Sri Unnikrishnan at Madison, WI - Apr. 25th 2010

[saianamika]

Unnikrishnan
Embar Kannan - Violin
Arjun Kumar - Mridangam
Verona High School Auditorium - Madison, Wisconsin

Shambho Mahadeva - Panthuvarali, Roopakam, Tyagaraja
Shobhillu - Jaganmohini, Roopakam, Tyagaraja
Sadananda Thandavam - Bahudari, Adi, Achyutadasar
Bhaagaayanaiyya - Chandrajyothi, Adi, Tyagaraja
Bhogindra Shayinam - Kunthalavarali, Khanda chapu, Swathi Thirunal/Iraiyiman Thampi
RTP (Hare Rama Govinda Murare) - Thodi (Hamsanandi, Vasanti, Brindavana Saranga)
Jagajjanani - Rathipathipriya
Krishna Karo - Madhuvanthi, Eka, Meera
Srivallabha Srivalsankitha
Kunidado krishna - Hamsanandi, Purandaradasa
Chinanjiru Kiliye - Ragamalika, Adi, Subrahmanya Bharathi
Ododi Vanden Kanna - Dharmaavathi, Adi, Ambujam Krishna
Kurai Ondrum Illai
Brahmmamokate

The concert started a half hour late due to sound issues and some of us were a bit impatient waiting in the lobby. But I heard this is not their usual venue and the organisers were not expecting it would take so long.

Almost the entire concert was composed of requests alone or so it seemed from the choice of krithis. Having said that, the intricate tweaks that Unni and Kannan weave into the simplest of songs were excellent.

The RTP showed true beauty of the ragas, and why we all enjoy rtps in a well rendered concert. He sang this elaborately as this turned out to be the main too.

Arjun showed steadfast devotion to laya in the face of Unni's unconventional eduppus.

The three and half hours went by really fast, leaving the rasikas wanting more.

Please forgive me if this is not a very good review, as this is my first review in this forum and I usually just enjoy carnatic concerts and rarely take notes.