Concert by Vidushi Neela Ramgopal on the 9th of May

[sappri]

Concert was part of the "thematic series on Saint Thyagaraja" - Vidushi Neela Ramgopal's theme was "Navavidha Bhakthi" in Thyagaraja kritis

Vocal: Vidushi Neela Ramgopal, Violin - Prema Vivek, Mridangam - Arjun Kumar
(Venue: Rama Lalitha Kala Mandira, Bangalore)

Songlist:

Sri Ganapathini - Sourashtram
Gaula Pancharatnam (Dudukugala - replete with explanations)
Rama katha sudha rasa - Madhyamavathi - Sketch, S (Shravanam form of Bhakti)
Inthasoukhyamani - kapi - N - (Keerthanam form of Bhakti)
Sripathe - Nagaswarali - A, S (Chintanam form of Bhakti)
Sandegamu - Ramapriya - A (very detailed), S (Padasevanam form of Bhakti)
Thani
Vandanamu - Sahana (Vandanam form of Bhakti)
Rara Seetha - Hindolavasantam - S (Archanam form of Bhakti)
Thavadhasoham - Punnagavarali (Dasyam form of Bhakti)
Seethamma Mayamma - Vasantham
Nannu Vidachi - Ritigowla (Atmanivedanam form of Bhakti)
Mangalam


An amazing concert - whether one was a student or a rasika or a "bhakta" it was extremely fulfilling. Neela-mami - as she is fondly called - captured the audience's heart with her energetic performance.
If the Sriganapathini, Sourashtram set the pace for the concert, the kapi piece, particularly the brief neraval really captivated the audience. Nagaswarali - the alapanai was indeed moving, followed by the powerful rendition of Sripathe - Neela mami's kalpana swara pattern-formation was indeed praiseworthy.One must mention Arjun Kumar's percussion support - for each sangathi he played with apt precision.
Then was the piece de resistance - Ramapriya - detailed alapanai - was really a lesson for the young students - who had come in large numbers - very satisfying indeed. Following it was the not so often sung kriti - Sandegamu.
The thani was energetic and well appreciated by the audience.

Of the post-thani pieces, the swaras in the rara-seetha (again a rare kriti) came as a pleasant surprise, and for die-hard DKP fans, Thavadhasoham was indeed heartwarming!

Prema Vivek, the young software engineer provided adequate support.

Overall a great concert!

Vidushi Neela Ramgopal – is like what the poet said “Age does not wither her, nor custom stale her infinite varietyâ€

[rshankar]

Thanks for that nice review!

[arasi]

Thank you, sappri.
A concert I wish I had attended.
With all her experience and mastery, as I heard someone say recently, she has the enthusiasm and energy of a very young person who is all agog about her newly discovered treasures of CM!
I am still savoring her Music Academy concert last season.