Karachi has had its taste of classical music recently. The beginning of February was marred with music performances in the city. The 2nd All Pakistan Music Conference just ended with giant classic figures from across the country performing for three days at a stretch. Then concerts by both pop and classical singers have been more frequent than ever with the start of this year. Abida Parveen also performed last week in the city for a Jashan-e-Baharan event and then there was a mega concert of Pakistani pop singers as a part of the Expo 2005 organized by the Export Promotion Bureau. Seems that now security threats are less cared about than ever and the local audience is open to come out and experience the joy of listening to live singers. Or rather to just see the musicians performing. Though, not as a part of any of the discussed events, Ustad Shahid Parvez, a prominent and international name in sitar playing, visited and performed at the French cultural center, Alliance Francaise last night. The audience was thoroughly engaged in the performance, which went on for about two hours without any break. The performer had a unique way of keeping the listeners enchanted via his sitar tunes.