REPORT OF MICHIGAN FESTIVAL OF SACRED MUSIC

[RKrishnamurthy]

The Michigan Festival of Sacred Music featured Chatusra, designed and directed by Rohan. I am just providing a report since I am not musically qualified to critique it. The event was a highlight of the festival and was very well attended admitting that parallel programs were going on. The acoustics was, as is usual in many venues in this country without a blemish. The lighting was strictly not for a dance performance, but its somber nature was perhaps fitting with the “festival of sacred music”. The presence of Indian audience was conspicuous by its meager attendance. Anyway the organizers never targeted the Indians. All the four artists, dancer Malini, flautist Raman, tablachi Samir and mridangist Rohan excelled in their pieces individually and collectively. The program was designed to last for a duration that would excite the audience and not test their patience ( 3 hour concert, 4 hour concert etc). The five pieces designed were:
1. Mallari (Dancer included at the right spot)
2. Trio on Flute, Tabla, and Mridangam.
3. Sloka on Navarasa (focus on dancer and flute with special effects provided by the percussionists on a small scale)
4. Rhythmic solo (all the artists)
5. Surdas Bhajan (all the artists with the dancer expected totake the center stage)

Rohan had designed an intricate solo ,trading with the tabla, and where the dancer would join at the end and trade with both of them using her steps. Sameer was more than up to the task and no wonder when I learned that being such a senior artist he has accompanied MSG in many concerts and knew a thing or two about Carnatic solos! Malini too set the stage on fire with her majestic responses to the strokes of the mridangam and the tabla and at the end there was resounding ovation lasting several minutes. The Executive Director of the event told Rohan at the end” Rohan be ready with a piece for our next festival. I know you can come with innovative ideas”.
The most humbling feedback came from a few from the audience who said” last month we attended a music drama arranged by the Indian Embassy at the Lincoln Center and compared to that this program stands heads and shoulders above. We need to find ways to arrange a global tour of this program”.
The program was professionally recorded, both audio and video. I am not sure how they will use it and if anything will be available for sharing free of cost.

Personal note to arasi, ” Arasi, your special niece shook up Kalamazoo and you can be proud of her. We as a family also had an excellent time with her. If you talk to her you can ask if Rohan’s family treated her well!”

Prof Rama Krishnamurthy

[arasi]

Prof Rama Krishnamurthy,
Great to hear that all the artistes gave a noteworthy performance.
Not surprising, knowing that they are very good at what they do!

Rohan has made it happen. May he continue to present such programs.

Malini, petite as she is, has a 'majestic' stage presence, as you say. Her grandmother taught dance in Mumbai, her sweet late mother in the US, and how her daughters, born and brought up in this country absorbed dancing! Malini was determined to master the art and went to India for training, upon her mother's untimely death.

Makes us proud that Rohan and company 'did better' than what a few experienced at The Lincoln Center. Power to them all