Vocal – Priya Sisters
Violin – MA Krishnaswamy
Mridangam – Neyveli Skandasubramaniam
Sarasijaksha (Varnam) – Nayaki
Karunai Seiva - Hamsadhvani – Papanasam Sivan
Mapala Velasika – Asaveri – Tyagaraja (Ragam, Swaram)
Lavanya Rama – Purnashadjam – Tyagaraja
Kamalambam Bhajare – Kalyani – Mutthuswamy Dikshitar (Ragam, Neraval, Swaram)
Ragam Thanam Pallavi – Lalita – Khanda Jathi Thriputa Talam (ambike jagadambike varalalitAmbike, shAmbavi karunAkari shubalalita) with swarams in Bhairavi, Hamsanandi and Bageshri
Telisite Mokshamu – Revati – Annamacharya - Adi Thalam Thisra Gathi
This concert was held as part of the Learnqueset Academy of Music's annual music conference at Regis College, Weston, MA. (near Boston)
The concert started off with a neat varnam in Nayaki, composed by Rudrapatnam Venkataramayya. They continued with the Tamil hamsadhvani piece, followed by Mapala Velasika. After a quick Lavanya Rama, they delved into Kalyani Ragam. I was very happy that they had chosen the Kalyani navavarnam. They chose a very interesting place for the Neraval and Swarams, the madhyama kala lines of the Anupallavi: “kamalA pura sadanAM mRdu gadanAm, kamanIya radanAM kamala vadanAm”
This was followed by RTP in Lalita, a first for me. They did the usual neraval, followed by Trikalam and Thisram. Because of the long sahityam, it was quite a tongue-twister to sing the pallavi in 3rd speed, but they handled it well.
Overall it was a very nice concert, at just over 2 hrs long. I believe this was the first concert of their US tour, so they were in great form. MA Krishnaswamy and Neyveli Skandasubramaniam provided excellent accompaniment, and I enjoyed the touches of Parur style present in the Violin alapana sketches.