USA took advantage of my versatility as well as knowledge & ability of many genres like Carnatic, Hindusthani, light historic nostalgic favorites. Though I have performed in over 6000 concerts, it also provides the opportunity to perform Violin solos sadly lacking in Madras aka Chennai now a days.
Spring 2015 USA tour was a phenomenal Tribute to trendsetter and legendary Guru and my beloved father Shri MSGopalakrishnan at Cleveland and a score of top most cities of US.
Many many Sincere billions of thanks to Cleveland Shri Sundaram and Gomathi Akka. Sadhana ,the book on MSG Guruji was released by Shri VVSundaram and DrVKVishwanathan organized this colorful event in lilting splendour.DrVKV wrote a beatiful foreword for Sadhana,the splendid book title suggested by Shri VVSundaram.
Sadhana,the book authored by me (copies available with me) carries many rare pictures of MSG Guruji and a "Collectors Choice" as well.I acknowledge my daughter Jai's help who designed the artistic opening front cover in spite of her busy schedules. I have incorporated the regular traditional notation of MSG style rendered Nalinakanthi and Kumudakriya kritis.
The entire cute short and crisp event was spectacular with the presence of versatile acclaimed Mridangist Trichy Sri Sankaran who received the first copy of the book along with Shri Roger Natarajan .
Dr VKV in his scintillating speech on MSG recalled his association with Parur Sundaram Iyer and made a beautiful reference to Abdul Karim Khan,Yehudi Menuhin & Madurai Mani Iyer praise MSG and how MSG established the one string and long continuous bow in astounding levels coaxing every note for melodic excellence and he was unique in his own way.
Shri VVSundaram's very impressive speech moved the hearts of many audience when he mentioned several of his personal encounter with MSG.
Vidwan popular vocalist Neyveli Santanagopalan mentioned in his crisp speech about the wonderful Svara Shuddham by Shri MSG.
I presented the historic Nalinakanthi which is the typical MSG stamp composition and could virtually see that many of the audience were moved to tears.
The entire auditorium resonated with the huge clapping of all the 2000 audience after I presented Manavi Ala in both Hindustani and CARNATIC style.
I mentioned that Guruji became the violin himself.
Besides ,DrVKV arranged awesome close to 20 "Homage to MSG celebrations" at Cleveland, North Carolina Raleigh,Greensboro,Miami Florida, Georgia,Pittsburgh,Boston,San Diego,Cornell,Denver Colorado,Los Angeles,Washington and San Jose .
I acknowledge with extreme gratitude the awesome guidance of DrVKV in the presentation of my Lecture Demonstrations and MSG Guruji Homage.
Dr.VKV's immeasurable energy time and huge guidance and advice to me can be described like "beyond infinity" through which I benefited myself immensely.
I equally enjoyed lovely guidance from Selvi Athai.
It was an extraordinary team work with Arjun Narasimhan on the Mridangam and Ramesh Srinivasan on the Mridangam at the various venues of the MSG Guruji Homage celebrations.
Evergreen is the artist and immortal is the music.
This was the message of the wonderful US audience to me.
My CD "Sudha Madhurya " on MSG legacy was specially released in Cleveland by Charsur carrying my exclusive huge posters.
At Los Angeles MeHfil with DrVinod on the mridangam and Houston fundraiser event with Aishu Venkataraman it was absolutely awesome working with Aishu and DrVinod.
Presenting the different concert ranging from hits of Mohd Rafi to TMS ,SPB,Lata Mangeshkar and Jesudas ,and popular UP and Rajasthan melodies with Pandit Habib Khanji was one more great exposure to my handling of Cinema and popular melodies of India in Mehfil E Shaam with Ramesh Srinivasan was a scintillating experience to a totally new audience of Gujarati, malayalee
And Telugu and American audience.
Meeting Vicky and Mike was yet another memorable part of this trip.
Collage Pic:
Thanks a ton to the entire Universe.
Musical Regards
Dr.M.Narmadha