulam Ali and grandson Nazir Ghulam Ali. Ustad Ghulam Ali Khan of Pakistan will be performing a concert at the Dubai Opera with his son and grandson, which brings three generations of musical heritage together.
On August 31 (Sunday), this special performance will bring together three generations of this Patiala Gharana tradition and will entertain the audience with an evening beyond memories with ghazal, Sufi and semi-classical music. Classics like Hungama Hai Kyun Barpa and Chupke Chupke will be redefined in the present trend of combining tradition with new visions.
The concert will be more than a performance but a modern-day representation of memory, mentorship, and melody in the musical journey of Ustad Ghulam Ali. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event to be enjoyed by lovers of Urdu poetic work and Hindustani raagas because it is a day to remember classic music that has bridged the gap between geography and generations.
Who is Ustad Ghulam Ali?
Ustad Ghulam Ali was born on 5 December 1940 in Kaleke, Sialkot district, where he taught in the Patiala Gharana, one of the most prominent schools of vehement music. His father identified his inherent talent at a young age and got him trained by a legend in his lifetime, Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. Following the death of his ustad, he carried on with Ustad Barkat Ali Khan, attaining expertise in thumri, ghazal, and semi-classical singing.
Ghulam Ali By the 1960s, Ghulam Ali became an innovator of classical depth in ghazal singing. He also incorporated intricate raagas, taans, and sargam patterns in the ghazal, but unlike many contemporaries, he did so not at the expense of lyrical beauty, but on the contrary, to add intellectual rigour to the ghazal. His most popular works are songs such as “Kal Chaudhvin Ki Raat Thi”, “Dil Mein Ek Leher Si Uthi Hai Abhi,” and “Faasle Aise Bhi Honge.”
Coming to international performances, Ustad Ghulam Ali has wowed fans in Asia, Europe, North America, and the Middle East. His concerts are characterized as bearing both the music and the appreciation of the literature, where he frequently pauses to elaborate on the meaning of cryptic Urdu verses with his melodious voice. He has been accredited as one of the greatest exponents of modern ghazal along with Mehdi Hassan and Jagjit Singh.
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Farewell Concert at Dubai Opera
Ustad Ghulam Ali has an impressive discography, which includes a collection of hits, and has worked in the musical field throughout his life. Various artists have followed in his footsteps, and at the opera in Dubai, it will be made clear that his legacy has been carried on. His son Aamir Ghulam Ali, a singer and composer who has a crossover of classical and contemporary, and his grandson Nazir Ghulam Ali will accompany him.
Together, they will combine the Patiala Gharana tradition of improvisation, melodic refinement, and lyrical excellence that some have described as “traditional with fresh faces,” all while keeping the lineage of the family. Gharana is alive and appealing to the generational perspective. This combination takes place across different ages, as Urdu ghazal can be introduced as of the present day with the same emotional content.
What you need to know
The final performance happens at one of the biggest landmarks in Dubai, Dubai Opera, which requires a sophisticated style in performance and appearance. It is requested that the clothes being worn by the guests not be too casual, like shorts or flip-flops. Children below six years old are not allowed, and those six years or older must show a ticket to enter.
Latecomers shall not be allowed into the performance once started, and no one shall get admission during the interval unless and until there is such an interval. The use of mobile phones and cameras is not allowed in the auditorium. Outside food and beverages are not permitted.
The tickets are on sale according to the terms and conditions of Dubai Opera and can be used only on the day that the event is held. They cannot be resold or tampered with. There are no refunds to lady lateness or non-admittance on grounds of breaching the dress code. Dubai Opera holds the right to alter seating, programs, or artists without prior intimation.