Kalki on a concert

[kvchellappa]

Kalki reviews a concert:
I have noted that RR Sabha, Mylapore, is a good venue to meet old friends. I had the good fortune of meeting friends whom I missed for 6 months. I refer to Thodi, Bhairavi, Sankarabharanam, Kambodhi, Kharaharapriya and the like.
We see this wonder in the south Indian music. There is a distinct form to each raga. A beautiful form, a wonderful appearance. As we get used to listening to them, we become friends with them. If we listen to a raga after a gap, we feel overjoyed as though we have seen a long lost friend.
It is not quite essential that the voice must be in tiptop condition to sing Carnatic ragas. If the distinctive form of the ragas is maintained, it will do; even a singer with a coarse voice can animate us.
It is due to the above peculiairy of Carnatic music that it was possible to listen to Ariyakkudi’s music last Sunday in RR Sabha till the end. I have heard several times the same Ariyakkudi sing like the new flood of Kaveri in the month of Adi. Today also, untl Tanayuni brova in Bhairavi, it was like that. After that, his throat became jammed solidly. What if? Did the concert stop? He did sing for two hours after that. When he sang Sankarabharanam as never before, who noticed the frozen throat? When meeting a friend from whom we are separated for long, would we be minding that his hair is not done up well?

[shankarank]

In Hindustani music - I was recently told by one North Indian gentlemen - bEsur ( dissonance) is pardonable, but bE-tAl ( not the ghost) is not permitted.

So if ARI had voice issues - we can do the necessary reconstruction in our minds - but the other part of maintaining rhythm - there is no such thing possible.

Probably that ought to be part of the the minimum "STANDARD" that kalki called for.

[RSR]

Kalki was , perehaps, indirectly saying, that AR should have stopped the concert, when his voice failed him.. He is well-known for such hidden punches. The very concept of a concert is a little outdated. Recording can be made in studio environment and music alone ( without the visuals) can be shared in social media. ..Many great people are uoloading old classics with just a neat photo of the artisrt, no slides, no animation. (saregama is following the lead)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvAkAA9wPCs

Less kutcheris, less chatter.