Ramakrishna Murthy for RAAGA Hamilton, NZ 14/8/15

[MV]

Ramakrishna Murthy - Vocal
M Rajeev - Violin
NC Bharadwaj - Mridangam

1) Vande Vasudevam(Annamaya) - Sri started with Viruttam Sadguru
2) Shanka Chakra(MD) - Poornachandrika, N & KS @ Bhaje Poornachandrika
3) Ninnuvina Marigalada(SS)- Reetigowla - R, N @ Syama Krishnanuthe, KS @ Pallavi
4) Venkatashaila Vihara(Subbaraya Shastri) - Hamirkalyani R
5) Emani Pokatudura (Thyagaraja) - Veeravasantham
6) Manasu Swadhina (Thyagaraja) - Shankarabaranam - R, N @ Raja Rajesha, KS and Thani
7) Sevikka Vendum Ayya(Muthu Thandavar) - Andolika
8) RTP Khamas (RKSK) in Khanda Triputha
Varada Vara Venkatavasa Vishwatmakhama Sahita
Thanam in Devagandhari, Kharaharapriya and Kannad, KS in Ghana Panchaka Ragas rounded off with Behag and Sindhu Bhairavi
9) Parukulle Nalla (Subramanya Bharati) - Jonpuri
10) Vande Matharam
11) Ramachandraya Janaka Mangalam

[MV]

RKM has come a long way from the brief Poorvi Kalyani that I heard from him in MMU a few years back. This was the concert of a veteran. I also admire his conviction in the list that he offered up yesterday to a mixed audience with varying degrees of carnatic music appreciation. There was no watering down of anything classical yet he touched everyone with his presentation.

The team had no time to visit the newly resident Lord Balaji in Hamilton. But surely He came to hear His praises sung so appealingly in so many ragas. The brisk start in Sri and Poornachandrika were pristine. The sahityam shone in Dikshitar's Shanka Chakra while the KS sparkled. While Reetigwola oozed with charm and melody, Shankarabaranam was classic and profound. The chowka kala neraval for both were superb and the sharp finish for the madhyama KS in both ragas with equal repartee from the violin was a treat indeed. When he asked if he could sing an RTP, some of us Hamiltonians could not believe our luck and we were treated to a fine essay of Khamas and all the ragamalika 'malais' Specially, the ragamalika KS anchored at Ma Sahita offered huge scope for him to play with the 'Ma' in each raga. And he milked it all. Rajeev was not to be left behind either.

As these 3 traditional ragas were vying for top spot of 'Pick of the evening' it was the Hamirkalyani, both in composition and presentation that snuck away with the Gold Medal. I kept thinking of a piece of paper, crumpled up and opened again to reveal multitude of folds-each one different. There were so many shades of Hamir Kalyani filtered down and savoured/to be savoured for a long time to come. That was masterly.

I was thinking maybe the volume for violin needed to be higher, seemed a bit softer than usual. But Rajeev matched note for note and enjoyed himself hugely, just as we enjoyed his bowing! I have heard NCB before but he stood out in yesterdays concert. The thani was superb. Great team work and enjoyable concert. All 3 would have been wasted in the IT world, we must make it worth while for them to pursue what they do best-Carnatic Music

[arasi]

MV,
What an enjoyable review of what seems to have been a very good concert

Reviews from all around the world from rasikAs/some singers (like you) are keenly looked forward to. They cheer us up.

venkata saila vihAra alone would have made me happy, and there was more, in a very good list of songs.

Hope I soon get to hear a live concert of this young man from our shores...

[MV]

MV,
Hope I soon get to hear a live concert of this young man from our shores...

Arasi, you should. RKM and team are having a great tour of Down South!

[HarishankarK]

Thanks for the review. This song list is much better than the one he sang here in Sydney.
How long was this concert? Did he do trikaalam in the RTP?

[MV]

Harishankark Thanks! No Trikalam for RTP. He also sang Andrivvulagam Andal Thiruppavai which I seemed to have missed in the list. The concert was about 3 hours

[manisubramaniyan]

Arasi,
RKM is touring with Sankritilaya this fall (October and november). He will be accompanied by Vidwans RKSK and Arun Prakash. I will be posting the tour schedule soon.

[arasi]

Thanks, Manisubramaniyan!
Yes, if he happens to come anywhere nearby. If not, will hear him in India.