T.M.Krishna concert in Tampa,FL

[maduraimini]

[quote][/quote]

I was waiting for a post on T.M.Krishna's concert in Tampa,Florida on April 24,2011.
The violin artist was Sri Ramkumar and on the Mridangam was Arun Kumar (or is it Prakash?) .I forgot if there was a kanjeera, who played that. Excuse me. I am just going to say at random what I remember. Anyone who was there, and knew more, please feel free to add your comments. Before the concert, one of the organizers introduced the artists and announced rasikas not to talk or go out or move around, while the artist is singing,as it will distract them. Good point. When they announce it up front, fewer people will do it. The real rasikas can enjoy the concert.
Krishna started the concert with Chittaranjani song of Thyagaraja, "Nada Tanumanisam". There was no alapana.He sang swaram for it. He asked us before starting, if we wanted him to announce the raga up front or after. I don't know what the answer was, but Krishna announced after the song. Here is the list as I remember ( A senior's memory)
1. Nada Tanumanisam- Thyagaraja- Chittaranjani.- swaram
2. Ragam- Shivadasula- Sudda dhanyasi- Purandaradas- swaram
3. Ragam- Kalai Thookki- Yadukula kamboji- Marimuttha pillai
4. Ora joopujoo- Kannada Gaula- Thyagaraja
5. ragam- Ille Vaikutha-Varali- Purandaradasa- niraval,swaram.
6. kapi raga alapana,tanam,pallavi. It was in kanda jathi triputa(I may be wrong). Krishna said it was an improptu pallavi by the Mridangam artist- It was Kannanai,mani vannanai nee ninai Gopiargal konjum. I don't remember all ragas and some may be wrong- kapi,behag,sama,saveri and or karnataka sudda saveri(?),karna ranjani and madyamavathi.(Beautiful). As he announced the ragas at the end, I didn't get all of them.
7.Chinnanchiru kiliye in ragamalika- Bharathiar-chala nata,hameer kalyani,karaharapriya.begada and bhoopalam.
8. Ksheera sagara vihara- Ananda Bhairavi- Thyagaraja
9. Narayana Hari- Yamuna kalyani- Thyagaraja
10. ragam- Tirupathi Venkata ramana-Sindhu Bhairavi- Purandaradasa
11. Agamumagi- Thirupugazh
mangalam.
It was a full solid 3 + hr. concert and the artist pleased all the rasikas. Krishna's voice was in full mettle and he sang very well. I had to travel for 2 hrs. to listen to this and I am happy I did, as it was worth it. The violin artist got off the stage as soon as it was over, so didn't get a chance to say how good gis playing was. I wish artists announce the ragam before they sing the song, so older people like me, can remember that. When it is said at the end, even the artist forgets a raga or two. It was a wonderful concert and the Mridangam and Violin artists did a good job of accompanying the singer, not take over. Usually, the mridangam is too loud, but Arun Prakash played very well. Krishna also wanted the sound to be lower than the usual loud music we hear. All in all, Krishna and the other artists gave us a beautiful concert with no gimmicks.
p.s. anybody else who was there and knows better can correct me and add anything else.

[rshankar]

Thank you for that review. The violinist is Sri. Shreeramkumar.

[arasi]

Thank you, maduraimini for a detailed review.
Yes, it's Arun Prakash, as you yourself have said later in the review. Hope we are going to get more reviews from Florida!

[maduraimini]

Thank you, rshankar and Arasi. Sorry I messed up the names of both the violinist and the mridangist. Thanks.