OST @ Narada Gana Sabha For Charsur :: 24/10/13

[semmu86]

OST- Vocal
Nagai Muralidharan- Violin
V.V. Ramanamurthy- Mrudangam
Trichy Krishnaswamy- Ghatam

1. Entara- Hari khAmbhOji- Raga sketch N,S @ seshudu
2. karuNa ElAgaNTE- varALi- Raga Sketch, S
3. Rama raghukula jalanidhi- kapi- rupakam- R, S
4. Isa pahimam- kalyani- rupakam, S
5. Sanathana paramapaavana- phalamanjari- Adi
6. Ninne nammi- thodi- m.chapu- R,N, S@ kamakshi, T
(Had to leave after this)

After KVN, I always felt that it is OST, who is bestowed such an impeccable stage presence, with absolutely none of the unwanted fuss or anAvasyams in his music. Nothing much has changed over the years. Just solid, rich classical fare and he didnt disappoint today either.

Brilliant concert, with his lovely shruthi- aligned voice intact. Hope his voice remains so throughout the season.

The volume for the accompanists was certainly on the higher side though, for the concert was held in the mini hall of the NGS.

Nagai Muralidharan (If not for the repeated demands of increasing volume) is one of my favorites and is right up there amongst the best. I feel he is one of the most underrated violinists and he was ever so brilliant today. Followed OST like a shadow & yet stamped his presence in an ever so subtle way all through the concert. An hallmark of a great accompanist. Just too good.

I have heard V.V. Ramanamurthy some years ago at the MA and was completely floored. Such a fantastic vidhwAn with a beautiful nAdham in the kucchi vAdhyam that he plays with. He played outstandingly well (Though on the aggressive side a bit) today too, both the thani and the accompaniment being top class. Really unfortunate that we dont get to hear him often at Chennai. Trichy Krishnaswamy did a good job too, slightly reticent for major part of the concert, he played well..

[arasi]

Semmu,
Good to get a review from you after a long time!

hari kAmbOdhi opener. Can't have enough of the rAgA, and not many include it in their concerts.

Nagai is Nagai (though his nephew is proving that he's from that stock). I haven't heard any concert in which Nagai Muralidharan's playing has not enhanced the singing.

Hope you are going to write more reviews this season. See you during the season!

[mahavishnu]

Good to see your review of OST, Semmu. I look forward to hearing with Trichy Sankaran at the academy this season!
I completely agree with your take on VV Ramanamurthy. I have also been extremely impressed by VVR in the past. His vadhyam has such a salubrious ringing tone to it.

And as Arasi says, Nagai always delivers a topnotch performance.

[semmu86]

Look forward to see you both as well.

hearing with Trichy Sankaran at the academy this season!

Should be a cracker. OST-NM-TS-V.Suresh has become a standard set now for the last few years and each one of them has been riveting.

[pperumal]

Since I am now visiting India for the next few months - managed to catch this concert.
Sorry but didn't click for me.
OST seemed to go on and on singing the alapanai - didnt touch a chord in me