I know this post is meant to be included under the YACM category, but it is too sensational to be posted all the way in Page #6! This will be one great concert! Hope somebody attends this one and posts a review!
Classical strains
Daughters of three violin maestros come together to mark the 25th anniversary of YACM (Youth Association for Classical Music). Violinists Viji T.N. Krishnan, Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi and Narmadha daughters of T.N.Krishnan, Lalgudi Jayaraman and M.S. Gopalakrishnan respectively will perform “Confluence of Styles†on August 28 at the Music Academy (7.10 p.m.). They will highlight the various styles of playing the violin as popularised by their acclaimed fathers.
They will be accompanied on the mridangam by veteran artiste T.V. Gopalakrishnan and on the ghatam by Tripunithra Radhakrishnan.
Cheerful:
Watch this site tomorrow as the concert goes on. bilahari might post instant reviews. I might update as to what happens (in real time). Also if you can watch the stream itself read the comments on the "shout box" that appears below the video for instant comments.
I wonder why there is such an eagerness to write a sangati by sangati review on rasikas. I would probably enjoy the beautiful concert peacefully and write the review in a leisurely manner. I am reminded of something Dr.BMK said in a humourous video clipping about rasikas." There are rasikas who want to see their neighbour enjoy more than themselves enjoying the concert " May be the running commentary is with the same spirit of making other rasikas enjoy more than the attendees themselves.
I really wondered if it would work and how they would present it and balance it. If I was on a committee, I'd have probably voted against the whole thing! They really made it work, and they balanced solos against collaborative pieces in a way that surprised me. I would never have expected them to play a complete solo piece each, without either of the others touching the violin, not even in the sense of accompaniment and neither any sort of returns.
Individually and collaboratively it really worked out well. TVG was a model accompanist: it seems that part of his genius is not only knowing how to be the star, but knowing how to turn it off, which is probably the greater accomplishment. I would have liked him to have given more time to the ghatam, which was also excellent, because I think the varied texture gives a better experience to the audience.
Looking forward to Bilahari's report.
Just before the end of the program, when the idea of bringing people on stage and having speeches and presentations makes most of us groan, people were brought on stage and we did not groan: we grinned from ear to ear! The great fathers of the three great ladies came onto the stage. It was a delight to see them altogether. The lady announcing must have a mridangist's mind for permutations to have got through the "x will now present a memento to y" combinations!
Viji Krishnan made a point of saying, how they had had so much fun putting together and performing the program. They certainly gave fun --- and wonderful music, to us. The program was entitled Confluence: It maybe that the confluence might happen for more than one program, which would mean that we have seen musical history being made tonight.
This was one evening of which I can honestly say that I enjoyed the speeches as much as the music! Must be a first!
I really liked the part at the end when Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi mentioned that in keeping with the mission of the concert which was to bring out the uniqueness of each bani she kept her own individual creativity in check and focused on highlighting the aspects of her school.
>>This was one evening of which I can honestly say that I enjoyed the speeches as much as the music! Must be a first!<<
NickH:
I agree with your statement there. It felt like one global family gathering with the three maestros being silent witnesses through the concert and conveying their blessings on all at the end. The people on the stage must have been thrilled for that lifetime experience. It turned out well.
Thoroughly enjoyed the program and it was also very nice to see the three legends on stage at the end! Thanks to YACM for presenting this and sharing it with the world through streaming
Nick H wrote:
But there were probably many more. I only saw front row occupants back-of-the-head, and the Academy seat backs are quite high
I saw Vijaya Siva, Arun Prakash. Of course Sriranjani was the master of ceremony.
Sri MSG's wife had accompanied, so had Sri TNK's wife.
I saw Vijay Siva requesting the trinity to go to the stage towards the end of the concert. While LJ and MSG obliged, TNK was seen continuing to be in his seat enjoying the concert. When the concert was over, TNK started walking out and Viji called her father in the mike to come to stage .. "appa , stageukku vareLaa ?? " And TNK responded I am going home "naan aathukukku poren" . Again Viji called her father to come to stage and few others were also seen persuading TNK to go to the stage. And then TNK obliged. Mrs TNK also climbed the stage along with TNK and both waved at the audience.
Ramanathan, Thanks for the excellent pictures, and to eesha for added content. I caught "come on stage" in English, but could not have heard TNK's response, whatever language it had been in
Wah! What photographs! Thanks very much for all concerned. What a blessed generation we are to see these three stalwarts on stage together, to have listened them play on stage , simply thrilling feeling. There are no words.
TNK still crisp as ever. I think all 80+. Their contribution to world culture is greater than all the oceans ("nanmai kadalin perithu"). We pray for their long life, health and happiness.
Also, we should thank the daughters and the organisers for making it possible. I have had the privilege of listening to them, each accompanying their illustrious fathers.
Ramanathan - excellent pictures! Thank you!
Did you by any chance take pictures during the concert itself?
There is this old black and white photo of the trinity together. Would be a nice contrast to the pictures of this occasion! I tried looking for it but failed. Can anyone help?
Balakk....you were not alone...I was hoping that the three daughters would persuade their respective fathers to atleast "sit" on the stage and give "dharshan" to the millions of rasikas. That would have been a gift people like me would cherish for the rest of their life. If they had played together even for couple of minutes, that recording alone would go for millions of dollars. I am not saying it for commercial reasons, just to say, how invaluable such a recording would be.....Well.., let us hope that it can still happen.
Also wish we could listen to MSG-MSA concert!
Perhaps their children could play together? And the two fathers would come on stage at the end - and make up finally!
(Ah, if only wishes could come true...)
