Rithvik Raja - NZ Tour April 2016

[MV]

Rithvik Raja - Vocal
Parur MS Ananthakrishnan - Violin
Sumesh Narayanan - Mridangam

Concert 1- Auckland 23/4/16

1) Dakshina Moorthy Shlokam in Sri
2) Endaro Mahanubhavulu
3) Raju Vedala -Thodi- R N @ Sevanugani, KS
4) mAkElarA vicAramu - Ravichandrika - R
5) Hiranmayeem - Lalitha - R N KS @ Sheetha Kirana
6) Sabhapathikku - Abhogi - KS
7) Bhogeendra - Kunthalavarali - ST
8) Mundu venuka- Darbar - R, N, KS @ O Gajarakshaka, O Rajakumara Thani
9) Marivere Dikkevarayya ( PSI) - Shanmukhapriya N @ Sannuthanga KS
10) RTP in Saveri 1-kalai Adhi
;;;Karunichara-Lokaadhaara Thanam and KS in Saveri, Nalinakanthi, Denuka and Bahudari
11) Tirupathi Venkataraman - PD
12) Ramajanardhana
13) Ramachandraya Mangalam

First-off it was lovely to see these young 20-somethings hold centre stage confidently in the 'Emerging Masters' series. The Sri Pancharatnam was a good start to settle unsteady nerves, gauge the audience and just settle down simply. The brief outline of Ravichandrika by Rithvik was sharp and to the point. Rithvik drew an elegant, languorous picture of Lalitha while Anantha on the violin displayed a dancing, playful version. Rithvik drew it back into his own realm with a 2-kalai Hiranmayeem- was it the TMK effect or the SSP, no idea. But it was.... perfect!! In spite of all that was to come, I would rate that the main piece of the evening.

Abhogi-another Roopaka talam, another Pa varjam..... don't know why it was there. I am not saying it wasn't nicely sung. Maybe Rithvik just wanted to sing those 1 avartanam KS that his Guru specialises in. Bhogeendra was a request - sung so many times yet Rithvik found some new Aha moments, a Sanjayesque Charanam... Nice. And then we came to the real Main piece. A few seconds into the alapanai, Rithvik announced Darbar-to both himself and the audience and then, that is what it was. Nice Ragam. A rare Thyagaraja kriti, brilliant neraval @ O Gaja rakshaka. The equilibrium in GGRSR and NNDPD matching it with the lovely lyrics was expertly done. Shanmukhapriya was sprightly. I think Neraval-specially the vilamba kala ones are his forte. Sumesh played a great thani after.

That RTP was cheeky. A simple, filler-like line turned to full power. In KS as he sang the ragamaligas, he returned to 'Manaviyalakim' 'Theliyaleru Rama' and 'Brovabarama'. The RTP line fit all those songs cleanly, no sweat! Very clever. Anantha was on the tape for each one.

Rithvik has drawn deeply from the TMK well, but he is his own musician. He has a sense of humour, this one-which comes through on stage. From Songs 3 to 6, he started his alapanai in 'Ma' and the 3 looked at each other with smiles, with anticipation just as the audience did. Or when he sang a decent thanam for Darbar and went on to a kriti with a grin. And when you thought too far in for an RTP, out it came. A brisk Marivere and some neraval - Sumesh asked 'Really?' and 'Rithvik said 'Just a few'-all in the blink of an eye. Yes, this lad has come of age!

Anantha on the violin was awesome as was Sumesh. What I liked about all 3 was they were willing to take risks. It was as Eric Clapton would call it 'Unplugged'

[arasi]

MV,
Global, we truly are, at Rasikas.org. Reviews do come in from kiwiland as well, thanks to you. Only wish you had more concerts in your part of the world...

Super review from you, painting a picture of the proceedings, taking us into the concert hall

It's good to hear about the progress of young artistes, without doubt...

[rajeshnat]

Rithvik Raja - Vocal
Parur MS Ananthakrishnan - Violin
Sumesh Narayanan - Mridangam

Concert 1- Auckland 23/4/16
.....
10) RTP in Saveri 1-kalai Adhi
;;;Karunichara-Lokaadhaara Thanam and KS in Saveri, Nalinakanthi, Denuka and Bahudari
...
....
That RTP was cheeky. A simple, filler-like line turned to full power. In KS as he sang the ragamaligas, he returned to 'Manaviyalakim' 'Theliyaleru Rama' and 'Brovabarama'. The RTP line fit all those songs cleanly, no sweat!
....

Auckland can be christened as Authentic Karnatic Land and may be I am comparing with the sanjose and NJ/NY. Looks you gave atleast 3 AND 1/2 hours for this concert .How long was the concert without the speech if any???

Are you saying they sang the respective swaras in nalinakanthi , dhenuka and bahudari and ended with the phrase of 'Manaviyalakim' 'Theliyaleru Rama' and 'Brovabarama' or is it poetic license of malathy from Authentic Karnatic Land.

Kudos to the next gen team of TMK-MAS-TB in really give so many weighty numbers.

[MV]

Rajesh... Yes definitely 3.5 hours ex-speeches. He would sing Nalinakanthi swaras and sing the "karuninchara" in tune to Manaviyalakim etc No poetic licence from me... it was already taken

[rshankar]

MV - thank you for making this review uniquely your own, just like the artists seem to have done on stage!!

[MV]

Concert 2 Hamilton

1) Sadinchane Arabhi Pancharatnam
2) TheratheeyakaRaa Gowlipantu R KS
3) Brochevareva Khamas R KS
4) Varamulosagi Kiravani Roopakam R Thanam N @ Parama DayAkara KS, Thani
5) Ninnu sEvincina Yadukula Kamboji R Thanam
6) Krishna Kalayam Sakhi Mukhari KS
7) RTP Begada Misra Chapu
;;;Tirupathi VenkataramaNA Sankata HaraNA KS in Varali, Anandabhairavi, Sahana
Thani
8) Muddugare
9) Jagadodharana
10) Pavamana

Another 3.5 hour + concert. Another winner. A rasika from Auckland txt me and asked 'Is there anything left for Hamilton' after the Auckland marathon (4 hours 10 mins minus speeches) Well, he was there to hear the answer in 3 hours 45. The list speaks for itself so I will just write about a poignant moment in the proceedings. After much debate, the Trustees decided that the deities screen will only be opened at the proper time of 6pm. But Rithvik had other plans. A lovely ragam and the Thyagaraja kriti appealed to the Board who all unanimously agreed that it should be opened immediately!

3 Thanams and a few neravals later, there was no time for maybe a couple of Tamil songs and say another Annamaya/Purandara Dasar. But that Jagadodharana will do me nicely. Thank you!

[Lakshman]

#4 should read varamulosagi brOcuTa.

[rajeshnat]

Varumulosagi in keeravani is perhaps resurrected after a very long time - i just love this keeravani from the first time i listened to a vintage ramnad krishnan. 3 taanams has been attempted by very few musicians in the past. Roughly 60 to 100 years before,lot of musicians were providing flask support in their power of youth and losing steam of their vocal chord providing more steam to their gurus. All that is gone now youngsters indeed give a lot of content in concerts. I just googled to find where Hamilton is in NZ as I know very little of kiwi geography. I also found there is one more concert further south in willingdon for this team . Looks Rithvik is going on a CM tour from Auckland to Hamilton to Willingdon like sanJose to LosAngeles to SanDiego tour in US. Thanks MV for your review

We all rasikas can go and settle in the Lord of the rings land for really intense music. Keep it going with the same intensity Rithvik Raja

[MV]

Lakshman... I have corrected the words. And I actually know the song myself! Rajesh... I have heard TMK sing this in the past decade. Rithvik's thanam for ParamadayAkara was super or maybe it was just the ambience of the temple. I heard the Wellington concert was another 4 hours with RTP in Sahana. I couldn't go but will post a list as soon as I get one. I must tell the Hamilton Mayor that we are being Googled now

[maruthidasan]

very nice to see reviews of Rithvik Raja NZ tour April 2016 and we wish him and his team our best wishes.proud to be of TMK disciple.
V.Srinivasan Sec Peambur sangeetha sabha.

[MV]

Concert 3 - Wellington

1) Dakshinamurthy Shlokam
2)Valaci Vacci - Ragamalika varnam
3) Deva Deva Kalayami - Mayamalavagoula-Roopakam - ST (R,N,KS)
4) I Vasudha-Sahana-Adi - T (Ragam, Thanam)
5) Vinatasuta Vahana - Jayantasena - Adit - T (R, KS)
6) Ka Va Va - Varali - Adi-PS (R, KS @ Pazhanimalai, Thani)
7) SarasasAmadAna - Kapinarayani-Adi-T (R,N,KS)
8) RTP Bhairavi - Roopakam
Enakkavar Sondamadi-Govindanadi Mukundanadi) KS in Anandabhairavi & Salagabhairavi, Thani
9) Madhava Mamava - Nilambari - Adi
10) Poonkuyil Koovum - Kapi - Adi - Kali Krishnamurthy
11) Manasa Sancharare - Sama - Adi
12) Ramjanardhana
13) Thillana Purvi
14) Mangalam in Kurinji

[rshankar]

MV - thank you!! Nice selection of songs...

Arasi - your 'favorite' 'aDi'kkara pallavi!

What was the mangaLam in kurinji?

[mohan]

What was the mangaLam in kurinji?

I'd guess it is BhadrAcala RAmdAs's 'rAmacandrAya janaka'

[arasi]

Ravi,
Depends on how the pallavi line is delivered

aDi, mella avaraip pADach chollaDi!
aDi aDiyenRu silar mirudangamadai
aDippadu pOl oliyA isaiyAnAl, aduvum
aDa, mruduvAi seviyil vizumEyaDi

[rshankar]

Arasi -

[MV]

Mohan-Thanks... I think it was the B Ramdas Mangalam. Arasi-:D
I have heard TMK sing this Pallavi v.v. well and 2 days ago heard a sublime rendering by KVN

[rasikasnz]

Thanks Malathi for the song list of all the three major concerts. I wish to add that the team performed a "warm up" private RTP concert prior to the main concerts which was the shortest concert on this tour - just 2.5 hours.

Here are some pictures from the RTP concert for those who might be keen to view them!

https://www.facebook.com/Rasikas-NZ-331972036819168/

I am currently reviewing the Auckland concert pictures and these will be uploaded very soon. Shall post link here.

[MV]

Thanks Malathi for the song list of all the three major concerts.

Thus far, I have just covered the tour from a musical perspective alone. But organiser details are:
Concert 1 Auckland by RasikasNZ & Sangeetha Bharati
Concert 2 Hamilton by Sri Balaji Temple Trust (Hamilton) (http://www.sribalaji.co.nz) fb: Hamilton Balaji
Concert 3 Wellington by NZ Indian Fine Arts Society (http://nzifs.blogspot.co.nz)

In Hamilton, this tour is the 4th in the Naada Neeajana NZ Series (3 concerts with NZCMS) This 2016 tour is the 2nd one in the temple itself since our Maha Kumbabhishekam on March 9, 2015. On behalf of SBTT Hamilton I would like to thank all artistes and fellow-organisers in bringing CM to our shores

[emkay007]

Cool reviews, Malathi..
It has been great listening to this team in Auckland and Hamilton. Three concerts, thegattave illai.
Rithvik rewrote the book on thanams here.
They were very generous, singing more than the usual quota. Absolutely awesome treat for us in Auckland and Hamilton.
Hoping to catch Rithvik and team soon in the SydenyMusicFestival one day.