New Delhi, Feb. 27 (PTI): Bringing quality classical music out of the confines of the auditoria, tabla maestro Zakir Hussain and santoor legend Shiv Kumar Sharma held listeners spellbound with their performance at the famous Nehru park of the capital here on Sunday.

Music lovers from across Delhi turned up in large numbers despite overcast conditions. The audience included many eminent guests including former Prime Minister I K Gujral.

Sharma opened the peformance with the Carnatic Raga Rasik Priya followed by Raga Deep and was accompanied matchlessly on the tabla by the Ustad.

A part of the NDMC's 'music in the park' initiative, the function was organised by the municipal body in partnership with the Spic Macay foundation and Star India Private Limited.

"The NDMC is mandated by an Act to bring art and culture to the people. The 'Music in the Park' initiative is a part of this commitment," NDMC Chairperson Sindhushree Khullar said.

"This is an attempt to bring quality music out of the confines of museums and auditoria to the general public where they can participate in large," she said.

The 'Music in the Park' initiative was started by NDMC in 2004. Classical music greats such as Ustad Bismillah Khan, Girija Devi, Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia and many others have performed in the nine concerts which have been organised so far.

Subha Mudgal, Pandit Rajan Mishra, Pandit Sajan Mishra and M Balamurali Krishna are slated to perform next month at the same venue.