Abhishek Raghuraman @ Narada Gana Sabha

[sureshvv]

The Chennai music festival season is always on the lookout for phenoms and it seems that this year they have found it in Abhishek. For a 10am start, the parking lot was full by 9.45 and the hall was full before the concert started. The early among the late comers were invited to sit on the stage which soon became full, the unlucky ones squatted on the aisles and the inveterate slugs were left standing, some inside and the others outside the hall. A lesser artiste might have been somewhat fazed by all this attention. But not Abhishek who went on to give a spontaneous scintillating concert. As is usual in his concerts, the number of items was limited but each one was extremely well explored. He was accompanied by B.U.Ganesh Prasad (Mysore Srikanth who was originally scheduled was unable to make it due to the flu as announced by Shek), Neyveli Narayanan and K.V.Goplakrishnan. The whole team played brilliantly including the stage theatrics which heightened the experience.

The song list:

1. Inta chalamu (varnam), Begada, Adi, Veenai Kuppaiyer(?)
2. Sidhi vinayakam anisham, Chamaram, Rupakam, Dikshitar, s
3. Lathangi, Marivere Dikkevaro, Kanda chapu, Patnam, ns @ Dharalona nee saati deivamu nee gana
4. Thani
5. Tatvam meruga tharama, garudadwani, Thyagaraja,
6. RTP, Kharaharapriya, Adi, Nee padahmule gatiyani nammithi
7. Enna thavam seidhanai, Kapi

[rajeshnat]

Suresh
NGS Mini or NGS Main

[mahavishnu]

Suresh, thanks for posting this!

I was at this concert too. I was sitting in the very first row (right next to Tanjore murugabhoopathy). Would have been nice to meet to share our views after the concert.

You are right. The atmosphere was electric to say the least. I enjoyed every second of this concert; it is wonderful to be in a packed auditorium where every single person is kept excited for the entire duration.

I thought Neyveli Narayanan was outstanding. He played with such azhuttham and anticipation. Abhishek's latangi (especially niraval) was spectacular.

Rajesh, it was in the mini hall (which partially explains the seat shortage).

[sureshvv]

NGS Mini or NGS Main

Should have been NGS main... Was in NGS mini... Sure they will get it right next time

[prasanna]

A karaharapriya to remember for a long time...simply amazing.

[rajeshnat]

TheHindu's review of Abhishek crt.
http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/12/24/stor ... 000300.htm

[mahavishnu]

@rajesh. thanks for posting this link.
In my opinion, Lakshmi Venkatraman (the Hindu reviewer) seems to have missed the point. The things she seems to have grievances about are what raised the concert to an outstanding quality. The detailed Niraval in Latangi and the extra sangatis in Kapi were memorable and unique. Ironically, she seems to have a problem with both.

I guess we are all entitled to our opinions |(

[karthit]

What a pathetic review of a concert
'The Hindu' which once had some extraordinary reviewers now has some reviewers not even worth the paper that their name is printed on!