MSG Trio at the Cleveland Aradhana

appu · Post by **appu** » 12 Apr 2009, 16:23

Accompanied by Shri Gurvayoor Dorai (Mridangam)
TV Vasan (Ghatam)

I arrived for the 7:15 concert way ahead of time with very high hopes. My mistake. The concert started at 8:10 and from the onset the concert was a runaway freight train. The highlight and the one person who single handedly held the trio together was Narmada Gopalakrishnan.

The trio began with Khambhoji Ata Tala Varnam in two speeds. The sub main and main piece were Begada and Panthuvarali ragams. The RTP was in thodi.

What not to do in a kutcheri was exemplified by Sri Suresh. The begada ragam was clearly butchered at all the soulful places specifically in the upper Sadjam. Every note was out of place and the violin if it had a mouth would have clearly said STOP. Even nature has a tendency of leaving behind the weak. Suresh was definitely the weakeat link in this ensemble.

Pantuvarali on the other hand was dealt with grace and aplomb. Every note played by Narmada was perfect and the raga bhava just flowed in its entirety as was evidenced by the applause that she received throughout the concert.

After a beautiful rendition of Nalinakanthi, came the Thodi RTP. I decided to attend to nature's call at this time. I wanted to be back for the unfolding of this ragam. To my dismay when I got back, no more than 3 minutes the ragam was over and the artistes were close to wrapping up the tanam. I was thoroughly disgusted. The pallavi although had several ragams in the ragamalika, my interest had weaned. For having travelled this far to enjoy SHri MSG, it was a major let down.

Gurvayoor Dorai and Sri Vasan did a extra ordinary job and bought the whole ensemble together with their technique and dexterity.

I will post the complete concert list after I get it together from memory. I apologize in advance if I have spoken to harshly. I just spoke my mind.

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 13 Apr 2009, 04:44

Honesty is the best policy, appu! Thank you for the review and look forward to more coverage of the Cleveland Aradhana from you.

A small consolation for you--an RTP in thOdi by MSG:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/dyvcvl

kedharam · Post by **kedharam** » 13 Apr 2009, 17:38

I perfectly agree with appuÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s sentiments. So far no concert was soul stirring for me. The best performances were by the children, Wesleyan Students and Mrs. Narmada GopalakrishnanÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s brilliant artistry. DonÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t know much abt Natya, hence donÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t want to venture"¦With no internet connection, had a ball stars gazing (Smt. parasala ponnammal, Sri. T.K. Govinda Rao, Sri. Ramani, Smt. Radha, Sri. Dorai ...) hopping between CD shops, meeting friends and enjoying Rascal house pizza. Chevikku Unavu illAdha pOdhu chiridhu vayitrinnukum iyyapadum!

ajit · Post by **ajit** » 14 Apr 2009, 19:52

Did any of hear listen to Balamuralikrishna and Nisha?
I was there for Balamuralikrishna's concert and I liked it.

ajit

Lakshman · Post by **Lakshman** » 14 Apr 2009, 20:44

I was there for both the concerts. Both sang well. Nisha had to cut short her program because the earlier program (Sudha's) was delayed and also her concert went way beyond the allotted time.
Here are the songlists:

Kannakudi Balamuralikrishna.

karuNimpa-shahAnA varNa-Vinai Kuppier
jAnaki ramaNa-shuddhasImantini-Tyagaraja-S
suguNamulE-cakravAka-Tyagaraja-sketch, S
O jagadamba-Anandabhairavi-Shyama Shastri
mAmava mInAkSi-varALi-Dikshitar-A,N,S,tani
RTP kAmbhOji (I think)-shrI rAjagOpAlam bhajE shritajana pAlam-c/jhampa tALA, khaNDanaDai
vagalADi bOdhanalku-behAg jAvaLi-Tirupati Narayanasami
tillAna-khamAs-Patnam

Nisha Rajagopal:

valaci vacci-navargamAlikA varNa-Patnam
ranganAthuDE-saurASTra-Ponniah Pillai-S
paralOka bhayamu-mandAri-Tyagaraja-sketch
mInalOcani brOva-dhanyAsi-Shyama Shastri0-A,S
mOhanAkAra muttukumAra-nItimati-Kotishvara Iyer
rAmA nIyeDA-kharaharapriyA-Tyagaraja-A,N,S,tani
karpUram nArumO-khamAs-Andal tiruppAvai

newyorker · Post by **newyorker** » 15 Apr 2009, 10:23

A small consolation for you--an RTP in thOdi by MSG:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/dyvcvl

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG

Is this guy a genius or what?

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 15 Apr 2009, 11:00

Newyorker, I don't believe there was ever any doubt! One of the finest exhibitions of thanam I've heard.

visaalam · Post by **visaalam** » 15 Apr 2009, 13:51

appu wrote:
Pantuvarali on the other hand was dealt with grace and aplomb. Every note played by Narmada was perfect and the raga bhava just flowed in its entirety as was evidenced by the applause that she received throughout the concert.

I am not surprised. I my earlier review of MSG-Narmadha concert
http://rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php? ... f-msg.html
I had mentioned briefly about Narmadha's capabilities and Sri MSG's constraints. And definitely Narmadha is the strongest link and the torchbearer of Parur style. I heard that during a concert of MSG-Narmadha-Suresh (2008 music season ) , Sri MSG asked Suresh to stop putting thalam as it was not in sync with the song. Perhaps Sri MSG should not include him in the trio till he attains some profiency

ksrimech · Post by **ksrimech** » 16 Apr 2009, 00:38

Lakshman wrote: karpUram nArumO-khamAs-Andal tiruppAvai

Lji, karpUram nArumO is from the ANDAL's nAcchiyAr tirumozhi section and not from Her tiruppAvai.

Lakshman · Post by **Lakshman** » 16 Apr 2009, 02:03

Thanks for the correction.

appu · Post by **appu** » 16 Apr 2009, 08:45

Here is the song list

1. Khambhoji Ata Tala Varnam
2. Do not remember. I believe a kriti in ragam Sindhu Mandhari and it was not Karunil Chutakine
3 Natam Tanu Manu Sam Chitaranjani, Adi Talam
4. Ragam elaboration in Begada by Suresh, followed by a kriti which I tuned out completely
5. Siva Siva Pantuvarali ragam, Neraval swarams (By far the best piece)
6. Manavyalakinchara Nalinakanti ragam with swarams
7. Thodi RTP with ragamalika in Kannada, Mohanam, Atana, Saveri, Behag, Kapi and Thodi
8. Chinan Chiru Kileya
9. Dhanashri Thillana
10. A thirupavai in Vasantha ragam
11. Mangalam

If any one remembers song 2 and 4 please add.

ajit · Post by **ajit** » 16 Apr 2009, 09:48

Song 4 in Begada was Sankari neeve by Subbarya Sastri.

I am not sure if they played Naatha Thanu manisham

The second song was Giriraaja Sutha in Bangala.

ajit

appu · Post by **appu** » 16 Apr 2009, 11:09

Thank you Ajit for filling in song # 2 and 4. I am fairly to very confident that they played Naada Tanu Manu Sam as the third piece.

Lakshman · Post by **Lakshman** » 16 Apr 2009, 16:02

It was sarasijanabha varNa, girirajasuta, nAda tanumanisham, shankari nIvani, pariyAcalkamA, shiva shiva ena, manavi nAlagincarAdaTE, RTP tODi ...

shanks · Post by **shanks** » 16 Apr 2009, 16:43

One minor correction to Lakshman's list - it was not pariyAcalkamA

it was evaritO in mAnavati - tyAgarAja - Adi

Sathej · Post by **Sathej** » 16 Apr 2009, 17:34

@Bilahari,

Thanks! Thats a truly wonderful Thodi by the great! Some really nice phrases in the Ragam as well! The clear Gamakams even at high speeds are brilliant at times!

Sathej

Lakshman · Post by **Lakshman** » 16 Apr 2009, 19:31

Thanks shanks.

ksrimech · Post by **ksrimech** » 16 Apr 2009, 22:32

appu wrote: 10. A thirupavai in Vasantha ragam

Appu, do you remember which tiruppAvai was rendered? I haven't heard any in vasantA rAgam.

Did you mean tiruppugazh?

appu · Post by **appu** » 17 Apr 2009, 00:05

ksrimech, That is probably what I wanted to say. I do no t know the difference in meaning of the two words. I believed they were the same word just spelt differently. Please correct and educate me if I am wrong.

Sathej · Post by **Sathej** » 17 Apr 2009, 00:56

Thiruppugazh hymns are by Arunagirinathar and are in praise of Lord Muruga. These are usually rendered towards the end of a concert (though there are exceptions at times). Andal's Thiruppavai hymns are in praise of Lord Vishnu. One can usually listen to a lot of Thiruppavais during the season concerts (Margazhi).

Sathej