Sri Abhishek Raghuraman "Live" at Raga Sudha Oct 5, 2009

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 07 Oct 2009, 10:29

Abhishek Raghuraman presented a wonderfully creative concert for Balaganamrutham as part of their annual Monsoon Marvel Festival. He was accompanied by Mysore Srikanth, Ganapathiraman and K.V.Goplakrishnan(K).

What stood out for me were the 2 alapanas of the day. The ragas were elaborated in a most unique manner with equal emphasis on the scale and the characteristic "pidi"s. Abhishek constantly challenged himself and his accompanists who rose to meet his lightning quick sangatis with gusto. Being the "stereotypical" chennai-ite who takes in at least a couple of concerts a week and Poorvikalyani being the raga of choice for abuse by the typical chennai performer, I found this alapana to be out-of-the-world. Abhishek dwelled on many phrases that people skim over at best and just hummed several hackneyed pidis. The other alapana was of Raga Sarasangi as part of an RTP which I cannot recollect being elaborated ever in a concert.

Mysore Srikanth was amazing in his returns and left Abhishek run wild with his creativity and improvisation. Ganapathiraman and K.V.Goplakrishnan were enjoying the display of genius from close quarters.

The song list:

1. Sarasuda (varnam), Saveri
2. Saketha Nagara natha, Harikamboji
3. Poorvikalyani, Paralokha Sadhaname
4. Thani
5. Raghuveera, Husseini
6. RTP, Sarasangi
7.

More observations

1. Abhishek seems to be quite oblivious to the distance from the mike or the direction. The varnam was sung mostly looking at the Mridangist and even with the high amplification the song did not carry into the audience.

2. Saketha nagara was rendered stridently with ringing swaras and coupled with the high amplification the melody was the victim here. The brief overview of Harikamboji just before the kriti started was so delectable but the kriti was trampled over.

3. Husseini though brief was made most alluring by the soft humming sangatis in the brief overview and throughout the kriti. Abhishek will do well to bring the same softness into the pronunciation of the words paying attention to the lyrics.

4. The great magic of a live concert was present in abundance.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 07 Oct 2009, 10:51

Interesting. I nearly went to this concert, but went to another instead.

Somebody had better tell him about microphones before he becomes an elder, greater "sir" that nobody dares to enlighten!

Bur... what's with the "live"?

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 07 Oct 2009, 11:01

nick H wrote: Bur... what's with the "live"?

You had to be there! It was an edge-of-the-seat affair. Just contrasting it with the other event that some chose to attend instead

Also the thani was featured right bang in the middle of the concert instead of being relegated to the post 8 pm time slot which many people take as a cue to exit.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 07 Oct 2009, 12:31

sureshvv wrote:
1. Abhishek seems to be quite oblivious to the distance from the mike or the direction. The varnam was sung mostly looking at the Mridangist and even with the high amplification the song did not carry into the audience.

Suresh,
I made a comment few years back on abhisek (is he abhishek or abhisek) that "There is just one perennial crib with abhisek , he at times moves too much away from mike slanting his neck and because of that I lose continuity at times.I hope he makes conscious effort not to move too orthogonal to mike .". Perhaps you felt the same, hope he kills this posture problem.

Nevertheless he is always a creative musician, I remember my first concert of his about 5 years back or so , he sang a rtp in kannada at SKGS (IIRC) and he sang asaveri thillana composed by him/and his mother. Nice to also see him in concert circuit in chennai, to an extent he is not getting much chances at least in chennai , he is a deserving musician.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 07 Oct 2009, 12:47

May be invest in a "wearable" mike a la Madonna. Wonder if our purists will appreciate such innovation

balu · Post by **balu** » 09 Oct 2009, 09:23

it was pure and undiluted hindustani poorvikalyani.there was not a single carnatic pidi.his gestures and the way in which he waves his hands were also hm style.over all a very disapointing concert.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 09 Oct 2009, 15:12

sureshvv wrote:May be invest in a "wearable" mike a la Madonna. Wonder if our purists will appreciate such innovation

The unobtrusive lapel mic would do fine, no need to go in for the headset gear!

I have long supposed it to be the answer to the all-too-common bad mic technique of many artists. I recall conversations, from another forum long ago, in which some USA tour organisers, who have developed the expertise and confidence to tell the artist how the mic setup will be, rather than bowing (and scraping) to the dictates of the inexpert, have said that it is so, but they do have o overcome resistance from artists.

Of course, for equivalent quality, which is essential, the price is high.

mahesh3 · Post by **mahesh3** » 11 Oct 2009, 03:48

Potential horsepower is rarely achieved! Abhishek is on track to get there, way ahead of time, must be said.

There is a lot that can be said about Abhishek's spontaniety, repertoire, selectivity and ofcourse, his swaras. Among all the musicians, both upcoming and established, he is definitely unique and differentiated. A raga list that has harikambodhi, Purvikalyani, Husseini and Sarasangi...and this artist is what, 23? I am not sure I can recently remember such an unorthodox and original list of offerings.....he must not only be encouraged, he should also be indulged in!

My pet peeve though is his very controversial interpretation of ragas (whether u label them carnatic, hindusthani or whatever)....

For the longest time I stayed away from TNS coz of this and his sruthi asuddham, but then there came a time where I started to enjoy everything TNS does. So, it is difficult when a musician is so ahead of the curve that the audience has not yet moved to sync with the artist......

By the way, Suresh, great review! Indeed a "Live" recount....made for nice reading!

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 11 Oct 2009, 11:25

mahesh3 wrote:
My pet peeve though is his very controversial interpretation of ragas (whether u label them carnatic, hindusthani or whatever)....

For the longest time I stayed away from TNS coz of this and his sruthi asuddham, but then there came a time where I started to enjoy everything TNS does. So, it is difficult when a musician is so ahead of the curve that the audience has not yet moved to sync with the artist......

My parallel for Shek's alapanas are closer to Dr. MBK. But while MBK sometimes carefully eschews the characteristic "pidi"s, Abhishek is happy to insinuate them here and there making the alapana simultaneously more tantalizing and fulfilling.

I also noticed that the there was a larger proportion of artistes (aspiring and accomplished) in the audience and they were very appreciative of his performance.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 11 Oct 2009, 11:36

balu wrote:it was pure and undiluted hindustani poorvikalyani.there was not a single carnatic pidi.his gestures and the way in which he waves his hands were also hm style.over all a very disapointing concert.

It wasn't "pure and undiluted" anything. A hindustani music rasika would have found the whole thing to be equally foreign. There were lot of "carnatic" pidis - one just had to be on the careful lookout. Sorry you were disappointed - but you probably went there hoping to be relive the precious moments from Semmangudi mama's kuchery decades ago.