Shubasri Ramachandran @ Cleveland, april 10th

[kedharam]

Shubasri Ramachandran
Sri. Srikanth Venkataraman – violin
Smt. Jayalakshmi Shekar – veena
Sri. R. Thyagarajan – flute
Kallidaikurichi Sri. S. Sivakumar – mridangam
Cleveland. Sri. S. Balasubramaiam - kanjira
Dr. Ravi. Balasubramanian –ghatam

Abhogi – varnam
Hamsadvani – varavallaba ramana, S, GNB
karahara priya - evvarani
Bilahari – paridana michite, S
Kalyani –vasudeva eni, R, N,S, N@ raga thala…
Kadana kudukulam – mangala varadayaki, GNB
SaraNam bhava karuNamayi
Radha samedha
Katrinile varum geetham
Baro krishnayya
Venkatachala nilaym
Kamas – had to leave at this point…

Shubasri set the evening’s tone with a spirited rendition of one of GNB’s fav varnam in abhogi.
The bilahari, (bilahari, you would have loved it:)) uncurled, dancing with the pace of kanda chapu thalam with fine briga passages aided by an undercurrent of an earthy vocal power which typifies the GNB school’s profound style… a true MLV fare …

The day’s most affecting piece was Kalyani taking us back to reverie of years long past …in the alapana every note was delivered with remarkable resonance with elements of GNB and MLV and shubashri handled the burden of upholding the legends with effortlessness…her voice dancing to her whimsies…The vibrant account of the composition ‘vasudeva eni’ came with energy with its intricate lyrical component remaining lucid taking listeners along the fantastical flights of the GNB era thro phrases in an organic sweep with all the accompanying artists complementing/ flying with Shubasri – lively and well balanced, a heartrending portrayal loaded with MLVish out of the box, yet classic prayogams...
Baro krishnayya had all the composer’s emotional vulnerability and despair indeed

The concert was a lovely tribute to the legends and shubasri swept listeners with her deceptively casual artistry…

This concert pretty much wiped off the bad taste that Sri. Sriram Gangadaran left…a supposed to be a tribute to GNB…plain noise…I am really sorry for being harsh…one should show restraint in making a mockery of the legend…my opinion ofcourse...

[arasi]

Kedharam,
Was a good concert, obviously. I would have liked to have heard that kalyAni. How long is it since I have heard vAsudEvayani on stage!
I am glad you spoke your mind about Sriram Gangadharan. Nothing personal here of course but sometimes he comes across to me as a bull in a china shop--however talented, his charging like one in his approach to his art.
Did you hear Divine Strings? If you did, please add your comments in that thread. If not, at least what you heard others say about it. Thanks!

[kedharam]

arasi, i missed it. didn't hear anyone discussing abt it either.
Yes, after that concert most of the listeners wanted to flee the concert hall. Ofcourse, we had Bushany kalyanaraman to the rescue...:)

[rajeshnat]

This concert pretty much wiped off the bad taste that Sri. Sriram Gangadaran left…a supposed to be a tribute to GNB…plain noise…I am really sorry for being harsh…one should show restraint in making a mockery of the legend…my opinion ofcourse...

Can you review this concert too in a new thread please?. When there is an overdose of concerts , sriram G will be a difficult musician to keep any rasika engaged because of his jet speed. Just an opinion . I bet he sang bilahari,ranjani and todi or bhairavi as main.

On a side note lot of concerts when I hear even the legendary GNB , he shows the first sign of restraint only when he sings a tukkada slokham or viruththam like vaNde mAtaram.In my opinion Sriram G is the closest padanthara imitator of GNB, mockery certainly not. Of course you are entitled to your opinion.

[harimau]

Shubasri Ramachandran......

This concert pretty much wiped off the bad taste that Sri. Sriram Gangadaran left…a supposed to be a tribute to GNB…plain noise…I am really sorry for being harsh…one should show restraint in making a mockery of the legend…my opinion ofcourse...

Samson, shorn of his hair, I suppose. He should mellow, tune in and let it all hangout (as they used to say in the days of "Hair - The Musical").

[kedharam]

rajeshnat, i would like to review Sriram gangadaran's concert. Granted, I went with some expectation and believe it or not his was the first concert i could attend due to my other commitments... i talked to many listeners and we all felt the same way...well, i don't want to stir up any controversy with my subjective opinion after some wonderful music here. Will write the song list.:):)

[Jigyaasa]

Karaharapriya – evereni

evarani is in dEvAmrutavarshiNi... Hope you don't mind my correcting you again...

[kedharam]

wow! thanks again... i think i should hit the bed:).will edit.

[kssr]

Shubhasri Ramachandran: Thanks for the nice review. Is she not Trichur V Ramachandran's daughter and disciple? If so, I am surprised, why his name is left out while repeated reference is made to GNB and MLV. I have never heard her. Must be interesting.

In a separate thread TVR's concert also in America was reviewed by Bilahari. Understand that it was outstanding as well. Great tradition indeed.

[kssr]

Was it a regular concert or a special one? Is it not an overkill to use violin, veena, venu as accompaniments? Hopefully she managed to pull it off well as there is no adverse comment about it!

[kedharam]

kssr, it was a concert by shubasri on GNB's &MLV's popular kritis. The accopmanying artists played with subdued rhythm and melody that with closed eyes, it sounded like a regular concert. Shubasri Ramachandran's parents/guru - Trichur V. Ramachandran and Smt. Charumathi Ramachandran.

[kedharam]

jigyaasa, i think evvarani was in karahara priya.

[Jigyaasa]

jigyaasa, i think evvarani was in karahara priya.

http://www.carnatica.net/special/tyg-quiz-jan2005.htm
Look at Question 14...

Still not convinced, check out
http://thyagaraja-vaibhavam.blogspot.co ... chiri.html

[kedharam]

Jigyaasa, thanks.

[bilahari]

Kedharam, thank you very much for the Cleveland reviews! Now, listening is believing, so... any chance of listening to Subhashree's bilahari?!

[arasi]

Bilahari,
After your San Diego reviews, we were waiting for Cleveland reviews and Kedharam and others brought the ArAdhanA close to us. Just wondering how much nicer it would be if both of you guys can make it to Cleveland next year and give us double the fare!

[kedharam]

bilahari, i am trying to get the recording and with the artist's permission will post the clip.

[malavi]

saranam bhava karunamayi-- hamsavinodini. smt.MLV used to sing this often in her concerts and her kalpana swarams at madhusudana madhusudana still ringing in my ears.Sri.T.M. Tyagarajan also popularised this kriti.