How to conduct a concert: I saw some best practices yesterday.
Nadasurabhi, well known for the free concerts in and around Koramangala over the years, are celebrating their annual festival (free concerts) again.
Yesterday was Ramakrishnan Murthy with HN Bhaskar, HS Sudhindra and Giridhar Udupa.
Braving unseasonal Chennai cyclone-inspired heavy day-long rain, armed with big umbrellas, my 86-year old rasika neighbour and self arrived at the venue 30 Min before 6 PM. Signs placed at several places led us to the Nursing School auditorium, built to last long and give many enlightening experiences to students and general public.
All the organising committee members were in full strength, welcoming us with smiles.
The stage was extremely tastefully set up, with a large sitting area for artistes on a red carpet, with real flowers adorning the Saviour on the Cross as well as several parts of the stage( including the banner stands on either side which discreetly listed the sponsors from Karnataka government to Tally software.)
The mike wires were hidden away and the mike man was stationed just in front of the stage on the side. The speakers were not a dirty eyesore with muddy looks.
The hall has excellent acoustics and ambience. The plastic chairs are of janata quality but decent in appearance. Each row holds nearly 25 people.
Well located and clean toilets on the wings are helpful to those who need a recess.
The Sabha staff stationed themselves and stayed on till the end. The flower bouquets were handed upfront and a minimalist speech was made introducing the artistes.
The crowd of around 150 despite very "dampening" weather spoke of the artistes' attraction and the sabha's reputation.
There was the arati plate, also done quietly. There was a request for donation, done respectfully. There was a membership drive done in a dignified way. All done with no clamour or tamasha.
The mike man tweaked the volumes within reasonable limits quickly. No interventions were later necessary. The stage lighting was good and the audience were also clearly seen by the musicians.
I congratulate Nadasurabhi for getting so many things right.
(Next time, please place flower bouquets after unwrapping the plastic).
For a Sabha of this high standard, I will gladly pay for tickets.
Photo courtesy: Braindrain
The brilliant concert of RKM, from Dakshinamurthe to Venkatachalanilayam, from Shankarabharanam to Saranga to Kharaharapriya to Begada to Varali, from Sogasu juda to Kandu dhanyanade, deserves a long report befitting the 3 hours of musical bliss that we experienced, and the audience thoroughly acknowledged it, by repeated applause.
Perhaps emulating Abhishek, RKM sang some brilliant ragamalika swaras after the Varali RTP. Athana, Bahu dari, Behag, Kapi, Suruti swaras sung in slow speed forward and backward order, and then second speed in forward and backward order.
Sudhindra was a tad jarring a few times, but thoroughly relished accompanying the artiste. The Tani with Udupa after KHP was done very well and he played for the pallavi and swaras extremely well. He also anticipated and accompanied the niraval portions adroitly. Bhaskar was particularly good in Tanam and Saranga alapana as well as Sindhubhairavi.
And today is Abhishek with more Varsha!
Naada Surabhi event management team also did not intervene 
. Testing and balancing before a concert begins is a must. It was not done. This aspect has to be followed religiously.