R.K.Srikantan at Academy of Music, 28th Nov 2008

[keerthi]

R.K.Srikantan sang at the Academy of Music programme; Chowdiah memorial hall; on the 28th Nov 2008

R.S.Ramakanth - Vocal support
Charulata Ramanujam - Violin
C.Cheluvaraj - Mridangam
Amrith.N - Khanjari

1. Palumaru - Devamanohari Adi tala Varnam - Patnam Subrahmanya Ayyar
2. Varasiddhivinayakam - Nata - Rupakam - 'Guruguha'(S)
3.Manasa Guruguha - Anandabhairavi - Rupakam - Muthuswami Dikshitar(AS)
4.Emidova balku - Saranga - Adi - Thyagaraja(hummed raga)
5.Nityaroopa evari paandityam - Darbar - Rupaka - Thyagaraja(AS)
6.Paramapavana - Poorvakalyani - Adi(2) - ANST
etc.
It was heartening to hear the 87-running stalwart perform yet again in his chaste dignified style. One can go to a Srikantan concert just to listen to him sing a varnam. He never sings half an avartham, leaving the other half for the vocal support/ pakkavadyam to fill in. the disciplined, polished rendition was something to remember and emulate.The devamanohari varnam was a rare one he sings occasionally, and was sung neatly.
Varasiddhivinayaka is a krthi I have heard only him sing. I have never seen it in any book either. Is it a song of Ambi Dikshitar?? Any light, anybody??
His sedate and classical aalapana of Anandabhairavi was very satisfying. I am not a big fan of Ramakanth, but even an unbiased listener would agree that towards the end of the aalapana he sang too many phrases from Reethigowla. The krthi rendition was faultless but kalpanaswaras (RamAkanth)had PnDn and pdndN a couple of times too many, suggestive of huseni.
Emidova was sung with the energy and spirit demanded by Saranga and demanded by Emi dova! It was embellished with crisp sangathis and appropriate birkas in just the right place/quantity. End of anupallavi or charanam was meaningfully woven into a naenEmidova or TanakEmidova.
RKS sings Darbar very often and very well. there is a commercial record of his 'Naradaguruswamy' which is a real gem. He has sung Munduvenuka before, and Swathi tirunal's 'Shaure Vithara kushalam' in one of his US tours was an energetic, aesthetically satisfying piece.
Yesterday, He proved that he is the king of the 'Darbar' with Nityaroopa. His raga delineation of Darbar is rich, non repetitive and very aesthetic. I felt there was a fractional shruthi difference between RKS' and RamAkanth's voices which was a little disturbing.
Raga alapanam of Purvakalyani was good. Charulatha played it well,too. The excellent song of Poochi Srinivasa ayyangar - Paramapavana rama was the main song. The reposeful rendition was replete with wholesome sangathis and a sincere treatment of the song. The chitteswaram was sung in the second speed after the charanam which Srikantan alone sang.
Srikantan excels in articulate enunciation of Sahityam without undue stress which grates on the ear. Vara-marud-BAla-nutha.. in the anupallavi is a tricky spot , which he pronounced like it should be. One could have written down the song, and notated it, as it was being sung. this should be testimony to RKS' clear and well-crafted rendition.
Ramakanth's singing is stylistically different from that of RKS, and their combination doesn't sound as pleasant as RamAkanth or Srikantan alone. As the shruthi of the
former was geting too much out of line, I had to leave. anyone else who attended can fill us in as to what else was sung.
Violin was good, indifferent and squeaky at various intervals, so I don't know what to say.

[rshankar]

Keerthi,

That was a very well written review. Hope to see more from you!

[arasi]

Indeed...

[keerthi]

thanks..

[hydkarthik]

Does anyone have the recording of this concert?

[hamsadhwaniteju]

hydkarthik,

Please mail me at [email protected] . I shall send you the recording. I have the entire concert recording with me.