Madurai TN Seshagopalan at Cincinnati

[sampakumar]

Madurai T.N.Seshagopalan-vocal
Jayashankar Balan- violin
Rohan Krishnamurthy- mridangam
Vasudevan- Ghatam
Vanajakshi- Kalyani vranam
Chalamela Ra
Vachaspati (?)
Kannada (?)
Bhairavi- Thanayuni,
Tukadas- Yadukula Khamboji, Chandrakauns, Misra sivaranjani
The 3 hour plus concert was organized by the University of Cincinnati and my presence was chancy, having arrived in Cincinnati a day earlier on business trip. Many of the songs were foreign to me and even my raga identification may be iffy. But the large audience, some coming from Dayton and Columbus were treated to a grand concert with a non stop rain pouring outside. The Bhairavi piece lasted about an hour with all the swara skills of TNS on display. I thought this concert was a shade better than the one in Cleveland that I attended this year.
Jayashankar Balan played a very supporting role and seemed to enjoy the concert himself. His raga sketches were particularly pleasing. Young Rohan Krishnamurthy on the mridangam was brilliant and gave an impression that he has played for TNS in many concerts. The sound arrangement for the mridangam could have been better since the violin had a high level of amplification. Shows the need for sound check that is absent in CM. Vasudevan on the ghatam was sedate and for reasons I did not know preferred not to participate even on the thani, which was a fantastic display of laya techniques that prompted TNS to say “sabash sabash” many times.
Despite a failing voice quality, TNS rules supreme and should delight listeners for many more years.

[Ethuku]

Having attended a few of the concerts (Cleveland, Toronto, Cinncinati) of Sri. TNS this time in north america. The only reason i make this post is the inaccuracy of this review at several levels.

First off, the Cleveland concert was of high scholarly value, specially considering the vidwan audience present during the concert and not to mention the GNB pallavi he presented. The level of the concert was far superior. The prowess and ideas presented during saveri krithi....poorvikalyani swarams....shanmugapriya pallavi were astounding. The fact that it was a special occasion and a special sadhas made this concert second to none. FYI: TNS concerts at Cleveland for the past 20 years would all be in the top 50 TNS concerts ever.

Secondly, as far him enjoying Rohan Krishnamurthy's accompaniment or any such thing. The sabhash was merely an encouraging gesture to the youngster for his participation efforts. As far as the accompaniment quality was concerned he merely tagged along no different from Jayshankar Balan's presence. The latter probably had a more pleasing presence on stage.

As far as the ghatam artist is concerned, It is very embarassing as a rasika to see organizers present such a facilitated vidwan (TNS) with such inadequacies on stage. I suggest people wanting to be in photographs with vidwans like TNS, please arrange for a photoshoot and not decide to make a concert of this stature their venue of choice. I may come across as being harsh to say the least. I am not against dreaming or wanting to be on stage with great vidwans like TNS. But, such should be the effort and that one must atleast have a basic preparation for a CM concert if not anything else. This is not the first time this has happened. I observed this inadequacy in the Toronto concert as well. The only difference there was that it was the kanjira. Although one has to say that their contribution to the success of the concert was truly unique and was made in the form of silence and non-participation.

And, Finally i think TNS is singing quite comfortably.....be it voice, sruthi or anything else. This tour has been quite the treat to us listeners. I recall him singing sancharas in Shanmugapriya, Thodi and bairavi well into the mel sthai with complete openess and clarity. Not only will his vocal facility enchant us rasikas today but also in many more years to come.

[sivapriya]

Many a time even back home, TNS is found singularly batting on the stage, filling up for accompanying inadequacies. However, on many occasions, when accompaniments are good, the listening pleasure is of a different order!

These situations do apply to many good artists on stage.

I have read that the Hindustani music legend , Kesarbai Kerkar had one tabalchi whom she would not let go at all and when at a point in time when they fell off in friendship, she had a tough time adjusting to someone else !

[appu]

Now why is it that every time Rohan Krishnamurthy is the accompaniment, the reviewer has glorifying statements about his layam and technique. Moreover the reviewer is always new to this site and it is always his or her first post. And of course he is as good as the main artist if not better.

This is getting a little old. ..........

.

[ajsriram]

Now why is it that every time Rohan Krishnamurthy is the accompaniment, the reviewer has glorifying statements about his layam and technique.

Anyone can create any number of ids in Rasikas.org and rohan also can create it. Nothing wrong

Young Rohan Krishnamurthy on the mridangam was brilliant and gave an impression that he has played for TNS in many concerts.

Dont get what he is trying to say? Was he able to anticipate whatever TNS sung? or did he pleaded to TNs before the concert and explained his "ability" for playing concerts.. I hope rohan knows the meaning for the tamil saying "நினைப்பு பொழைப்பை கெடுக்கும்"..

Lets wait for one more SampaKumar clone...Rohan when is your next concert with TNS or his contemporaries?.

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Carnatic Music Turns Me on
| http://ajsriram.blogspot.com | http://it-all-happens.blogspot.com |

[raghavt]

Hi All,

Interesting to read the posts. Let me say few words as a Rasika and NOT as a Student of Mridangam.

Rohan Krishnamurthy may be a great performer to some people, but in reality he has to travel a long long way. It's indeed glad to note that he got the opportunity to accompany Sheshu Sir. Even thought I didn't get a chance to listen to it (I live in Bangalore), I am 100% sure that he was no match for Sheshu Sir's prowness and Vidwat. However, he would have tried his best. The other day, I stumbled across a clilpping in youtube wherein Rohan was accompanying TNK Sir. The Thani he played- It had nothing that could have caught the attention of a laya buff. Still, he was being encouraged by the main artist, which is the way it should be.

I'm not sure why the organizers and some rasikas do not understand the importance of accompaniying artists. The balance is rarely maintained. The other day, I listned to TMK concert in my native place in Kerala. The orgranizers had 'put' local AIR Artists as accompaniments. With due respect to them, let me state, they were nowhere near Krisna's assertiveness. Had it been Shankaran Sir or the likes of him, it would have been an awesome concert. I know it's very easy to sit on a laptop and type; the organizers work under several restrictions, financial restrictions-most important one, availability of senior accompanying artists etc etc.

Somehow, I feel that most orgranizers (@least in my hometown, this is a constant pattern ) do not attach much importance to the accompanying artists.

Thanks.