Gayatri Venkataraghavan for Nayaki at Raga Sudha, 22 Jul 06

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 23 Jul 2006, 00:11

My first concert in a long time thanks to a travel schedule that is increasingly threatening to push me in the direction of placement consultants. I was rewarded, however, by a superb concert by Gayathri - not sure if my opinion is coloured by a prolonged absence from concert halls but it was a very enjoyable evening anyhow -

Accompanists:
Charumathi Raghuraman - Violin
Melakaveri Balaji - Mrudangam

Highlights:

Kaanada Ata Tala Varnam - brusquely rendered with confidence setting a good tone for the concert

Kamakshi - Varali - M Chapu - Syama Shastri - a competent alaapana followed by a leisurely rendition of a piece that I am suprisingly hearing for the first time. Drenched in Raga Bhava - RNS

Sreepathe - Nagaswaravali - Adi - Thyagaraja - squeezed in between the 2 main pieces. Full of verve - just what the doctor ordered after the Varali!

Devi Jagajjanani?? - Adi - Sankarabharanam (???) - One of the best Sankarabharanams I have heard in the last year or so...there was a taanam which suggested an RTP but it turned out to be a krithi - no idea about the composer - not present in my songlist either - RPNST!!

Charumathi Raghuraman is, in my opinion, easily among the best violinist around today. Not one scratchy note and full of sweetness throughout. Sankarabharanam alaapana was as good as the very decent one served up by the vocalist.

Balaji's rhythmic edifice was competent without ever threatening to subdue the main performer's tone. His tani for the Sankarabharanam piece featured some interested korvais with a brief excursion into Tisram. There was a simple single avartha korvai to conclude his solo.

Some other items:

Bhajana Seya - Kedaram - Rupakam - ???
Nee Bhajana - Nayaki - Adi - Thyagaraja
A song on Ayyapa in Kharaharapriya or a very similar Janyam thereof (Adi tala)

Help in identifying composers/corrections welcome.

Yet another stepping stone in Gayathri's steady ascent towards the A-list. The full-house was a further demonstration of her increasing stature as a musician.

Vijay

mahesh3 · Post by **mahesh3** » 23 Jul 2006, 00:36

vijay is back! yay, that completes the missing links

meena · Post by **meena** » 23 Jul 2006, 00:52

dEvI jagajjanani dEhi krpayA - shankarAbharaNa - ST kriti
bhajana sEyavE- kEdAra by Anai ayya

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 23 Jul 2006, 09:40

Vijay, good to hear from you! This means we are going to have more reviews from CM kshetra, thanks to you, Rajeshnath and others. Hope work isn't that exacting (Ha!) that you can relax with some live music.
I heard Ms.V two seasons ago--only half a concert, but I enjoyed it. For some reason, she reminded me of Vasantha Kokilam (of yore

).,,

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 23 Jul 2006, 17:43

Hi Mahesh, Arasi and Meena

Thanks - was never really away but my schedule reduced me to a passive bystander...slow internet connections in remote locations with tight deadlines are not very conducive to participation in such fora...

Not sure about too many concert reports though - this is my first full week in Chennai in a long time...but it's great to be able to catch some concerts wihle I am here.

Meena thanks for updating the songlist.

Vijay