Smt Ranjani and Gayatri NGS 26Jul 16-Aradhana - A Spiritual Journey

[bhaskaran19]

Aradhana - A Spiritual Journey with
Smt Ranjani and Gayatri.
Violin by Charumathi Raghuraman
Mridangam by Manoj Siva
Khanjira by Anirudh Athreya
Tambura Krithika Natarajan & Vani Ramamurthi
Mind blowing concert by Smt Ranjani and Gayatri at NGS – No wonder they are continue to be numero uno in carnatic music . The main hall with its capacity 1000 plus fully occupied even before the start of the concert.
The duos, who have aesthetic dress sense and care for details, began the pleasant evening with paahimam sri janaranjani. Followed by beautiful phalamanjari (Tyaagaraaja) and Kalyani( Gopalakrishna Bharati)
The main piece
Gayatri’s alapana in aabhEri was grand and was exquisite in delineating the raga. Her voice was rich. And her monodrama was of high quality for its content and delivery. Her raga expression was outstanding on this evening. A formidable twosome showcase the best of both voices.
They concluded the concert with an Abhang Maaja ha vittala- the best way to reach God.
Charumathi’s brilliant violin accompaniment was like a pleasant journey through a picturesque landscape either in the raga essays or swaras. It was a great listening pleasure. Manjo Siva (mridangam) and Anirudh Athreya (Ganjira) embellished the compositions and swaras with right touches of exuberance and subtlety.
As the concert concluded the 1000 and odd rasikas assembled there left the auditorium with full feast after five long months wait.
The List
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1) paahimam sri janaranjani Mahaa Vaidyanaatha Aiyyar
2)sanaathana phalamanjari Tyaagaraaja
3) Kanden kali tirnden Kalyani Gopalakrishna Bharati
4) nannu brOvu lalitA lalita Shyama Shastri
5) sarasa saamadhaana kaapi naaraayaNi Tyaagaraaja
6) bajarE rE maanasaa aabhEri Mysore VaasudEvaacaarya
7) theruvatheppo Nenje, Khamas Neelakanta Sivan
8) Raghuvar Tumko Meri Tulsidas Bhajan
9) Maaja ha vittala - Abhang (Janabhai)

[sureshvv]

Ranjani, once quite contented to let the other sister "steal the show", seems to be stepping up more often and taking charge now (even in the singing dept.). Not that Gayathri's singing is any less powerful or awesome than it always was.