Gayathri Venkataraghavan:7 Aug 2010-Rasikas NZ/Sangeetha Bha

[rasikasnz]

Gayathri Venkataraghavan - Akkarai S Subhalakshmi - Manoj Siva
7 August 2010 - Auckland, NZ
8 August 2010 - Wellington, NZ

Will post details after the concert

[Sam Swaminathan]

Ms Gayathri Venkataraghavan started the concert briskly with a lively rendition of the popular Pancharatna kriti in Nattai followed by a kirti on Lord Shiva in Mayamalavagowlai. An excellent rendition of ragam Varali ( and I was counting on Eti Janma and was disappointed!) with P Sivan's Kavava was beatifully sung accompanied by swarams. A detailed Kambodhi and O' Rangasayee was well constructed and the audience were treated to a elaborate patterns of swarams at the end. Needless to say the niraval at "bhooloka" was thoroughly enjoyable.

Ms Subbalakshmi is going to be a great violinst in the years to come. She was par excellent in her replies, her narration of both Varali and Kambodhi was exquisite. A young lady with vibrant finger speed and bowing technique, she has a great future in the carnatic field.

Manoj Shiva's mridangam accompaniment was calm, sedate and pleasant to hear. The thani after kambodhi was adequate.

Unfortunately, I had to leave after GV started Anandabhairavi for the RTP due to inclement weather condition and not feeling all that great.

On the whole, a very satisfactory evening.

[MV]

Sam, I'll add a full list:
1) Jagadanandaka - Nattai
2) Sivaloganadanai - Mayamalavagoulai (KS)
3) Kaa Vaa Vaa - Varali (R, KS)
4) Vitajaalathura - Janaranjani (KS)
5) Rangapuravihara - Brindavana Saranga (MS Viruttam)
6) O Ranga Sayee - Khamboji (R,N, KS)
7) Paraku Jesina Nee - Joojamuni (Thyagaraja)
8) RTP - Ananda Bhairavi. Thanam in Anandabhairavi, Charukesi and Kalyani.
KS in Anandabhairavi, Valachi and Hamsanandi
9) Dasana madigo - Yaman Kalyan
10) Thenena Inikkum(Arul Paa as announced) - beautiful viruttam of Manikkavachakar
11) Broohi Mukundehi
12) Nachata Nachata
13) Jo Achyuthanda (Viruttam in Kapi)

[MV]

First time I have heard the artiste live. She has a gentle, melodious voice which only grew in strength and depth by the end. For me, she touched all the right nerves in Varali raga alapanai. Vitajalathura is a Thyagaraja kirtanai that I know-she made me dig it up and sing it this morning. Thanks for that. It was sung at a brisk pace followed by a fully-controlled brisk swaram exchange between vocal and violin. That truly set the pace for the evening. She sang Rangapuravihara with a lot of MS in it but some of her own touches-very well handled.

When she developed a meticulous Khamboji ragam, she had a few of us wondering. A tad early for RTP but she had already called Ranga and Sivan and Muruga. So??? But it was Rangasayee. I have heard of her neraval skills and she lived up to it.She came into her own there. Great to hear the rare Joojamuni.
RTP was well done-always a pleasure to hear Anandabhairavi sung well and played well.

Not surprisingly the thukkadas were all beautifully sung. The viruttam and Jo Achyuthananda is still in my ears today. It was nearly 4 hours and I had to leave for a long drive back as she started her Thillana.

I look forward to many more years of music from this pleasant and delightful artiste.

A. Subalakshmi-I have heard her many times now and she has never faltered. She truly 'accompanies' the artiste she plays with. Great pleasure to hear at all times. Manoj Siva accompanied very well with his gentle touches and great understanding of the music and the artistes. You do get the feel that the trio understand each other very well. Great concert!

[rajeshnat]

7) Paraku Jesina Nee - Joojamuni (Thyagaraja)

Paraku Jesina Nee - jUjAhuLi -Thyagaraja
A close to 4 hr concert in a RTP in AnandabhAiravi must have been great.

[rasikasnz]

Wow! Sam and Malathi got in real quick

I shall complete the song list:

Thillana - Behag - Papanasam Sivan
Thirupugazh
Pavamana

4 hours and 10 minutes of great carnatic music. Excellent concert.

Will post Wellington concert details tomorrow.

[rasikasnz]

9) Dasana madigo - Yaman Kalyan

From memory, this was in Nadanamakriya. Was Nachatha in Yaman Kalyan?

[Jigyaasa]

Great to hear the rare Joojamuni.

The raga's name is jujAvaLi. To quote rajeshnat from a Thanjavur Sankara Iyer concert in Nov 2008, "TSI spoke for just few seconds explaining the jujAvali was sadguru's thyagarAja's interest in western tune"

[sathya_vrathan]

the raga name for the krithi Paraku Jesina Nee is jujAhuLi

[Lakshman]

Also it is viDajAladurA.

[mohan]

The same team performed in Sydney on 31 July. The gave a delightful concert that went over 3.5 hours. The main pieces we Janani (Rithigowla) Koluvamaregada (Thodi) and RTP in Gowrimanohari.

The following day they also gave a very informative lec-dem on Shyama Sastri compositions, where three artistes sang and explained the various facets of Shyama Sastri's music.

[MV]

Thanks for the correction of "Joojamuni" rare raga. The artiste announced and I caught it incorrectly. Mohan, the Sydney concert sounds great and so does the lecdem. I found her an artiste who blends the mathematical/technical side of music along with the aesthetics. That balance can only grow with years, so really looking forward to hearing her more.