The song list follows for all the three concerts
Malaysia-KL-Brahmana Samajam
Evvari Bodana - Abhogi - Adi
??
Ananda Natana Prakasam - Kedaram - M Chapu - M Dikshitar
Jalandara - Valaji - Rupakam -
Marugelara - Jayantasri - Adi - Thyagaraja
Meenakshi Memudam - Purvikalyani - Adi - M Dikshitar
RTP Vasanta & Bhairavi
Kurai onrum Illai - Ragamalika
Mamava Pattabirama - Manirangu - M Dikshitar
The highlight of this concert was the RTP in vasantha, Bhairavi and mixing it finally with VasanthaBhairavi. Shankar judiciously brought in the varied hues of both the ragas and finally merged with the evergreen Vasantha Bhairavi which was skillfully crafted and executed. The audience turnout was excellent and they all stayed till the end.
Chamber Music-Thematic Hindustani Ragas in Carnatic Music
Vanajaksha - Behag - Adi - TRS
Sabapathiki - Abogi - Rupakam - Gopalakrishna Bharati
Manavyalakincha - Nalinakanti (Tilak Kamod) - Adi - Thyagaraja
Pahi Jagath Janani - Hamsanandi - Adi - Swathi Tirunal
Jambu Pathe - Yamuna Kalyani (Yaman) - Tisra Ekam - M Dikshitar
Hari Rasama - Hindolam (Malkauns) - Adi - Annamacharya
Mangalam....
This was a special request concert for an invited audience where shankar explored the Hindustani ragas. The Highlight was Abhogi where he alternated between Hindustani and Carnatic styles of raga description. Hamsanandhi was the main item taken up for elaboration and the audience enjoyed the mixture very well. This concert concluded with an excellent snacks and coffee.
Temple of Fine Arts, Singapore
Rama Bhakti - Suddha Bangala - Adi - Thyagaraja
Vandanamu Raghunandana - Sahana - Adi - Thyagaraja
Enna Ganu Rama Bhajana - Pantuvarali - Rupakam - B. Ramadas
Anda Rama Soundaryam - Kedara goulai - Adi - Arunachala Kavi
Bhagayenayya - Chandrajyothi - Adi - Thayaraja
RTP - Mohanam
Charana Ranja mahima- Bageshree - Adi - Meera
Viruttam & Rama Mantra - Jonpuri - Adi - Purandara Dasar
This was a special thematic concert called Rama Bhakti in front of a large gathering at the TFA Hall in Singapore. The crowd thouroughly enjoyed Shankar's Music. The selection of songs were appropriate and they had an admixture of sowkhyam and required verve and fire at needed places. While
Enna Gaanu rama Bhajana showcased Shankar's talent for precision in speed, the Kedaragowla stood out as an ample testimony to his adherence to sowkhyam. After Kedaragowla a beautiful Bagayanayya was presented with rich emotional content. The RTP in Mohanam was a surprise as i was not aware about it beforehand and was ready for a barrage of excellent swaras and Koraippu and so he gave them in abundance. Myself and Trivandrum Rajagopal played a thani in Chatusra Jhampa, most of them on the spot including the final Korvai.
All's well that end's well ... Yes at the end of the concert we all had a standing ovation in front of an august TFA audience which Shankar deserved the most and all his hardwork paid off well in their presence.
I would be failing if i dont mention a few words about Mullaivasal Chandramouli. Whatever he does on stage becomes a silken thread fom his copper and steel wires. His nimble fingers traverse though the fingerboards so subtly that you become still on his movement. Listeners lose themselves in his melody and there is absolute silence when he renders a raga. His essays of Poorvikalyani, /Abhogi, Hamsanandi, Pantuvarali and Mohanam speak volumes about his erudition, his training and his own hardwork which has brought him to such a great limelight.
On the whole three consecutive concerts within a span of 24 hours with a gruelling 330KMs up and down car ride to KL and back was tiring but braving all this shankar came up with a sterling performance and gave his best on each of the three outings.
Next week at SIFAS a grand Tamil Festival has been organised in which Vijay Siva, Prasanna Venkatraman, V K Manimaran and Smt.Shankari Krishnan are going to sing. Chandramouli and I are accompanying the first three artistes and for Shankari Krishnan shri T R Sundaresan and Shri K Sivaraman are accompanying. Apart from this Shankaranarayanan is arranging his students to sing Ramanataka Kritis in tamil during that occasion. Really lookng forward to such a grand Festival organised by one of the Premier institutions in Singapore.
Mannarkoil J Balaji
