TN Krishanan at Music Academy on Dec 25th, 2009

appu · Post by **appu** » 26 Dec 2009, 14:04

Accompanied by Viji Krishnan, Violin Support
Tiruvarur Bhaktavatsalam Mridangam,
Vaikom Gopalakrishnan, Ghatam

As always I will start out by describing the ambience on stage. Flanked on either side of TNK and Viji were Tiruvarur Bhaktavatsalam (TB) and Vaikom Gopalakrishnan (VG). On one side and behind TB were four of his students (Not sure why?). Sitting behind TNK sir was the Tambura artist and to the left of Viji slightly to the back was a demure looking girl. It is beyond me why five people who have absolutely no role end up being on stage. If it is to keep talam then the purpose is served by just one person or may be two on either side.

The hall was packed solid with almost 90% of the seats full when I got in at 9:25 AM. I do not know how many people were in the balcony. Of course the best part was the concert was free, atleast no one asked me to purchase tickets or check my tickets. When I entered Shri TNK had started on an elaborate Sri Ragam. Entaro Mahanu bavalu was played in all its splendor. The Poorvi Kalyani Ragam was a classic TNK rendition. It must be noted that Viji understood her father and did not stray into no man/womens land. In fact quite a number of times she twarted Shri TNK's attempt to go into a land of no return. Gyanamusagarada in rupakam talam with elaborate neraval and swarams were an absolute treat. The palpayasam ati maduram was Bhairavi ragam as main. TNK transformed the audience to an alternate universe (atlesast I was) and Kamakashi Amba in its most sowkyam manner was delivered.

TB on the mridangam was nadam personified and played with a lot of restraint. His left (Thoppi side) was deep with adequate base and the right with the meetu chapu and the arai chapu blended well with both the violins. This season I have had the opportunity to sit in the center, extreme left and far right of the music academy. I definitely must say for a sabha of this great stature, the mike system does fall short. No place in the auditorium can be considered optimal in seating as one of the upa pakwadyams loose out. This time the Ghatam lost out. At times TNK goaded VG to play harder. TNK even requested that the feed back monitor to be lowered as irt was very loud on stage. The violins in itself were very shrill, not due the style of performance, but more to improper sound management.

Of course, I left the auditorium after Bhairavi as I wanted to retain the beauty and melody of this octogenarians performance. Overall an excellent concert musically speaking and an average concert from a listening stand point of view. I request some one to please fill in the blanks and the remining pieces.

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 26 Dec 2009, 22:28

Thanks, appu. Apparently the bhairavi was followed by a short RTP in kApi, jingle bells (ahem...), vanga kadal (suruTTi), and viSwESwara (sindhu bhairavi).

srikant1987 · Post by **srikant1987** » 27 Dec 2009, 05:56

and the Sri ragam was preceded by kalyani ata tala varnam.

Gamakam · Post by **Gamakam** » 29 Dec 2009, 13:04

My review of the concert: http://carnaticmusicreview.wordpress.co ... stmas-tnk/

A brilliant concert. esp. after the first two pieces. TNK was in his elements. His Kapi and Sindhu Bairavi delineations were out of the world. TNK personifies what is colloquially called as "chinndhu perusu" in raga alapana. His sensitivity is absolutely brilliant.