Rithvik Raja @ Sarvani 4 Hour Concert on 23/02/2014

[rasikashironmani]

Rithvik Raja (Vocal)
Nagai Sriram (Violin)
J Vaidhyanathan (Mridangam)
Anirudh Athreya (Ganjeera)
Chandrashekara Sharma (Ghatam)

Introduction
1. Chalamela - Nataikurinji - Adi - ?
2. Rajuvedala - Thodi - Rupakam - Thyagaraja (rs)
3. Endaro Mahanubhavulu - Shri - Adi - Thyagaraja (r)
4. Nijamarmu - Umabharanam - Adi - Thyagaraja (raga sketch, s)
5. Thyagaraja Palayasumam - Gowla - Adi - Muthuswami Dikshitar (rn)
6. Marivere - Shanmugapriya - Adi - Patnam Subramaniya Iyer (s)
7. Amba Kamakshi - Yadukulakamboji - Mishra Chapu - Shyama Sastri (rt)
8. Intha Sowkhya - Kapi - Adi - Thyagaraja
9. Bhogeendra Shayinam - Kunthalavarali - Khanda Chapu - Swathi Thirunal
10. RTP - Poorvikalyani - Khanda Triputa
Kanakidaikumo Sabeshan Darisanam Kandal Kali Theerume
(Ragamalika Swarams: Anandabhairavi, Hindolam, Dhanyasi, Darbarikanada, Surutti, Brindavanasaranga)
11. Appan Avadaritha - Karaharapriya - Adi - ?
12. Shlokam (Shanthakaram Bhujagashayanam) in Kedaragowla and Sahana
13. Sapashyath Kausalya - Jonpuri - Adi - ?
14. Ramachandraya Janaka - Kurunji - Adi (Thisram) - Badrachala Ramdas

On a Sunday where there were other heavy weights like Shri Sanjay and Shri Abhishek performing among other concerts in the city, this 4 hour concert was very well attended with a good chunk of the audience staying for the entire 4 hours. I myself walked in at 4.10 and planned to leave at 6.15 to go to Shri Sanjays concert but I am glad I stayed back. For a youngster to sing for 4 hours without losing energy or vocal strength is admirable. His voice in fact gained more power after 2 and a half hours into the concert and showed great stamina and capacity. His selection of songs was wise and consisted mostly songs of the trinity. There were many high points in the concert. The raga alapana of Shri and Gowla are seldom heard these days and was refreshing to listen to. The comprehensive niraval in 3 speeds in Gowla evoked a thundering applause. The swaram exchanges in Shanmugapriya between Shri Rithvik and Shri Sriram where the violinist finished up with a crescendo after a series of one avarthanam swarams and kuraippu was interesting. The Yadukulakamboji ragam was expansive and the Swarajathi was meditative followed by a sedate yet engaging thani avarthanam. The personal highlight for me was the thanam section in Poorvikalyani around the panchanam and shadjam regions where both the vocalist and the violinist created a tremendous impact with the listeners. After the Pallavi, Shri Rithvik shifted to Anandabhairavi using the PDPS in Poorvikalyani, and Shri Sriram moved to Hindolam from Anandabhairavi and they both went back and forth from there. Shri Rithvik chose rakthi ragams while Shri Sriram focused on lighter ragams. There was then a request for O Rangashayee from an elderly lady in the front row to which the youngster was about to oblige but the mridangam vidwan politely refused the rasikas suggestion and said it would not be appropriate there. He then concluded with a few more pieces. 4 hours passed by like a flash and it was all very pleasing to the ears. One thing that strikes me about him is his complete involvement while singing, his unique voice that seems to suit his style of singing deceptively well and genuine appreciation for the other artists on stage. Shri Sriram was more than a perfect foil to the vocalist and the concert never lost momentum thanks also to the wonderful rhythm team threesome who were very lively.

I am a huge fan of Ramakrishna Murthy in the younger generation and felt he was considerably ahead compared to the others, but Shri Rithvik has caught up to him over the last year and is steadily making a mark. The increase in the audience and senior vidwans accompanying him regularly is testimony to that. Shri Bharat and Shri Sandeep are not far behind but have some catching up to do when it comes to the music aspect of it IMHO. It is very encouraging to see so many good young musicians flourish and take this up as a profession. A thoroughly enjoyable concert and hopefully one of many more to come.

[musiclistener1221]

It's good to hear that Rithvik is improving at his concerts. Although I'm not sure abt "Sandeep needs to catch up with RIthvik" bit! Sandeep is certainly more senior than Rithvik and is immensely talented. Sandeep is performing at the subsenior slot in the music academy while Rithvik has just started performing in the junior slot (in fact Rithvik didn't even win the spirit of youth music festival conducted by the music academy a few years back). Such a comparison about one musician catching up with another is unnecessary - especially in this case.

[kunthalavarali]

chalamEla - nAtaikurinji - Adi - Kuppusvami Ayya
Appan Avadaritha - Kharaharapriya - Adi - PS
sA paSyAt kausalya – jAunpuri – Panchapakesha Shastri

[rajeshnat]

chalamEla - nAtaikurinji - Adi - Kuppusvami Ayya

I used to think mulaiveedu rangaswami nattuvanar is the composer of nattaikurinji varnam. To the best of my knowledge there is no kuppuswami ayyA

Nice to hear that rithvik has performed a 4 hr marathon concert .Looking at the list one can spot an early years of TMK, early being the key.

[rasikashironmani]

Such a comparison about one musician catching up with another is unnecessary - especially in this case.

I am sorry if I have hurt your sentiments but it is just my personal opinion that musically Shri Ramakrishna Murthy and Shri Rithvik are far ahead of Shri Sandeep. He has a lot of potential but I find his music to be more sound than content and it is just my own preference. Also I dont think slotting of the Music Academy should have anything to do with who really is good or bad. After all, Shri Sandeep is much much older than Shri Ramakrishna Murthy, Shri Rithvik Raja and Shri Bharat Sundar

[sreebeecane]

Review of the same concert by Prof. TT Narendran in Sruti Magazine: http://srutimag.blogspot.com/2014/03/th ... ncert.html

[HarishankarK]

i don't understand - what's the big deal with singing 'O Rangasayee' in the end of the concert? Hope there is no mandate that it should only be sung as Main.