Concert was easily my favorite of the season. A packed hall, a charged atmosphere and splendid music from Abhishek and team. He was accompanied by Akkarai Subbulakshmi and Anantha Krishnan. A khanjira artist seemed to be absent from the roster.
1.Darbar Varnam
2.
3.Venkata Ramana- Lathangi (R, N, S)
4.Dharini telusu- Suddhasaveri (R, N, S )
5.Chandra chooda- Darbari Kanada
6.Saramaina in Behag.
7. Mangalam.
The greatness of interpretation and the magnificence of improvisation in carnatic music shines through Abhishek. He is by far the most captivating singer I have heard in recent times. Especially today, he was in top form. I have never seen an ovation of such thunderous applause after the final round of swararm for Dharini. He brought people to their feet! My heart succumbed to certain sancharas in Behag; his Saramaina was a jewel within the concert.
Barring some technical mic issues and feedback noises in the beginning, the concert stands as the pinnacle of my season, thus far.
Abhishek at NGS, 12/28/2011
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mahesh3
- Posts: 584
- Joined: 06 Feb 2010, 21:32
Re: Abhishek at NGS, 12/28/2011
Genius concert. Magnificence, excellence, melody. People stood up and literally bowed in the audience. Anand is another of the most spectacular ones ever. Its not just about words - nothing can describe what was heard, everything was so beautiful, original and lilting. Anand's thani was just so dexterous and captivating, as abhi furiously increased the nadai in his taalam....Oh MY GOD! Genius Masterclass.
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mahavishnu
- Posts: 3341
- Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 21:56
Re: Abhishek at NGS, 12/28/2011
Number 2 was intanucu varnimpa taramA in gundakriyA.
Absolutely brilliant concert.
I wasn't at the concert. I just heard a recording.
Absolutely brilliant concert.
I wasn't at the concert. I just heard a recording.
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ksugavanam
- Posts: 13
- Joined: 23 Nov 2007, 21:42
Re: Abhishek at NGS, 12/28/2011
This is the 3rd of Abhishek's concert I am hearing this season, after KGS and MA. Abhishek has raised the bar so much higher, and has given a new meaning to Mano Dharma. He pushes himself so hard, reaching out into unchartered territories, exploring areas hitherto unheard of. His energy is so exhilarating, that I feel as fresh as the yesteryear "Liril" soap model, coming out of his 2 1/2 hour concert. Wow!!! The svaras and his sangathis are very much lingering even when I toss over in between my night's sleep. The one character that stands out for me in Abhishek, is that he is never satisfied delivering "the usual" or "the ordinary". Way to go and God Bless...
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Rajagopalan_V
- Posts: 60
- Joined: 29 Dec 2011, 18:19
Re: Abhishek at NGS, 12/28/2011
Superstar of the Season?
It was delirium all the way at Narada Gana Sabha yesterday evening. Abhishek Raghuram and 'party' (is this term in vogue anymore? Actually, it turned out to be a small party though with Akkarai Subbulakshmi on the violin and Anantha Krishnan on the mridangam)
The audience comprising animates -- experts such as Sangita Kala Acharya Shri. PSN Sir (Abhishek's guru), packed hall of rasikas and the accompanists included -- and inanimates such as the mike and sound systems -- were all in a frenzied state. It must have been a prophetic microphone as it anticipated the torrential downpour of alapanas, manodharma sangita and kalpanaswaras that were to follow later and out it went 'retired hurt' promptly at the start.
The lightning speed with which Abhishek comes up with phrases after phrases (hoping that's what they are called) in the raga alapana must clearly be the result of the musical clarity that springs in his mind. The roaring applause that Abhishek received when he finished the Shuddha Saveri alapana could possibly have been the biggest this season has witnessed. Much bigger, stronger, louder and longer in duration than the one at the Academy the other day.
Akkarai Subbulakshmi had to patiently wait for this to end to begin her response. However, it would be unfair to expect her to faithfully reproduce the phrases that Abhishek conjured up in his alapana. Abhishek got into a zone and again it was a virtual repeat of the 'vocal acrobatics' that he unleashed at the Academy the other day. However, the chosen raga being Shuddha Saveri, it left him with no choice but to blend a tinge of sowkhyam and an ounce of melancholy.
The preceding kriti was 'Venkata Ramana' in raga Latangi(?). There too he had indulged heavily in what must be his trademark(?) staccato swaras across the octaves. With the aptly worded neraval 'AlarmEl mangai manala', he kept going 'mel' and 'mel'. "A male perfomer singing in the 'mel' sthayi, taking an unhurried stroll there and coming back as he pleases but without sounding one bit like 'shouting' is something special" mentioned Dr. SAK. Durga in a lec-dem on Madurai Mani Iyer. Apparently, MMI could do it nonchalantly. So could Abhishek as he proved yesterday.
He also gave a hint that he could render 'soulful' pieces with aplomb too - evidence the concluding piece 'Saramaina Maatelendho' in Behag.
As a whole, however, in my humble opinion, he had utilized this as yet another platform to demonstrate his virtuosity. It was the 'virtuoso performer' that came to the fore yet again rather than a 'soulful musician'. However, it is also a function of one's expectation I suppose. When you walk into an authentic TamBrahm Mylapore Mami Mess (or the legendary 'Sri Venkata Lodge' of yore in Kumbakonam), you don't expect to see an eggplant parmigiana on the menu card. Or for that matter do you expect Sachin to score a century and take India to a resounding win in the fourth innings of a test match?
That Abhishek has virtuosity is by now seems a given. That his voice could traverse the length, breadh, depth and whatever else dimensions there are also seems to be established by now. "Human voice is an amazing gift from God; it is like a diamond - a good voice possesses cut, clarity, color, symmetry and polish; and diamonds are forever" mentioned Dr.Sriram Parasuram in a lec-dem this morning. Guess Abhishek's voice is all this and somemore.
However, to me (again to emphasize - in case anyone has doubts - a lay rasika with no formal grounding in music) I would love to see the day Abhishek sings a soulful 'mAyammA yani rE' and brings tears in one's eyes. Well, is it akin to expecting a Dravid to bat like a Viru? Or will it happen the day you see parmigiana on the menu card of the mami mess?
Bottomline : The audience - experts and lay rasikas alike - were simply stunned by the sheer wizardry that Abhishek conjured up yet again. It may not necessarily be the 'soulful' variety but touch a chord it did on the euphoric rasikas - well, not a deft touch but a strong enough slap that they could possibly pleasurably withstand till their next date with their hero at another venue.
It was delirium all the way at Narada Gana Sabha yesterday evening. Abhishek Raghuram and 'party' (is this term in vogue anymore? Actually, it turned out to be a small party though with Akkarai Subbulakshmi on the violin and Anantha Krishnan on the mridangam)
The audience comprising animates -- experts such as Sangita Kala Acharya Shri. PSN Sir (Abhishek's guru), packed hall of rasikas and the accompanists included -- and inanimates such as the mike and sound systems -- were all in a frenzied state. It must have been a prophetic microphone as it anticipated the torrential downpour of alapanas, manodharma sangita and kalpanaswaras that were to follow later and out it went 'retired hurt' promptly at the start.
The lightning speed with which Abhishek comes up with phrases after phrases (hoping that's what they are called) in the raga alapana must clearly be the result of the musical clarity that springs in his mind. The roaring applause that Abhishek received when he finished the Shuddha Saveri alapana could possibly have been the biggest this season has witnessed. Much bigger, stronger, louder and longer in duration than the one at the Academy the other day.
Akkarai Subbulakshmi had to patiently wait for this to end to begin her response. However, it would be unfair to expect her to faithfully reproduce the phrases that Abhishek conjured up in his alapana. Abhishek got into a zone and again it was a virtual repeat of the 'vocal acrobatics' that he unleashed at the Academy the other day. However, the chosen raga being Shuddha Saveri, it left him with no choice but to blend a tinge of sowkhyam and an ounce of melancholy.
The preceding kriti was 'Venkata Ramana' in raga Latangi(?). There too he had indulged heavily in what must be his trademark(?) staccato swaras across the octaves. With the aptly worded neraval 'AlarmEl mangai manala', he kept going 'mel' and 'mel'. "A male perfomer singing in the 'mel' sthayi, taking an unhurried stroll there and coming back as he pleases but without sounding one bit like 'shouting' is something special" mentioned Dr. SAK. Durga in a lec-dem on Madurai Mani Iyer. Apparently, MMI could do it nonchalantly. So could Abhishek as he proved yesterday.
He also gave a hint that he could render 'soulful' pieces with aplomb too - evidence the concluding piece 'Saramaina Maatelendho' in Behag.
As a whole, however, in my humble opinion, he had utilized this as yet another platform to demonstrate his virtuosity. It was the 'virtuoso performer' that came to the fore yet again rather than a 'soulful musician'. However, it is also a function of one's expectation I suppose. When you walk into an authentic TamBrahm Mylapore Mami Mess (or the legendary 'Sri Venkata Lodge' of yore in Kumbakonam), you don't expect to see an eggplant parmigiana on the menu card. Or for that matter do you expect Sachin to score a century and take India to a resounding win in the fourth innings of a test match?
That Abhishek has virtuosity is by now seems a given. That his voice could traverse the length, breadh, depth and whatever else dimensions there are also seems to be established by now. "Human voice is an amazing gift from God; it is like a diamond - a good voice possesses cut, clarity, color, symmetry and polish; and diamonds are forever" mentioned Dr.Sriram Parasuram in a lec-dem this morning. Guess Abhishek's voice is all this and somemore.
However, to me (again to emphasize - in case anyone has doubts - a lay rasika with no formal grounding in music) I would love to see the day Abhishek sings a soulful 'mAyammA yani rE' and brings tears in one's eyes. Well, is it akin to expecting a Dravid to bat like a Viru? Or will it happen the day you see parmigiana on the menu card of the mami mess?
Bottomline : The audience - experts and lay rasikas alike - were simply stunned by the sheer wizardry that Abhishek conjured up yet again. It may not necessarily be the 'soulful' variety but touch a chord it did on the euphoric rasikas - well, not a deft touch but a strong enough slap that they could possibly pleasurably withstand till their next date with their hero at another venue.
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nadhasudha
- Posts: 382
- Joined: 22 May 2006, 06:40
Re: Abhishek at NGS, 12/28/2011
Abhishek is young and his music reflects this - the energy, enthusiasm and the manodharma are exceptional. I think this is a reflection of his age and where he is in the process of evolving as a mature vidwan. I for one am amazed and enjoying this phase of his. I cant wait to see where his musical journey takes him. Going by where he is today, all I can tell is that it is going to be an exceptional musical journey if you are willing to travel along with him.