Aishwarya Vidya Raghunath at IISc 13th August '10

[keerthi]

Aishwarya Vidya Raghunath - vocal
Satyaprakash - Violin
Balakrishna - mridangam

'praharshini' - a cultural association in the Indian institute of Science, Bangalore, hosted this concert.

Apparently, Aishwarya has sung several times, before, at the same venue.

Song list -

1. chalamEla jesEvayya - nAtakuranji - Adi tAla varNam - MRN
2. sangIta-gnAnamu - dhanyAsi - Adi - T [s]
3. Amma ravamma - kalyANI -K.chApu - T [RNS]
4. challarE ramacandrunipai - Ahiri - M.ChApu - T
5. Sankari Sam kuru - sAverI - Tisra gati Adi - SS [S]
6. Orajupu jUcEdi nyAyamA - kannaDa gauLa -Adi - T
7. balagOpAla - bhairavi - Adi - MD [RNST]
8. MarubAri tALalenurA - khamAs jAvaLI - Adi
9. alarshara-paritApam / jalajabandhu - SuraTi padam - Swati tirunAL
10. MangalaM kOsalendrAya - slOkaM - suraTi
-------------------------------------------------------------

the concert was quite good. Elements of the T.BrindA lineage were discernable in her handling of the kampita-s and also in the fairly disciplined rendition of the kRti-s.

The violinist, was good and screechy in equal proportions. it must have been a bad day, for him [what with it being Friday the 13th and all]. the
BAlakrishna on the Mridangam was competent, and played some interesting patterns. there was an occasional sag/ lag? when he played some of the gati - patterns.

It is a heartening sign that lots of performers record their own concerts. if/ When they go home and listen to their own recordings, any shortcomings will be evident, and pave the way for improvement. Also, they can appraise any criticism, in light of the recordings, to see if the critic is being fair or not.

Will post a more detailed review later. Hope others pitch in. I saw at least one other rasika.

[abhiramkeshav]

It was a good concert. One characteristic of Aishwaryavidya's performance is rendering the krithi's with very good bhAva.
Slow paced challarE after moderate paced amma ravamma was touching. Main piece Balagopala was also rendered very well with poignant nereval and good swarakalpana. The last piece before mangalam - alarsara was also very impressive.
Mridangam accompaniment by S G Balakrishna was very good; it added beauty to the krithi-rendering and elevated concert. Balakrishna is a student of the mridangam exponent Vidwan Shrimushnam Raja Rao.

.... there was an occasional sag/ lag? when he played some of the gati - patterns.

- I did not notice any "sag/ lag".

[gobilalitha]

It is really a kind gesture on the part of keerti to write a nice review about the performance which will give mental strength to the buddng artist to concentrate and improve in future. T he normal attitude of many reviewers is to magnify their lapses. But there are two sides of the coin. some reviewers may feel that only by pointing out their lapses they will improve, while some may feel it may discourage them. wishing the youngster a bright future gobilalitha

[mahakavi]

>>what with it being Friday the 13th and all].<<
Why do we invoke Friday 13th for Hindu Indians? I can understand if a Christian is the performer. Just call it a bad day--everybody has them. Making Friday, rAhu kAlam, and cat crossing your path as excuses can be avoided.

[mahakavi]

It is really a kind gesture on the part of keerti to write a nice review about the performance which will give mental strength to the buddng artist to concentrate and improve in future. T he normal attitude of many reviewers is to magnify their lapses. But there are two sides of the coin. some reviewers may feel that only by pointing out their lapses they will improve, while some may feel it may discourage them. wishing the youngster a bright future gobilalitha

GBL:
Keerthi said a detailed review will follow soon. Are you pre-loading Keerthi's pen to write a "nice review"? Let the chips fall where they may!

[mankuthimma]

One cannot preload Keerthis Pen.
One has to sample his hand writing to see this .
How can such beautiful craftsmanship ever say an unkind word.
Calligraphy at its best.

[mahakavi]

MT:
You appear to be the designated hitter for quite a few folks here.

[mankuthimma]

Yes.It has been my privilege to get to know some outstanding minds, here. When I have something to say that hurts, I make amends quickly .What I have to say in praise , comes from my heart and I make no bones about it. It works well for me in so many other ways too . I rarely spend on staying in hotels anywhere in India. Friends pick me up from HoteIs , Busstops and drop me there . I have invitations standing ( full expenses paid ) to travel to all parts of the world with the exception of the arctic zones and latin america.One learns something from each person.With Keerthi , it has been the love of birds and all things natural , the importance of starting early in musical pursuits , and a million sweet corridors in raga arabhi.
Oh ! To be young again !!!!!
When I criticise it always a bit too harsh.
When I praise , it is always a bit too little.
Like that proverbial formula for rhubarb pie. Use sugar as directed in the cookery books and then double it.

[abhiramkeshav]

The violinist, was good and screechy in equal proportions. it must have been a bad day, for him [what with it being Friday the 13th and all].

>>what with it being Friday the 13th and all].<<
Why do we invoke Friday 13th ... ? .... Just call it a bad day--everybody has them. ....

In past, the violinist has performed on this platform many times. He was not at his best in this concert. But he realized that it was not good day for him and was careful enough to see that he did not interrupt the vocalist (I have seen some violinists making errors trying to follow the vocalist very closely. This ends up in spoiling the mood of both the vocalist and the listeners). Though his essay's had screechy strokes in first 30 min.s of the concert, his following was very good and competent (also was free from defects) when it came to the main item Balagopala.

[sureshvv]

>>what with it being Friday the 13th and all].<<
Why do we invoke Friday 13th for Hindu Indians? I can understand if a Christian is the performer. Just call it a bad day--everybody has them. Making Friday, rAhu kAlam, and cat crossing your path as excuses can be avoided.

It is our proud Indian tradition to adopt the bad from everywhere

Just kidding... No flames please!

[arasi]

Suresh,
Yes. Flames are nice, as in lamps. They add to the ambience. Flame throwing is yet another thing!