Amrutha Venkatesh-Padma Shankar-Mannarkoil J Balaji

[mridhangam]

The concert was held on 8th August 2010 at Pandurangan Temple at Adambakkam under Saptaswaralaya

The concert started off with a rain . so they had to shift the venue inside the temple without much delay the concert went off very well with the following items.

1) Vanajaaksha - Behag - VArnam
2) Sidhi Vinayakam-Shanmukhapriya
3) Ganamurthe-Ganamurthi
4) Vandan Vandan Varada-Mohanam
5) Paramapurusham - Lalitha Panchamam
6) Paramapavana Rama-Poorvikalyani
7) Rangabaro
8) Thillana Kadanakuthuhalam-Balamurali
9) Mangalam


Mannarkoil J Balaji

[Nick H]

It was a lovely concert.

I heard Amrutha a few weeks ago at a Musiri Chamber concert, and came away thinking that it cold have been the best vocal concert I had heard. One alapana actually moved me to tears with its beauty.

She has a beautiful voice. It is full of quiet strength, taking all in its stride without ever showing stress or lack of beauty. Her improvisation strikes me as being exceptionally creative, with great attention to the beauty of melody. Even each half cycle in a koraipu is a song in itself. I'd be impressed if she were twice the age!

Sat next to Rama Varma, who, at the end of the concert, told me that he has been teaching her for two years (so that explains the BMK thillana --- which she sang beautifully).

Balaji and Padma accompanied beautifully. Given that the entire stage had to be moved just as the concert was starting, from an open space to a covered corner, the temple and sound guys did a remarkably good job.

I really dislike driving into that corner of Chennai. It is difficult to reach, difficult to navigate and anything approaching a "main road" is highly congested. Driving home in the ongoing storm was quite an adventure. When I last saw Padma Shankar, she had driven a full circle and come back to the temple: I told her which direction to take, but feel guilty for not, somehow, doing more to help.

The difficulty of the journey was entirely worth while and I am delighted that I attended this concert.

[Sreeni Rajarao]

I heard Amrutha a few weeks ago at a Musiri Chamber concert, and came away thinking that it cold have been the best vocal concert I had heard. One alapana actually moved me to tears with its beauty.

Nick,
Your words have touched my heart - to realize the impact of our music on you!

With best wishes,

Sreeni Rajarao

[Enna_Solven]

Pardon me, but 'our music' doesn't sound right. Nick is us too.

[Sreeni Rajarao]

I know, I know. I deliberated on that aspect before I wrote it. I think you understand what I am trying to say. In fact, Nick is more us than many of us.

Sreeni

[Nick H]

Thank you both

[mankuthimma]

The pain of missing Higgins is much lessened now, Nick.Everytime we spot you in a Concert.

[Nick H]

Just, simply, a music lover.

The spotlight should stay on Amrutha, here! I guess she is very young: I wonder how she will sing in forty years time? Sometimes I have as much regret that I may not see these youngsters of today in forty years time as I have that I did not see the masters of decades ago.

(Carnatic music stagnant? I don't think so )

[mohan]

Sat next to Rama Varma, who, at the end of the concert, told me that he has been teaching her for two years

Is she still based in Bangalore or in Chennai full-time? I thought she was learning from Charumathi Ramachandran.

[Nick H]

My information is very limited, being based on a short conversation only, but as RV told me that she and her family were returning to Bangalore after the concert, and that he teaches her in Bangalore, my conclusion is that she is based there still.

[hariniraghavan]

She is based in Bangalore. She learns from Charumathi as well; may be during her visits to Chennai.
Harini.

[Nick H]

Thank you, Harini.

All these facts of life about teachers and houses aside, I'm certainly watching out for her concerts!