Thiruvarur Bhakthavatsalam - Mridangam
(This is not a review but just a placeholder for any other more knowledgeable Austin rasikA to comment on.)
1. Sobhillu - Jaganmohini
2. Nada thanumanisam - Chittaranjani
3. Birana Valalichi - Kalyani
4. Nagumomu Ganaleni- Abheri - Alapana-Krithi-pallavi style rendition in Abheri/Kapi/Behag/Valaji followed by thani.
(I could not identify Valaji - someone told me.)
5. Sindhu Bhairavi/Mand and another raga. I culd not identify this song.
I have not heard him before, other than as the accompanist in MSS' UN concert! Today's concert was pure bliss
but for some chatterbox/soloist rasikas - see gripe below.He made me realize he was going to play Sobhillu with the very first few notes in the alapna. The same with Kalyani. He played alapana for all the songs. His son Murari was excellent too but the tenderness with which VVS played his phrases was way, way sweet. Thiruvarur Bhakthavatsalam was smiling throughout the concert; he appeared to relish all the challenges that VVS posed him.
Question: What is this style of playing a krithi, followed by swarams in a few more ragas, before ending back in the krithi pallavi line? There was no thanam. This is not strictly RTP, right?
The concert was marred by bad audience behavior as usual. I moved to the front rows because of a talkative couple; but there was another fellow humming loudly along with VVS' Abheri alapana!! People generally keep getting up and going out. The seats close up loudly or the automatic doors close with a thud behind them. :rolleyes: