Conspicuous by absence

[Sivaramakrishnan]

I miss Chitraveena N Ravikiran for his supreme music this 'Chennai season'!

He is conspicuous by absence - whatever be the circumstances leading to it.

[rajeshnat]

In the last 7 to 10 years I even took half a day off from work to hear two lovely musicians from kerala
1. V R Dileep Kumar
2. Dr Sreevalsan Menon
These musicians suddenly may get some slot , if there is ,let some one please post in advance.

Also in the last year and half ,I am particularly impressed with vidushi Visalakshi Nithyanand and only heard few internet based recordings . I checked the event urls ,she just had one that is already gone a noon on a working day@ meenakshi college .Visalakshi is based out of chennai she is very original in her approach. If she has some slot in the next 15 days , let some one post in advance .

Just seeing The Hindu in the morning is sometimes bit late to plan things.

[Nick H]

It's not a good year for RV-School concerts.

[VK RAMAN]

What Happened to Ravikiran?

[sureshvv]

How about Amrutha Venkatesh? Any concert yet? Did she sing @ Partha on saturday?

[Nick H]

I saw her name. Thought you would be there, but you were talking about being somewhere else.

[rupavathi]

What Happened to Ravikiran?

He got MeToo'd...

[Nick H]

Neela Ramgopal.

Knowing that she has struggled with health for a long time, I was concerned about her.

I heard today that it is her husband's health that is keeping her at home this season. Not good news, but at least she is ok.

[sureshvv]

N.J.Nandini

Expected her to be at the top of the order for the 1.30 slot.

[rajeshnat]

Vocalists who are in high quality without push from core patrons and without artist groupings will get sidelined . I agree NJ Nandini is one great star, I did not spot even one concert where N J Nandini has performed this season.

However if you are a quality accompanist ,system will welcome you a lot as every main artist wants to keep that high quality. I was thinking there is one great mrudangam artist T R Sundaresan (student of Yella), has he performed anywhere this season . I do know that he moved from singapore to chennai ,but i have not spotted him. He conducts a small low key festival in TNR Hall.

[kamalamba]

I agree with Rajeshnat. Sri TR Sundaresan is an exceptional mridangam artiste. Her performed last year in SKB memorial concert accompanying Sri. Poorna Pragna Rao.

[sridhar]

Nandini is expecting (from a reliable source) - hence the absence this season

[sureshvv]

Makes sense. Thanks for the info. Looking forward to next season.

[advaitin]

Did not see any reviews of Padma sugavanam this season

[sureshvv]

Not singing for the same reason as N.J.Nandini

[rajeshnat]

Add Trichy Pradeep Kumar - Usually Arkay Ramakrishnan gives one slot in Arkays . Pradeep Kumar is only expecting concert slots.

[sureshvv]

Where is k.v.chellappa? Have not heard from him for a while.

[arasi]

Sureshvv,
I am happy to say I met him a couple of times briefly a few days ago. At Sriranjani's and MAlladi Brothers' concerts here at the SRLKM Sankaranthi series of concerts in Bengaluru.

[Nick H]

I didn't see MV this season.

[arasi]

Nick,
I was there briefly, and that's why we couldn't meet. I don't think MV even made it to India this December.

[MV]

Hello Nick & Arasi

I did make it to India but was tied up. Will mail you soon. I looked longingly at a few concerts/lecdems like Ramana B @ Arkay and Sumithra's MA lecdem. I did make it to Sanjay's Thamizhum and heard JA Jayanth somewhere-I enjoyed his flute in Sydney. Also heard a riveting lecture by Sriram on Dikshitar. And that sums up my Dec 2018. Also just read Vishnu Vasudev's whinge on MA-so agree with the empty seats etc. Anyway, I will have to find my ambrosia Down Under in 2019. Happy New Year all

[Nick H]

Thank you MV. Missed you!!