" Gardens in the Rain" - GJR Krishnan & Anil Srinivasan

jananee · Post by **jananee** » 24 Dec 2008, 22:37

Lalgudi GJR Krishnan : Violin
Anil Srinivasan: Piano
BS Prushotham : Kanjira

1. Arula vendum thaiye - Saramathi
2. Amba Neelayadakshi- Neelambari
3. Sadho - Ahir Bhairav
4. Sudhamayee - Amruthavarshini
5. Jagadodharana - Kapi
6. Tillana - Mand

It was a magical evening! The ambience at the Krishnamurti Foundation was awesome...the old time majestic building with dim lights and the lovely garden outside. The audience spilling over to the verandahs....again sitting down right at the front and listening to this magic was an experience.

The start was very subtle with " Arulavendum Thaiye". Like Anil rightly pointed out it was a celebration of 2 instruments originally from Italy and especially in carnatic music. They then proceeded to Neelambari with a request from Anil to people to not drift off! Another masterpiece " Amba Neelayadakshi" followed by a very soulful , moving Ahir Bhairav - "Sadho" a mira bhajan ..a song of abject surender...it almost had your eyes moist. Purushotam walked in at this point and added a totally new dimension to the whole recital. Like Mr sathyalingam, an eminent musician from Singapore pointed out..his ganjira sings ! It really does....

They then went on to Amruthavarshini - " Sudhamayee" - hence the title.."Gardens in the Rain". Another sparling piece esp with Purushotham's support. Then it was the turn of the masterpiece " Jagadodharana" in Kapi and the programme was wound up with the ever favourite Mand tillana oj Sri Lalgudi Jayaraman.

It was pure magic all through. You could just close your eyes and be transported into a totally different world. As GJR rightly said after the prog it was the first time they both were on stage together and it was a perfect match of 2 instruments and 2 minds! Rather 3 minds! A perfect blend!!!!

Thanks Anil for the divine experience.I enjoyed every second of it and am i glad i chose this programme over a lot of other concerts incl my fav Sanjay at kalarasana! May we see more of this.

tkb · Post by **tkb** » 24 Dec 2008, 22:40

On reading the experience i feel so bad that i have missed this concert. Hope to catch up in the next one at least.

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 24 Dec 2008, 22:44

yet another miss for me;nice to read the review;atleast we can visualise.Thanks Jananee.

asrini · Post by **asrini** » 24 Dec 2008, 23:09

Wow..thats quick

Thanks for your support. WE haven't planned any future programmes at the moment - but we should, perhaps through next year. Lets see how it pans out.

Was wonderful to see such a packed hall..thanks for coming!!

Jigyaasa · Post by **Jigyaasa** » 25 Dec 2008, 13:05

I somehow think "Rain in the Garden" sounds more... logical...? and probably, grammatically correct (?) But not as poetic...

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 25 Dec 2008, 22:14

Thanks for the review, jananee. As Punarvasu said, we could visualise the concert and listen to it vicariously! I read about it in Kutcheribuzz newsletter today as well.

jananee · Post by **jananee** » 25 Dec 2008, 22:46

Apparently for people standing outside the breeze complemented the music beautifully. It was almost as if nature lent a hand to the evening.

grappelli · Post by **grappelli** » 26 Dec 2008, 05:48

I was really glad that I chose to attend this. It was something unique. Before the first piece, there was a raga alapana that started with nasikabhoosani, gowla, dharmavati, atana before jumping into saramathi. The pieces were well chosen in ragas that allowed the usage of flat notes. The rupaka tala pieces were played in adi tisra nadai to give the pieces a waltz like rhythm that was suitably accompanied on the piano. I thought krishnan played brilliantly, his saramathi alapana was just exquisite, so was his rendering of the ahir bhairav piece. Anil provided amazing support, amrithavarshini really sounds nice in a piano! He also played a flash of vasantha during the amrithavarshini which was a nice contrast. Purusotham joined in at the start of the amrithavarshini piece and provided good support. The mand thillana (a masterpiece of LGJ) seemed even grander in this form. A refreshing attempt, hopefully there will be more!

Dhanavendra · Post by **Dhanavendra** » 27 Dec 2008, 06:28

Absolute bliss. It was as though we were transported to the samasthanam days when the kings used to arrange concerts at their durbars. The rich and natural ambience and the lightings was an excellent setting for such a fulfilling concert. While GJR's violin caused vibration in our souls, Anil's piano opened the gateway between body and soul. Only when the gateway opens can the soul's elevated vibration over the chakras be felt. When in a great philosopher's home, elite artistes and eager rasikas merge while blissful music rents the air, can REALISATION, the purpose of Nada Yoga, be far behind!!!
Thanks to all concerned for enabling the right environment.